We've been waiting for this for nearly 15 years. The quirky detective returns

Have you missed the devilishly smart and extremely non-social detective Monk? We have good news! After several years, the hero will return to the screen, this time in a film. What do we know about the production?

Almost 15 years have passed since Detective Monk solved his last puzzle. However, this extremely distinctive character still has a loyal fan base who received the news of their favorite detective's return to the screen with great enthusiasm. What do we know about the production and, most importantly, when will it premiere?

The series "Monk" was aired from 2002-2009. It consists of 8 seasons and a total of 125 episodes. Tony Shalhoub played the title lead, whose portrayal of a detective suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder gained him immense popularity and admiration from the audience. The actor was awarded an Emmy for this role three times.

In addition to Shalhoub, the cast included the likes of Ted Levine, Jason-Gray Stanford, Traylor Howard, and Bitty Schram. The series was created by Andy Breckman ("Mother for a Genius"), and the majority of episodes were directed by Randy Zisk ("The Mentalist").

As reported by Collider, from 2009 to 2012 the title held the position of the leader in terms of viewership of a single episode of a drama series in the history of cable television. This record was eventually beaten by "The Walking Dead". The record brought "Monk" the series finale, which attracted as many as 9.4 million viewers on screen.

In "Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie", the eponymous detective tackles a personal matter involving his beloved stepdaughter Molly, a journalist preparing for her wedding. As usual, Monk will use unconventional investigative methods to solve the mystery.

It is already known that the movie will feature the return of the show's fan-favorite actors. We will see the entire core cast on screen: Ted Levine as Captain Stottlemeyer, Jason Gray-Stanford as Lieutenant Disher, and Traylor Howard as Natalie Teeger.

Screenwriter and producer Andy Breckman, along with directors David Hoberman and Randy Zisk, have released a statement regarding the new production:

"Twelve years have passed since the world saw a new version of 'Monk'. The world has changed greatly over these years, and 'Monk 2023' reflects it. We are thrilled that we created a movie version of 'Monk' and that every one of our stars was so enthusiastically ready to return. But in returning, we wanted to film a movie worthy of our legacy. 'Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie' is a powerful, emotional, fun, uplifting story with something to say about the human condition. It will be both familiar and surprising".

"Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie" is available from December 8, 2023, on the Peacock platform.