The Thick Of It won two Bafta awards in 2005

Currently titled In The Loop, the project is still "very much in the early stages", said a spokeswoman for BBC Films.

The team is led by Armando Iannucci, also responsible for news satire The Day Today and the Alan Partridge shows.

The Thick Of It, which launched on BBC Four in 2005, takes a wry look at the inner workings of British government.

The partially-improvised comedy is shot with handheld cameras to give it a documentary feel. It has also been shown on BBC Two.

Producer Adam Tandy said the film would be "set in the same world" as In The Thick Of It, but declined to say whether any characters from the TV series would make an appearance.

The writing team are in the early stages of scripting the project, he added.

Christina Langan, whose work includes Oscar-winning drama The Queen, is an executive producer.

In 2005, The Thick Of It won the Bafta for best sitcom. Actor Chris Langham - who played blundering minister Hugh Abbot - also won the award for best comedy performance.