The TV series, Zombie Dream, and the movie that marks the before and after arrival of Shaun of the Dead (Zombie Party).
Directed by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, Edgar Wright and the late Shaun starrer recently spoke with IndieWire about how a neat sequence in the Spaced series turned a playful idea into a cult work, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. . anniversary. Who would have thought that an episode of the television series would be the offspring of one of the zombie comedies in cinema?
It all begins with a sequence in Spaced where Peg’s character, Tim Beasley, imagines himself in a video game-inspired zombie shooter. Pegg recalls that after filming that scene, he and Wright felt an immediate urge to explore more. “We came out of that fun, crazy experience and realized we had to make a movie about zombies,” shared Pegg. Wright, equally enthusiastic, added that as they drove home that night in a taxi, they couldn’t help but plan what would eventually become of the late Shaun.
A melodramatic approach in an apocalyptic world
Unlike other zombie films, Wright conceived Shaun of the Dead as a narrative that revolved around the existential crisis of Shaun, played by Pegg. In the midst of the zombie apocalypse, Shawn tries to mend his failed romantic relationship while dealing with the struggles of being a perpetual teenager whose life seems to be falling apart. Actress Kate Ashfield, who plays Shaun’s frustrated girlfriend Liz, marveled at the strong writing and production: “Everything came together so well; Edgar directed countless movies and his brother directed the storyboards. “They knew exactly what they wanted to do.”
Not only has Shaun of the Dead received critical acclaim, but he has also received praise from Hollywood bigwigs such as George Romero, a pioneer of the zombie genre. Its success prompted Wright, Pegg and Frost to collaborate on Hot Fuzz and World’s End, forming what is now known as the Three Flavors Cornetto Trilogy, both projects receiving critical acclaim. Despite the impact and respect for his work on the PSA video in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, Pegg was clear last year about his decision not to continue Shaun’s story.
The present and future of Edgar Wright
Wright hasn’t slowed down in recent years. In the year The 2021 Sparks Brothers documentary and psychological thriller premiered last night in Soho. Additionally, last year Scott Pilgrim’s adaptation of Brian Lee O’Malley’s graphic novels, Tax Off, once again demonstrated his ability to visually reinvent existing narratives.
Shaun of the Dead is still around, attracting new and existing fans on platforms like Prime Video, where it can be rented or bought, ensuring that its legacy is alive and well.
Edgar Wright is immersed in his next big project, a modern adaptation of The Running Man, Stephen King’s iconic dystopian novel. In this issue, Wright plans to stay true to his source material by offering a scathing critique of reality-TV obsessed society. Known for his innovative visual and narrative style, it is hoped that Wright’s approach will bring a much-needed freshness to this classic, furthering the debate on the ethical boundaries of entertainment. With this project, Wright seeks to critically examine social tensions and media surveillance.