John Simm updates ‘Life on Mars’ fans on revival series ‘Lazarus’
It looks like plans to bring back Life on Mars for a “final chapter” are still moving ahead…
Just very slowly!
A few years ago, it was revealed that Life on Mars could be making a comeback.
The British fantasy/crime drama series first aired on BBC One in 2006, starring John Simm (The Village) as a modern-day Manchester police officer who wakes up in the 1970s after a road accident.
The show was followed in 2008 by Ashes to Ashes, a sequel series starring Keeley Hawes (The Durrells).
Marking a decade since we last saw Gene Hunt and co in 2010, Life on Mars co-creator Matthew Graham confirmed on Twitter during the first Covid lockdown in 2020 that he’d been working on a revival project.
He revealed at the time that the new series would be “set partially in the ’70s, partially in the ’80s and mostly in an alternate now.”
Graham explained: “We would never make another Mars unless we really had something to say and could push the envelope all over again. Finally, we have something.”
We loved Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes so this was a very exciting prospect, but there had been no further news since 2020 – until now.
Speaking on The One Show last night, DI Sam Tyler actor John Simm told viewers: “There was talk of another series and all I know about that is there was a script and me and Phil Glenister read it.”
He added: “We loved it and thought it was great, so we said yes. But it seems to have gone into some development place… so we don’t know.”
It isn’t the most positive update, but it’s good to know that the series is still being developed and isn’t completely dead.
This is also the first confirmation we’ve had that John Simm and Philip Glenister would definitely both be involved, which is very good news indeed.
If it goes ahead, the new show is planned as a limited series of four or five episodes.
Titled Lazarus, it would once again be named after a David Bowie song.
Released in December 2015, ‘Lazarus’ was the second single from the singer’s 26th and final studio album, Blackstar.
It became Bowie’s last single to be released during his lifetime.
Life on Mars co-creator Matthew Graham previously teased on Twitter: “We intend to get as many back (across both decades) as we can. So when you wonder who will be coming back for The Final Chapter – think Avengers Assemble.”
John Simm returns to our screens this weekend with a new season of ITV crime drama Grace.
He’s back as Brighton-based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace in three new feature-length films based on Peter James’ award-winning novels.
Meanwhile, Gene Hunt actor Philip Glenister will be seen on BBC One soon in Steeltown Murders, a new true crime drama set in the 1970s.
Life on Mars is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.