IT was the film that launched the careers of Danny Dyer and Tamer Hassan.
And now, 14 years after The Business became a cult hit, the eagerly anticipated follow-up is finally in the works.
I can reveal that Tamer has written a script for an updated version of the Brit flick, showing what happened to his and Danny’s characters from the original.
He is now in talks with production companies and investors — much to the delight of EastEnders star Danny, who is primed to return in the new flick, provisionally titled Back In Business.
A movie source said: “Tamer is incredibly excited about the script.
“Fans of The Business are going to be in for a treat.
“There’s still so much intrigue around that movie and both Tamer and Danny still get a lot of love for it. Danny remains dedicated to EastEnders, and shooting the movie won’t affect his role in Walford.
“But, of course, he’s excited about the prospect of reuniting with Tamer on screen.”
Filmed in Spain, The Business was set in the Eighties — which was reflected in the lead characters’ clothing.
The retro tracksuits worn by Danny and Tamer sparked a revival in brands such as Sergio Tacchini and Fila.
In the film, Danny played street thug Frankie. He escapes to southern Spain from his rough estate in South London and develops a close bond with Tamer’s character Charlie, a nightclub owner who is partners with local gangster Sammy, played by Geoff Bell.
Frankie, who goes into business with Charlie, then falls for Sammy’s wife Carly, played by Georgina Chapman.
Developing a follow-up to The Business — which was written and directed by Nick Love, of The Football Factory and The Sweeney fame — can at least work as a distraction for Tamer, whose daughter Belle is currently starring in Love Island.
Danny knows all about how tough that can be.
AMERICA’s hottest new rapper Megan Thee Stallion made her Wireless Festival debut on Sunday – and she clearly took inspiration from Cardi B’s wardrobe.
The rising star took to the stage at London’s Finsbury Park wearing a pair of tight denim hot pants that exposed her curvaceous bottom and a bright orange jacket.
Cardi rocked the same colour on Friday during her headline set. She also lobbed her wig into the crowd, later telling fans she got “carried away.”
Megan, whose tracks include Simon Says, performed with bright green hair.
This Simon says she’ll have some trouble improving on this outfit at her next gig.
DISNEY’S live-action remake of its animated 1998 hit Mulan will reach cinemas on March 27 next year. The date was announced on Sunday alongside a clip of the film, which stars Liu Yifei as the legendary Chinese warrior.
EVEN Ed Sheeran was once a busker, so it was only fair his new movie co-star had to experience it, too.
Himesh Patel prepared for his role in Yesterday, as a struggling musician who pinches the hits of The Beatles when he realises no one in the world remembers them, by singing on the streets.
In an exclusive chat, the film’s composer Daniel Pemberton revealed former EastEnders actor Himesh wore a big beard to play to the unsuspecting public.
He said: “We sent him busking which is one of my favourite things. We said, ‘You’ve got to see what it’s like to be a struggling singer-songwriter’.
“He played songs that we helped write for him. Not many were that good but he had to play them, just to get into the mindset of what it was like. He went into Galston, which is where a lot of it is filmed in Norfolk. They recorded it with secret cameras as well.”
The film, directed by Danny Boyle, grossed £2.2million at the cinema in its opening weekend in June.
Unfortunately, I still don’t think Himesh will emulate Ed’s success.
DUA Lipa has done a brilliant job of following her New Rules just a few weeks after her split from Isaac Carew.
The singer made her first public appearance with new boyfriend Anwar Hadid this weekend.
Dua was spotted hand-in-hand with the model at the British Summer Time Festival in London’s Hyde Park on Saturday as they watched Stevie Wonder perform.
I revealed Dua had moved on with Gigi and Bella’s brother last month.
Her three-and-a-half year relationship with Isaac first ended in 2017 – but the pair rekindled it the following year before splitting in June.
Their romance ended for the last time amid various reports the chef had been unfaithful. Anwar seems like a much better match.
DJ ROMAN Kemp, rapper AJ Tracey and comic Asim Chaudhry have opened up over a plate of peri-peri chicken. Check out Nando’s Facebook page for the first episode, also featuring a game of the Nando’s Booth Truths.
ROBBIE Williams has legions of adoring female fans who would like to get close to him.
But when he installed round-the-clock security at his home, it was to keep little green men at bay.
The singer worries he may have a “mental illness” after he refused to engage with extra-terrestrial life in case an alien spoke back to him.
Robbie, who will be headlining BST in London’s Hyde Park on Sunday, said: “The reason why I started having 24-hour security was not for my own safety, it was just because I was scared of what was happening around me when I was alone.
“I was always scared to talk to them because that would make it real and if it was just in my head then it would just be in my head.
“If I said it out loud then I would be more scared than I already was.”
Speaking to Jo Wood for her podcast Alien Nation, Robbie added: “Maybe this is a mental illness. I don’t think so, but I have to put that out there for the sceptics.”
It sounds as if Robbie and wife Ayda Field need to lay off the cheese before bed.
BARBRA Streisand didn’t cut any corners as she made her triumphant return to the UK tonight at BST.
The hitmaker, who arrived on stage in a pink kaftan, had earlier prepared with a three hour soundcheck at London’s Hyde Park, with the audience arriving just as she was finishing.
A source said: “She wanted to sound perfect. She was heard asking for ‘more cello’ as she made sure the orchestra was on point.”
There were rumours Barbra had brought a patch of grass from her house for her cloned dogs Miss Violet and Miss Scarlett. It’s definitely a step up from dried out Hyde Park turf.
SHAWN Mendes tops the Spotify chart thanks to his new track Senorita, as his rumoured romance with collaborator Camila Cabello heats up.
BEAUTIFUL People by Ed Sheeran and Khalid, at No2, is on Ed’s upcoming No.6 Collaborations Project. He’s also dropped tracks with Bruno Mars and Yebba.
LIL NAS X’s Old Town Road remix hangs on in the Top Ten. He joined Cardi B on stage at Wireless Festival to perform the viral track last weekend.
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