How Johnny English Reborn, 2011 James Bond parody starring Rowan Atkinson, went out of its way to draw Chinese film-goers
- Johnny English Reborn stars Rowan Atkinson, known for his Mr Bean character, and is the second in a series of spoof James Bond spy films
- English heads to Hong Kong to stop an attack on a Chinese premier, in a sequel that was meant to appeal to audiences in China despite being full of stereotypes
Of the many 007 spoofs, one of the more bizarre – and bizarrely popular – is the series of Johnny English films.
Based on a character from a Barclays bank advert and starring Rowan Atkinson, a rubber-faced British comedian best known for playing Mr Bean and TV’s Blackadder, the series comprises three films, made between 2003 and 2018, which grossed US$479.6 million at the box office worldwide.
Directed by Oliver Parker, the first sequel, Johnny English Reborn, sees the less than suave super-spy travel to Hong Kong, among other places, to prevent an attack on Chinese premier Xiang Ping (Lobo Chan).
Atkinson was already well known in Asia. “I’m very dependent on places like Hong Kong and the Far East …” he told entertainment news website Collider. “Mr Bean has established me and my reputation in those territories. He’s a relatively easy sell on the international stage because he doesn’t say much.”
