ITV orders two more 'Maigret' movies starring Rowan Atkinson

LONDON, June 18 (UPI) -- Britain's ITV network says it has ordered two more Maigrettelevision films starring Rowan Atkinson.

"Maigret" actor Rowan Atkinson attends the premiere of "Johnny English Reborn" in London on October 2, 2011. File Photo by Rune Hellestad/UPI 

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Atkinson will reprise his role of French fictional detective Jules Maigret in the small-screen mysteries, which are set in 1950s Paris and based on Georges Simenon's novels.

The next installments in the franchise -- Night at the Crossroads and Maigret in Montmartre -- will be shot this fall and winter.

They follow the ratings hit Maigret Sets a Trap. Maigret's Dead Man has already been filmed and will air on ITV later this year.

"It's an absolute privilege to commission two further Maigret films for ITV," the network's Victoria Fea said in a statement. "We were thrilled to welcome Rowan Atkinson to the channel as Maigret. His superb performance, and the filmic execution from the production team ensured the audience greatly appreciated the first Maigret film, which aired earlier this year."