December 20th, 2011, was a dark day for fans of HBO's eccentric and esoteric detective sitcom Bored to Death. This was the day that after three seasons and an array of goofy adventures all around the five boroughs of New York City, the Jason Schwartzman-led series was cancelled. But hope bloomed in the form of a potential movie spin-off! Years have passed since then. So. where does the Bored to Death movie stand now?
I sat down with Jason Schwartzman to talk about Listen Up Philip, a dark comedy soon to debut at the New York Film Festival. We'll bring you the meat of that charming conversation closer to the film's release, but we couldn’t wait to give you the latest on Bored to Death. In short, Schwartzman says the movie's on hold, but he has hopes for the resurrection of season four.
So, is there any update on a Bored to Death movie?
The update is, Jonathan Ames (the show's creator) is writing the script, but he’s also doing another show right now with Seth McFarlane. Yeah, they’re doing a show (Blunt Talk), and they’re shooting it in LA. I don’t even know the name of it, but it’s with Patrick Stewart. Pretty fucking awesome.Yeah, so that’s that. I don’t know what’s happening, because I think everything is sort of on hold right now.
Well, Ames had talked a little bit about what the movie might be about. Have you guys talked about what would happen in it?
I’ve read scripts and it’s hard because…I think it was such a downer (that the show was cancelled.) HBO was the best and I would totally work with them again, if they would have me. It's not like I feel angry, but it was sad to lose the show, because I miss those guys and seeing them everyday was the best. We had the best crew. But also it was hard because we knew what season 4 was. Like it was all done. It was all figured out. So I was all ready for it in my brain. And so I had to envision all these crazy (plots), I knew exactly what was going to happen. It had like a real crazy story. And then when it got cancelled it was like so now what do I do with this information?
Do you want to tell it to me now?
I can’t, but I was like where am I supposed to put this. (I point to myself.) I like that you went like this...(mimicking my pointing to myself)
(Mock indignation) What am I here for?!
(Mimicking my mock indignation with a big grin) Come on!
But I really like the way the season ended. I was bummed that it ended, but it was an interesting note that it ended on.
Yeah, it’s a bummer. But hopefully the movie will get made. I guess my secret dream is that I get a call tomorrow that says, 'You’ve been reactivated. Bored to Death is coming back for season 4!' Because that would be like--it’s like a teenager waiting for like one more inch of his growth spurt, you know what I mean? I’m not going to give up.
I’m 5’ 2", I totally know what you mean.
That show has been cancelled now for a few years, and there’s a movie possibility.
But The Comeback came back!
The what?
The Comeback.
See, I don’t even know what that it. But my dream is that I get a call tomorrow from HBO that is like, "You’re back! Rent a place in New York."
All the shadows in the city still love you, Jason. Here's hoping Bored to Death gets its comeback.
