Actor Joe Thomas has begun filming scenes for the third Inbetweeners movie, running down a street in his underwear while fleeing a jealous love rival.
The upcoming sequence shows Thomas reprising his role as Simon Cooper, who appears to have returned to his philandering habits. In the scene, an angry boyfriend carrying a golf club catches Simon in the act and chases him out of a house.
Simon frantically rushes toward a waiting getaway car while the weapon-wielding boyfriend pursues him across the driveway. Despite holding the golf club, the jealous rival narrowly misses catching Simon, who desperately tries to open the vehicle door.
The enraged boyfriend closes in as Simon finally manages to open the car door, scrambles inside, and frantically speeds away from the location.
Original Cast Return and Franchise History
The action marks the return of the central cast for the long-awaited feature film, which streaming service Netflix announced recently following months of online speculation. Simon Bird has reprised his role as Will McKenzie, Joe Thomas returns as Simon Cooper, James Buckley plays Jay Cartwright, and Blake Harrison returns as Neil Sutherland.
The Inbetweeners originally aired on British television network Channel 4 between 2008 and 2010. The coming-of-age sitcom produced two feature films in 2011 and 2014, followed by a tenth-anniversary reunion television special in 2019.
The Inbetweeners is a British sitcom created by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris that follows four teenage friends attending a suburban comprehensive school. Channel 4 is a British public service television network, while Netflix is an international subscription video streaming service.
Emily Atack Absence and Reported Cast Feud
Plans for the new film emerged last month, but reports quickly confirmed that Emily Atack will not return as her character Charlotte "Big Jugs" Hinchcliffe due to an alleged past feud with Buckley.
Atack, whose acting profile expanded following her role in the television series Rivals, was reportedly unceremoniously axed from the 2019 reunion special, The Inbetweeners Fwends Reunited, just 24 hours before filming began.
Reports at the time indicated that Buckley blocked Atack from participating over concerns that his wife, Clair Meek, would learn about a brief relationship he and Atack had during the original show's run between 2008 and 2010 when both actors were single. It was alleged that Buckley warned production executives "it's her or me" after the reported fling.
A production source at the time stated that producers called Atack 24 hours before she was due on set, feeling deeply embarrassed and apologetic as they explained Buckley had requested her removal. The source added that the brief romance meant nothing to Atack and had never been an issue for her, leaving her taken aback and genuinely gutted after expecting to reunite with the cast.
When asked about the reunion snub, Atack said: "Unfortunately, I don't really know what happened there. I was booked to do it, was very much looking forward to doing it and then the day before, I was told I was no longer needed for it."
Atack added: "It's alright - these things do happen, and I think they just decided to go a different route with it, I don't know. Or it was to do with production timings and things... These things do happen and they're just doing a different route, I think, and I wish them all the best and I know it's going to be great and the fans won't be disappointed."
Rivals is a British television drama series based on the 1988 novel by Jilly Cooper. The 2019 reunion special marked the tenth anniversary of the sitcom's original television debut.
Streaming Bosses Seek Full Cast Assembly
Despite widespread excitement over the return of the central four actors, streaming executives are reportedly unsatisfied with only securing the male leads and remain determined to include Atack in the movie.
Production sources revealed that show creators have completed the movie script and are ready to commence full production, but view Atack as a critical missing piece of the project. A source explained: "The creators of the show have written the script and are ready to roll - but Emily is one of the missing pieces in the project they're keen to get in place."
The source noted: "Fans will already be delighted that the four main leads are returning as there was concern that a reboot might see new, younger actors cast in the roles of the lads, who were all supposed to be teenagers in the show. But it's fair to say getting Emily back would be the cherry on the Inbetweeners cake."
Atack previously addressed potential return discussions during an interview on Capital FM, stating: "I don't know. We'd all be quite a lot older now. What was quite funny was when we filmed the series I was only 17, I'd just left school, but the boys were well into... I think they were in their late twenties, early thirties."
Capital FM is a UK national commercial radio network focused on contemporary hit music broadcasting across major metropolitan areas.
Fan Plot Theories and Content Concerns
Following the Netflix announcement last month, fans began discussing potential storylines for geeky Will, lying Jay, gormless Neil and earnest Simon in the upcoming third film. Social media users shared detailed predictions for how the characters had progressed since their school years.
One user on X wrote: "Inbetweeners 3 predictions: Jay is woke, Neil is rich from stocks/crypto, Simon is back with Tara. The film is Will's stag do and his fiancée is Charlotte or just someone too fit for him so that's a joke made all film."
A second fan posted: "Predictions: Simon's getting married but Tara's back on the scene and he's had his head turned. Stag do antics see Neil (who's in recovery) in bother... Will funds the trip with the bonus from his City job. Jay lives hand to mouth and is an awesome stay at home dad to five kids."
A third viewer speculated on X: "I'm gonna predict it's about Charlotte's wedding and she invited will... He's allowed a plus one and takes Simon but Jay and Neil tag along. Then the movie turns into hangover and it revealed Charlotte is marrying Donovan."
Alongside storyline theories, several fans expressed concern that the comedy could become watered-down and politically correct. The original television series featured taboo humor, ableist language, and sexist slurs.
One fan commented online: "I'd like to think the cast wouldn't have agreed to do this if it was watered down but let's see... I can't wait for this, but worry they'll tone it down to not offend the woke brigade..."
Another user added: "It's going to be terrible mate, they won't want to offend anyone. This is the world we live in. Full of absolute snowflakes."
