The British supernatural comedy Ghosts successfully expanded into a US adaptation after the original UK series concluded its five-season run. Both versions center on a couple managing a haunted manor they intend to convert into a hotel.
The Them There Collective and the 2019 UK Premiere
The original Ghosts series, which premiered in 2019, was the brainchild of a comedic troupe known as Them There. This collective—comprising Matthew Baynton, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, Ben Willbond, and Simon Farnaby—had already established a rhythmic shorthand through their work on the 2009 sketch series Horrible Histories. According to the report, this shared sensibility allowed the team to blend absurdity with genuine pathos, creating a world where the spectral residents of a manor are as preoccupied with their daily grievances as the living are with their renovations.
The UK iteration of Ghosts reached its conclusion in December 2023 with a festive Christmas special. By focusing on the friction between the living and the dead, the series managed to explore heavy themes of loss and community without losing its light-hearted edge. This balance is largely credited to the cohesive writing style of the Them There collective, who also applied their comedic approach to projects like Yonderland and the film Bill.
How Joe Port and Joe Wiseman Tailored the 2021 US Debut
When the format crossed the Atlantic in 2021, developers Joe Port and Joe Wiseman took a conservative approach to the adaptation. Rather than dismantling the core premise, the US version of Ghosts maintained the central plot of a recently married couple—played by Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar—inheriting a haunted estate. As the report says, the US team focused on tailoring the humor to a North American audience while remaining strictly faithful to the original UK flavor.
This decision to prioritize faithfulness over reinvention allowed the US version of Ghosts to build its own loyal following quickly. By keeping the comedic beats and the character dynamics largely intact, Port and Wiseman ensured that the universal appeal of the premise—the chaotic intersection of different historical eras in one house—translated seamlessly across cultures.
A Departure from the 'The Office' Style Overhaul
The success of Ghosts reflects a shift in how American networks handle international intellectual property. In the past, remakes often involved significant structural changes, such as the transition of Strictly Come Dancing into Dancing With the Stars or the cultural translation of The Office. However, Ghosts represents a trend where the source material is respected as a blueprint rather than a suggestion.
By leaving the core concept of the haunted house largely unaltered, Ghosts avoids the "uncanny valley" of remakes where a show feels too Americanized to be interesting or too foreign to be relatable. This strategy suggests that audiences are increasingly open to formats that preserve the spirit of their origin, provided the character work remains strong.
The Possession of Button House and the Jump to Cinema
The brand expansion of Ghosts is now moving beyond the television screen. In the UK,the series has already produced a companion book to provide deeper character insights. More significantly, a film titled Ghosts: The Possession of Button House is scheduled for release later this year. The film is intended to pick up where the series ended, continuing the exploration of the manor's ghostly inhabitants.
Will the Button House Film Maintain the Series' Levity?
While the upcoming film Ghosts: The Possession of Button House promises to adhere to the mix of levity and pathos found in the show, several details remain unverified. The report does not specify whether the film will introduce new spectral characters or focus exclusively on the existing cast.. Furthermore, it remains unclear if the film will be a UK-exclusive release or if a corresponding cinematic event is planned for the US version of the franchise.
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