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Stephen Merchant on why The Outlaws was changed from a movie to TV show

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

Stephen Merchant's brand new comedy-thriller series The Outlaws debuted last night to some appreciative reviews – but it turns out that if the show's creators had stuck with their original plan for the story, we probably wouldn't be watching it on BBC One.

Merchant, who co-created the show and also stars in it as Greg, has told Digital Spy and other press that the six-part series was actually originally intended to be a movie before the creators decided to opt for a longer running time.

"[Co-creator] Elgin [James] and I initially drafted it as a film, but you just couldn't get under the skin of all of the characters," he explained. "The reason most films don't have endless characters, they tend to focus on one or two people, is because you don't have the running time, whereas with a TV show, you can let it sprawl a bit more.

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

Related: Stephen Merchant teases new comedy thriller The Outlaws

"So we realised that was a better way to explore the characters. It's a different type of storytelling when you do TV as opposed to film, that is fun."

There are certainly plenty of characters for us to get to know in The Outlaws, which follows seven strangers with very different backgrounds who are forced together to complete their Community Payback sentences in Bristol.

As the unlikely group gets to know each other better, and their private lives begin to intersect, the Outlaws discover a mysterious bag filled with money, but little do they know that this bag is being sought by some very dangerous people.

The Outlaws are soon forced to unite to protect one of their own from Bristol's most dangerous criminal gang, but whether everyone will survive their Community Payback remains to be seen.

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

Related: Stephen Merchant teases Christopher Walken's character in The Outlaws

Oscar-winning actor Christopher Walken makes his lead British TV debut in the show, while The Outlaws also stars Killing Eve actor Darren Boyd, Poldark's Eleanor Tomlinson, EastEnders star Clare Perkins, Back actress Jessica Gunning and Honour's Rhianne Barreto.

Hanna star Gamba Cole, Bancroft's Charles Babalola, Dracula star Dolly Wells and Everybody's Talking About Jamie actor Richard E Grant also star.

The Outlaws airs on BBC One.

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