(Credits: Netflix)

Comedy legend Rowan Atkinson is set to return to screens, as Netflix have announced the return of his series Man vs. which originally aired on the streaming service back in 2022. The new series will by titled Man vs. Baby, and will give Atkinson the chance to showcase his unparalleled skill for physical comedy.

Seeing Atkinson take on the role of a housesitter, Trevor Bingley, who develops an intense rivalry with a bee, Man vs. Bee hit Netflix in June 2022. While the series was certainly not Atkinson’s most profound work, it did see the Consett-born actor return to his roots in physical performance and comedy. What’s more, the project was written and created alongside William Davies and David Kerr, who have worked extensively with Atkinson on the Johnny English franchise.

Now, Netflix has revealed a sequel to Man vs. Bee is in production, titled Man vs. Baby. A synopsis of the new series reads, “After a disastrous experience housesitting a high-tech mansion hampered by an inconvenient insect in Man vs. Bee, Trevor Bingley now finds himself looking after a luxurious London penthouse, with another unlikely companion he didn’t ask for…”

In the first series, the down-on-his-luck housesitter leaves the swanky London mansion almost completely destroyed following his battles with the crafty bee, and it seems likely that the second series will take on similar themes. Nevertheless, the introduction of a baby will undoubtedly change the dynamic of the storyline and comedy.

There are obvious similarities in the performance of Atkinson as Trevor Bingley and his career-defining role as the beloved Mr. Bean. First hitting screens in 1990, Atkinson’s revolutionary comedy character quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, praised for its reinvention of physical comedy and the universal appeal that comes with a comedy not rooted in language. Since the first series of Mr. Bean, the character has spawned various other projects, stretching to the world of animation, feature films, and a countless array of cameo performances.

The physical performance that Mr. Bean demanded of Atkinson certainly permeated throughout Man vs. Bee, and it seems likely the newly announced sequel will follow a similar path. Alongside the series announcement, Netflix shared various stills from other Netflix shows with Trevor Bingley photoshopped into them, setting the tone for the series.

Man vs. Baby is set to be Atkinson’s first television project since the first series in 2022. However, he did make an appearance in the recent Wonka film, starring Timothée Chalamet, as the corrupt priest Father Julius. Reportedly, Atkinson also has a new instalment of the Johnny English series in the works, too. The 69-year-old actor shows no signs of stepping back from the industry anytime soon.