Johnny English
Johnny English is a British spy comedy film franchise parodying the James Bond secret agent genre, starring Rowan Atkinson as the titular character, a bumbling and overconfident MI7 agent who repeatedly saves the day through sheer incompetence and luck.[1][2] The series began with the 2003 film Johnny English, directed by Peter Howitt, in which a deadly explosion eliminates MI7's top spies, promoting the hapless Johnny English to lead the investigation into a plot by French industrialist Pascal Sauvage to steal the Crown Jewels, with assistance from his sidekick Bough and love interest Lorna Campbell.[1][2] The film, produced by Working Title Films and distributed by Universal Pictures, was a commercial success, grossing over $160 million worldwide against a modest budget.[1] Two sequels followed: Johnny English Reborn (2011), directed by Oliver Parker, where English emerges from retirement in a Tibetan monastery to thwart a conspiracy by the shadowy Vortex organization to assassinate the Chinese Premier using mind-control techniques;[3] and Johnny English Strikes Again (2018), directed by David Kerr, in which a cyber-attack exposes all active British agents, forcing the retired English to track a tech billionaire mastermind across Europe with outdated gadgets and his loyal colleague Bough.[4] Both films continued the franchise's blend of slapstick humor, gadget mishaps, and satirical takes on espionage tropes, maintaining Atkinson's central performance alongside recurring cast members like Ben Miller.[5][6] A fourth installment, Johnny English 4, entered development in 2024 with Rowan Atkinson reprising his role; filming was planned to begin in the UK and Malta in summer 2024, though no confirmation of production start or official release date has been announced as of November 2025.[7][8]Content
Plot
The film opens with a flashback to Johnny English, an inept MI7 agent, accidentally causing the sinking of a British submarine during a botched surveillance mission, highlighting his bumbling nature from the outset.[9] In the present, during the funeral of top agent "One" at a cathedral, a bomb explodes, killing all senior MI7 personnel and leaving English as the agency's only surviving field operative; he is immediately promoted to lead agent despite his incompetence.[10] English's superior, Pegasus, assigns him and his loyal assistant Bough to guard the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London ahead of a ceremonial transfer.[11] During English's presentation to dignitaries, including French entrepreneur Pascal Sauvage, a blackout occurs, and the jewels are stolen; in the chaos, English accidentally knocks out a security guard and fabricates a story about a mysterious assailant to cover his mistake.[12] Investigating a hidden tunnel beneath the Tower's display case, English and Bough trace the theft to Sauvage's nearby headquarters, where they narrowly escape an ambush by his henchmen, confirming Sauvage's involvement.[10] At a gala hosted by Sauvage, English mistakes Interpol agent Lorna Campbell for a villainess and clumsily attempts to seduce her for information, but they eventually form a partnership after she reveals her own suspicions about Sauvage.[11] Their alliance deepens into a romantic subplot, with English's overconfidence leading to comedic mishaps, such as mistaking a harmless device for a deadly gadget. English and Bough parachute into Sauvage's Canary Wharf skyscraper headquarters at night, but English lands on the wrong building and must abseil across to join Bough, showcasing their mismatched teamwork.[11] Inside, they discover Sauvage's grand scheme: seeking revenge for his family's historical banishment from England over a wine dispute, he plans to depose the monarchy by having the Queen's yoga instructor inject her with a muscle relaxant during a private session, paralyzing her into signing an abdication document while under duress from threats to her corgi.[10] Sauvage intends to use a forged deed tracing his lineage to the English throne, combined with an impostor Archbishop of Canterbury, to crown himself king during a ceremony at Westminster Abbey, then convert Britain into a massive prison colony to monopolize the global incarceration industry.[11] Dismissed by Pegasus for his erratic behavior, English defies orders and infiltrates the coronation disguised as a bishop, partnering with Lorna to expose the plot.[12] In the chaotic climax at Westminster Abbey, English accidentally activates a remote-controlled toy car equipped with a tranquilizer dart, which shoots the fake Archbishop and disrupts Sauvage's ceremony; amid the pandemonium, English inadvertently pushes Sauvage aside and is briefly crowned king himself.[11] He quickly restores the real Queen Elizabeth II to the throne, leading to Sauvage's arrest and the recovery of the Crown Jewels. English's accidental heroism redeems his reputation, though his partnership with Bough remains comically strained, and he shares a kiss with Lorna before an ejection seat in his car humorously catapults her away during their planned getaway.[10]Cast
The principal cast of the 2003 film Johnny English features Rowan Atkinson in the title role as Johnny English, a bumbling yet overly confident MI7 agent whose incompetence often leads to comedic mishaps.[13] Natalie Imbruglia portrays Lorna Campbell, an Interpol agent who serves as English's love interest and ally in countering threats.[13] Ben Miller plays Angus Bough, English's loyal and quick-witted sidekick who frequently bails him out of trouble.[13] John Malkovich stars as the antagonist Pascal Sauvage, a villainous French industrialist with a pronounced accent and an obsession for acquiring the Crown Jewels.[12] Tim Pigott-Smith appears as Pegasus, the stern head of MI7 who assigns English to critical missions.[13] Kevin McNally plays Gilbert, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, involved in national security decisions.[13] In supporting roles, Prunella Scales depicts Queen Elizabeth II, whose safety is central to the story's stakes.[14] Douglas McFerran portrays Carlos Vendetta, a waiter entangled in the espionage.[13] Atkinson's casting drew on his experience with physical comedy from roles like Mr. Bean, enhancing English's hapless persona.[15]| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rowan Atkinson | Johnny English | Bumbling MI7 agent with misplaced confidence.[12] |
| Natalie Imbruglia | Lorna Campbell | Interpol operative and romantic interest.[12] |
| Ben Miller | Angus Bough | Competent sidekick to the inept protagonist.[12] |
| John Malkovich | Pascal Sauvage | Scheming industrialist fixated on jewels.[12] |
| Tim Pigott-Smith | Pegasus | Authoritative MI7 director.[13] |
| Kevin McNally | Gilbert (Prime Minister) | Government leader navigating crises.[13] |
| Prunella Scales | Queen Elizabeth II | Monarch under threat.[14] |
| Douglas McFerran | Carlos Vendetta (Waiter) | Service staffer in the intrigue.[13] |