The Inbetweeners is reportedly closer than ever to a big-screen comeback, with Netflix expected to serve as the new home for a third film reuniting the original cast. According to Variety, Simon Bird, Joe Thomas, Blake Harrison and James Buckley are all in advanced talks to reprise their roles as Will McKenzie, Simon Cooper, Neil Sutherland and Jay Cartwright. Contracts have not yet been signed, but the news marks the strongest signal yet that the long-rumoured project is finally moving forward.
Advanced Talks Underway
The reported reunion comes after years of speculation and false starts. In 2025, Banijay UK struck a deal with series creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, which was widely interpreted as the first step toward reviving the beloved comedy. At the time, fans were left guessing whether the project would take the form of a television reboot, a one-off special, or another feature film. Now it appears the gang are heading back to the screen, with the reported third instalment expected to reunite the original quartet and explore how adulthood has treated the accident-prone friends.
According to the report, the film would reveal what became of Will, Simon, Neil and Jay after their teenage years of embarrassing highs and even more embarrassing lows. The project is being described as a continuation of the original series and the two previous films, rather than a reimagining. While negotiations are reportedly still ongoing, the fact that all four actors are said to be in advanced talks suggests a breakthrough may be imminent.
Long Road to Reunion
Rumours of an Inbetweeners comeback have been circulating for the better part of a decade. The original television series ran for three seasons between 2008 and 2010, becoming a cultural phenomenon in the UK and beyond. It spawned two hugely successful films: The Inbetweeners Movie (2011) and The Inbetweeners 2 (2014). Both were box office hits, collectively grossing more than $150 million worldwide. The franchise's blend of cringe comedy and heartfelt moments proved enduringly popular, but the cast and creators have consistently resisted the temptation to revisit the characters.
The reported switch to Netflix comes as a surprise to many observers, given the films' impressive theatrical performance. However, the streaming giant has made a habit of reviving beloved British favourites. Netflix has already expanded franchises like Peaky Blinders and Luther with feature-length follow-ups, and one of its earliest revival projects saw cult US comedy Arrested Development return for two additional seasons. For Netflix, landing the Inbetweeners would be another major coup in its strategy of securing nostalgic IP with built-in fanbases.
Cast Reluctance Makes News Surprising
Perhaps the biggest twist in this latest development is that the reunion appears to be happening at all. Both Simon Bird and James Buckley have previously dismissed the idea of returning to their most famous roles. In 2024, Bird insisted there were “no prospects of a reunion”, having earlier described the prospect of bringing the boys back as “sad and creepy”. Buckley was equally dismissive in an interview with Radio Times in 2023, admitting that a revival risked being “pathetic”. He had also joked during a separate appearance on Radio X that there wasn’t “enough money in the world” to convince him to play the outrageously inappropriate Jay Cartwright again.
Those comments left many fans convinced that the school friends had been retired for good. The news that all four actors are now reportedly in advanced talks has therefore reignited excitement, but also raised questions about what could have changed their minds. While neither Netflix nor the cast have officially confirmed the project, the fact that negotiations have reached an advanced stage suggests that a formal announcement may not be far off. If given the green light, the film would mark the first time viewers have caught up with Will, Simon, Neil and Jay in more than a decade.
What Comes Next?
Details about the plot remain under wraps, but the reported reunion is expected to pick up with the characters as adults, presumably still fumbling their way through life. The series and films built their comedy around the quartet's social awkwardness, misplaced confidence and disastrous encounters, and there is plenty of scope for a more mature take on those themes. Whether the third film will follow the same formula or attempt something new is unknown at this stage.
For now, fans are left to speculate. The involvement of Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, who co-created the series and wrote the films, would be crucial to the project's success. The Banijay UK deal signed in 2025 was widely seen as laying the groundwork for their return, and if the reported Netflix deal goes ahead, the original creative team is likely to be involved. However, until contracts are signed and an official announcement is made, there remains a chance that the reunion could still fall through.
The Inbetweeners first aired on E4 in 2008 and quickly became a defining comedy of its generation. Its characters — the geeky Will, the hapless Simon, the dim-witted Neil and the grotesquely confident Jay — resonated with audiences who recognised their own teenage embarrassments on screen. The show's enduring popularity has kept the door open for a return, and now, more than a decade after the last film, that door appears to be creaking open once again. If the reunion does happen, it will be one of the most anticipated comedy comebacks in British entertainment history.
