The wonderful decade of the 90s was something that every Millennial and early Gen Z member would remember as a fond childhood memory. Filled with a lot of cultural and technological changes, the world of pop culture was also introduced to the iconic character of Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean in the 1990s show of the same name.
Even though the world only got to witness the shenanigans of the manchild for a single season in the year 1990, the character became an immortal part of pop culture and childhood memories for numerous children and adults worldwide, which lead to Bean returning back to mesmerize the world with his comedic adventures many times since then. But then, Atkinson eventually decided to retire the character for a very sincere reason that gave closure to the millions of his fans worldwide.
The Reason Why Rowan Atkinson Retired Mr. Bean
You may have seen him as Agent Johnny English in the Johnny English franchise, as well as many other iconic comedy roles in the film industry, but Mr. Bean was the character that immortalized the $150 Million worth Rowan Atkinson as the classic manchild of the 90s that you could recognize from a mile away. The show was the outlet for the Man Vs. Bee star lets his inner, more airheaded persona take the stage and entertain the audience with laughter and joy all over the world.
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But as the years went by with Mr. Bean making countless appearances in films and other outlets, the actor made up his mind to let the character rest after giving his everything to provide laughter to the audience. During an interview with BBC Newsbeat, Atkinson talked about his reason for the character’s retirement related to the image of Bean being a person who is perceived to be a timeless figure in pop culture, and due to Atkinson’s advancing age, he thought it would be the best to let his most iconic character get a well-deserved retirement. He said:
“I don’t want him to particularly grow old, and if I carry on playing him then he’s going to get older, whether we like it or not, I’ve always regarded Mr Bean as an ageless, timeless figure. I would like to remember [him] how he was five or 10 years ago.”
Thus, after more than 20 years of spreading joy, the character bid farewell to everyone, who still remembers him fondly in their memories to this date.
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Why Mr. Bean Is So Iconic
During the days of romantic sitcoms, Mr. Bean was one of the few shows that focused on the day-to-day adventures of one single individual with certain quirks that made him a hilariously wonderful teacher for the masses. This, mixed with his iconic tweed jacket attire and his faithful companion Teddy by his side, Rowan Atkinson didn’t let the audiences get disappointed by the show or the subsequent movies that came after. Thus, giving us such a memorable time is the reason why Mr. Bean still remains in everyone’s hearts.
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Mr. Bean, now streaming on Hulu
Source: The Things
