Steve Coogan Is Under Siege In the 'Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa' Trailer

A feature film based on Steve Coogan' fictional self-absorbed radio and TV presenter Alan Partridge has been in the works for years, with rumors of it first surfacing way back in 2004.  The character, created by Coogan, In the Loop's Armando Ianucci, and others, has appeared in numerous series and specials, and is so popular that the long-developing movie is probably the most anticipated comedy across the pond. Sorry, Edgar Wright. A teaser for it was released back in March, and now the fuller trailer for Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa is here.

Directed by Declan Lowney with a script co-written by Coogan, the story has Alan getting an employee (Colm Meaney) fired from his radio station, only for the disgruntled worker to return and take everybody hostage. The self-involved Alan uses the crisis as an opportunity to make himself the center of attention.

I must confess to never having seen a moment of Alan Partridge anywhere, although I've heard of him frequently. The trailer doesn't do much for me and I found it to be insufferable in the way Martin Short's Jiminy Glick was. There's a lot of great Brit talent attached, so maybe the finished product will be better.

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa hits the UK on August 9th but has no U.S. date yet.