Trainspotting to get a TV Show: What We Know So Far

Trainspotting is one of the most iconic films of all time. For many it’s a cult classic, and the motto “Choose Life” is something they live by. The two movies by Danny Boyle opened people’s eyes to drug problems in the UK, and while Mark Renton went to heroin drug rehab centre and got clean, he was soon drawn back in, becoming a product of his environment once more.

And now, Trainspotting is back, but rather than Renton being the main focus, Robert Carlyle has confirmed that a TV spin-off series about Begbie is in the works.

The show will be a TV adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s follow-up novel to Trainspotting, The Blade Artist and it’s currently in the early stages, while there have also been rumours of a third movie.

It’s expected the TV show will land first though, with a small-screen outing for Carlyle.

He spoke to the NME on the matter, stating, “Irvine [Welsh] and myself have been chatting quite a lot recently with a couple of excellent producers in London about [continuing the Trainspotting story].

“As you know there was another book called The Blade Artist which is just entirely about Begbie and his mad story. It’s still in its early moments but it’s looking pretty good that this will happen eventually.”

The novel itself catches up with Begbie’s past and present, seeing the character reformed and rechristened as Jim Francis, living a new life with a wife and children in California.

Carlyle went on to add that the drama will likely be feature six-hour-long episodes and will essentially flick from Los Angeles to Edinburgh.

It’s unsure how far along progress with the series currently is, with Carlyle claiming he was hoping to meet up with Irvine Welsh in the next year to discuss the return of Begbie even further.

It will certainly be a series that is hot in demand and will no doubt be one of the most talked about series in a while if they get it right. There has been no mention as to whether Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller and Ewen Bremner will return, but it would be great to see the gang back together, whether that be for a six-part series, or Trainspotting 3, which we’re sure will come along in the next five years or so.

Either way, it’s exciting times for those lovers of Trainspotting!