What would happen if James Bond and Inspector Clouseau had a baby?
“It was borne of the seeds of James Bond, with a little bit of Clouseau thrown in, but it really became its own event,” adds Segal, best known for Adam Sandler comedies Anger Management and 50 First Dates. Segal calls the show “one of the best TV comedies in America ever”. In a town renowned for remakes, re-imaginings and reversions, it has proved impossible for Hollywood to resist. Originally touted for a film remake in 1995 with Jim Carrey as the lead, the series now makes it film debut on with American Office star Steve Carell as Max. Playful “It’s like taking your dad’s beautiful sports car for a ride – you just don’t want to crash it,” says Segal – a huge fan of Mel Brooks’s creation. Brooks gave the final film his blessing. But Segal stresses that no prior knowledge of the series is needed to enjoy the film, which moves away from the show and imagines how Smart first became a field agent. “Although we had to embrace the spirit of the show to please core fans, basically we were ma
