Iannucci hints at Partridge movie plot

Armando Iannucci has revealed the highly anticipated Alan Partridge movie will see the hapless presenter doing battle with a media giant.

The writer-director revealed the film, starring Steve Coogan as the bumbling host, will see Partridge taking objection when his local digital TV channel is taken over and renamed Shape.

The plot comes in the wake of Coogan taking his own stand against the media and pursuing a legal action against News International for phone hacking.

The case was settled earlier this year, but the star – whose company has gone on to sign a deal with Sky – has continued to be vocal about media intrusion.

Iannucci, speaking at a Bafta screening of his new HBO political comedy Veep, said: “Alan is in Norwich.

“It’s not ’Alan goes to Hollywood’; it’s not ’Alan invaded by aliens’ or anything like that.

“He’s on North Norfolk Digital, which is taken over by a bigger media conglomerate and has it’s name changed to Shape.

“And that kicks everything off.”

He added the script was being finalised and the film would begin production at the end of the year or early in 2013.

Iannucci has just finished filming the new series of BBC spin-doctor comedy 'The Thick Of It' and is already writing a new series of 'Veep', set in Washington and starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, which is about to have its first series aired on Sky Atlantic.