Inbetweeners Creators Address Emily Atack's Movie Absence, Deny 'Feud' Claims
Showrunners Iain Morris and Damon Beesley state character inclusions were a matter of script plausibility, not personal conflict.
The creators of the popular British sitcom The Inbetweeners have responded to speculation surrounding actress Emily Atack's absence from the upcoming third film, attributing her exclusion to narrative constraints rather than alleged personal disputes.
Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, the show's writers and producers, addressed the rumors, which suggested Atack's non-participation stemmed from a feud with co-star James Buckley. These claims surfaced after it was reported that Atack, who played Charlotte Hinchcliffe in the original Channel 4 series, would not be appearing in the new movie.
"For the record, we’d like to clarify that, try as we might, we couldn’t squeeze every single beloved character from the TV shows into this new film. That's on us, and us alone," Morris and Beesley stated in an Instagram post. They explained that while speculation is understandable, the decision was driven by the need to find a "plausible way in the script to bring back all our lovely ‘friends’," and that the truth was "not as headline worthy" as rumors of conflict.
The creators shared a behind-the-scenes photograph on Instagram featuring the show's main cast members Joe Thomas (Simon Cooper), Blake Harrison (Neil Sutherland), James Buckley (Jay Cartwright), and Simon Bird (Will McKenzie) reading scripts, as filming commenced.
Fans had speculated about Atack's absence following reports that surfaced shortly after plans for the movie were announced last month. These reports indicated that Atack might not return due to a "past fling" and an alleged ongoing dispute with Buckley. Atack's role as Charlotte 'Big Jugs' Hinchcliffe was a significant love interest for Simon Bird's character, Will McKenzie, in the original series.
Filming for the third movie has been underway, with cast members recently spotted shooting a wedding scene. Simon, Joe, James, and Blake were all seen in formal attire outside a church. Marina Bye, daughter of comedian Ruby Wax, was revealed as the bride, a character not previously featured in the series or films. Other returning actors spotted on set include Emily Head, who played Carli D'Amato, and Martin Trenaman, who portrayed Simon's father, Alan.
New cast members have also joined the production, including U.S. actress Hannah Cruz, who was seen filming a scene with Simon Bird's character, Will. Other additions to the cast include Marama Corlett, Tadhg Murphy, and Vanessa Eng.
Fans have been actively speculating about potential storylines for the upcoming film. Some predictions suggest characters like Jay becoming more socially conscious, Neil achieving financial success, or Simon reconciling with a former girlfriend, Tara. Other fan theories propose the movie centers around Charlotte's wedding, with Will attending as her plus-one.
The creators advised audiences to avoid spoilers, encouraging them to enjoy the film with minimal prior knowledge of the plot. "We promise it’ll be a more enjoyable watch going in knowing nothing," they stated.