Red Dwarf’s Future: A New Generation or a Fond Farewell?
The cult science fiction comedy, Red Dwarf, a beloved fixture on British television for decades, might be on the cusp of a revival, but not as fans might expect. Co-creator Rob Grant has revealed that discussions are underway for the show’s return, with a significant twist: an entirely new cast.
Originally conceived by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, Red Dwarf first graced the screens of BBC Two from 1988 to 1999. The premise centred on Dave Lister (Craig Charles), a slovenly spaceship engineer who awakens from a three-million-year stasis. As the last known human, his solitary existence is punctuated by the holographic projection of his insufferable bunkmate, Arnold Rimmer (Chris Barrie), and the stylish feline evolution, The Cat (Danny John-Jules), descended from Lister’s pregnant pet cat.
After its initial run on the BBC, the show found a new lease of life on the channel Dave, broadcasting new episodes from 2009 to 2020. Now, with a new prequel novel on the horizon, Rob Grant has been candid about the possibility of revisiting the universe of Red Dwarf.
“Red Dwarf: Titan” and the Seeds of a Reboot
The upcoming novel, Red Dwarf: Titan, penned by Grant and co-author Andrew Marshall, is slated for release in July. Set prior to the events of the television series, the book delves into the escapades of Lister and Rimmer during shore leave on one of Saturn’s moons.
Grant confirmed that Titan was initially envisioned as a television spin-off. “Yes! We originally wrote it as a treatment for a TV spin-off and took it around, but it’s horribly expensive, and we couldn’t really raise enough interest,” he explained. He further elaborated on the potential for a screen adaptation, stating, “We might down the line… we’ve been talking to streamers about it but, when you read it, [you’ll realise] it’s a whole world you’d have to create. It wouldn’t be cheap.”
This admission strongly suggests that a direct return for the original cast, including Craig Charles and Chris Barrie, who are now in their sixties, is unlikely. Furthermore, given the prequel setting, characters like The Cat and the android Kryten (Robert Llewellyn) would not yet exist.
Recasting for a New Era
Grant acknowledged the age of the original cast members. “The guys are getting old,” he stated. He believes that a new iteration of Red Dwarf would necessitate a fresh cast. “We’d really need to recast. That’s what I thought the Titan spin-off might achieve. We’d get a new Rimmer and Lister – but the existing cast could appear in quite decent roles, if they wanted to,” he proposed.
He understands the deep affection fans have for the original actors. “I know – and I’m with them – that the fans adore the cast. I adore them too. And just to a lot of people, it just wouldn’t feel right, anybody else playing anything like those parts,” Grant conceded. However, he posed the rhetorical question, “But what else can you do? Except AI?!” hinting at the creative challenges and perhaps a touch of futuristic humour.
Past Attempts and Lingering Hopes
The prospect of a Red Dwarf comeback has been a recurring theme. Last year, the show’s other co-creator, Doug Naylor, revealed that plans for a 90-minute special had unfortunately fallen through. Naylor shared on Reddit that UKTV had initially expressed interest in a new special, with the cast ready to participate. However, he was later informed that the project would not be moving forward.
Despite this setback, Naylor remained optimistic about the show’s potential return. He had been working on a movie concept, Out of the Red, which would feature the original cast playing fictionalised versions of themselves.
A spokesperson for UKTV at the time commented, “UKTV has no current plans to commission further episodes of Red Dwarf. It’s been a privilege to work with Doug Naylor and the cast in a relationship that began with the Back to Earth specials, which premiered to 4 million viewers, and has subsequently produced three full series, a retrospective and Red Dwarf’s first-ever feature-length, The Promised Land.”
Nevertheless, Naylor has consistently expressed his hope for the show’s future. “Absolutely, yeah, there’s always that possibility,” he told Radio Times. “It’s public knowledge now this week, because I’ve announced it, and so now we will go out. The [cast] are really keen to do more.”
Resolving Rights Disputes and a Shared Future
The show’s trajectory had been further complicated by a High Court action launched in 2021 by Naylor against his former writing partner, Rob Grant, concerning the rights to the series. The partnership, which dissolved in the mid-1990s, had seen both creators, or collaborators, contribute to the show’s writing.
By 2023, a resolution was reached. A joint statement announced, “Rob Grant and Doug Naylor are delighted to announce that the ongoing dispute over the Red Dwarf rights has been resolved. Moving onwards and upwards, Rob and Doug hope to launch separate iterations of Red Dwarf across various media, working again with the cast and other valued partners, and wish each other the very best. Smoke a kipper, Red Dwarf will be back for breakfast!!”
This agreement signals a path forward, allowing for distinct projects to emerge from the Red Dwarf universe, potentially involving both new and existing talent.
All existing series of Red Dwarf are currently available for viewing on BBC iPlayer. Red Dwarf: Titan, by Rob Grant and Andrew Marshall, is set to be published on July 16, 2026.
