The Sweeney (2012 film) the gun. Some time later, Regan returns to the now reactivated Flying Squad offices, reinstated. He and the rest of the Squad leave on a case, with Inspector Lewis watching Carter and Regan as they go. A film version of the television series was first announced in 2008. The film was to be produced by DNA Films, and to be written and directed by Nick Love. Love was asked to write the film alongside Ian Kennedy Martin, the creator of the original series. Filming was originally planned for Spring 2009, with Ray Winstone's name confirmed for the role of Jack
The Sweeney two-year gap between the third and fourth series while the team made two full-length feature films ("Sweeney!" and "Sweeney 2") to cash-in on the show's popularity. For the fourth series there were several changes, including a different title sequence and DCI Haskins being absent from a number of episodes. The final series has been criticised as the weakest. This decline in quality led John Thaw and Dennis Waterman to the realisation that the show was in danger of running out of steam, and to take the decision to end it while it was still at the peak of its popularity.