The Inbetweeners 3 begins filming for 2027
A third Inbetweeners film has started production, with the original cast and creators returning 12 years after the last movie.
Filming has commenced on The Inbetweeners 3, confirming the return of the British comedy franchise after a 12-year hiatus. The core quartet of Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, Blake Harrison, and James Buckley are reuniting with writers and directors Damon Beesley and Iain Morris for the new movie.
The announcement follows speculation last October about a potential reunion. A teaser trailer was released this week, though it revealed few details about the plot. The film is currently slated for a 2027 release.
Record-breaking predecessors
The new film faces a significant challenge in living up to the commercial success of its predecessors. The first movie, released in August 2011, achieved a seismic opening weekend in the UK, taking £13 million. That figure dwarfed the competition, including the Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig film Cowboys & Aliens, which opened to £1.7 million the same weekend.
The film's performance set a new record for the biggest opening ever for a UK independent production. It eventually outgrossed major Hollywood titles like Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and The Hangover Part II in the UK that year.
Three years later, The Inbetweeners 2 repeated the success. It opened to £12.5 million in August 2014, securing the biggest opening weekend of the year in the UK. Combined, the two films have grossed nearly £80 million at the British box office.
| Film Title | UK Opening Weekend | Release Year | Notable Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Inbetweeners Movie | £13 million | 2011 | Record UK opening for an independent production |
| The Inbetweeners 2 | £12.5 million | 2014 | Biggest UK opening weekend of 2014 |
The Netflix factor and release plans
Netflix has secured the rights to the new film, a development the source notes has caused some disappointment among those hoping for a traditional cinema release. The streaming service is betting on strong viewership numbers in the UK. There remains a hope, similar to the recent Peaky Blinders movie, that the film might also receive a theatrical release, but this is not confirmed.
If the film does get a cinema release and performs well, the franchise's total UK box office could surpass £100 million. The source calls this a "big deal" for the British film industry, though not on the level of a new James Bond announcement.
The tonal challenge of an older cast
A central hurdle for the new film is handling the age of its characters and actors. When the series began in 2008, the actors were in their early-to-mid twenties playing schoolboys. The first movie was billed as the four "becoming men." Actor Joe Thomas is now 42, meaning his character would be edging into his late thirties.
The source draws a parallel to the 2012 film American Reunion. It describes this as a "difficult tonal tightrope." However, it notes that creators Morris and Beesley are "no mugs" and audiences will have to wait to see their solution.
After the second film, Simon Bird had suggested the story had reached a natural endpoint, stating at the premiere, "once you see the film you'll see it feels like they've all moved on with their lives, so unfortunately this is it." That goodbye has now lasted just over a decade. The plot for the third film remains under wraps, though early speculation last year suggested a stag party storyline, potentially set in Las Vegas.
With production now underway, the answers to these questions are expected to arrive in 2027.
