Simon Pegg reveals all about a ‘Shaun of the Dead’ sequel that never was
This sounds like it could've been brilliant
Four years have passed since The World’s End, the last instalment in the ‘Cornetto Trilogy’ starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, was released.
If that doesn’t make you feel old enough, it’s a decade since Hot Fuzz, and a full 13 years since Shaun of the Dead, the first of the trio of films.
Due to the success of the zombie comedy horror, there was talk at the time of a sequel, rather than the two largely (but not entirely) unrelated films which followed.
However, there was pub talk between Pegg and director Edgar Wright which escalated as far as a not-entirely-serious treatment for a follow-up.
Simon Pegg has lifted the lid on the idea for a Shaun of the Dead sequel
“I jokingly wrote a treatment for From Dusk Till Shaun, which was a sequel,” Pegg told Entertainment Weekly.
“Edgar thought it would be funny to do the film again, with vampires.”
Wright, who has since directed Baby Driver and co-wrote the screenplay for Ant-Man, admitted he’d love to work with Pegg and Frost again, and while no plans are in place at present it seems like something that will eventually be on the cards.
“When it happens it’ll happen, and it’ll be great. Or people will hate it,” Frost said.
Frost and Pegg in Hot Fuzz
In their EW interview, an oral history of the first film of the trilogy, they also revealed some of the big names who almost ended up with cameos or more major roles in the first film.
Peter Jackson and Cate Blanchett both had minor roles in Hot Fuzz, but Shaun of the Dead could well have featured Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet, according to the director.
“Kate Winslet was briefly interested in playing Liz,” Wright said, while adding, “Helen Mirren was offered Barbara. She said, ‘I would only do the movie if I got to play [Frost’s character] Ed.’”
Ultimately, Kate Ashfield played Liz and Penelope Wilton was handed the part of Barbara, but we’d love to have seen how things would have played out with the alternative castings.
Pegg is currently filming Mission: Impossible 6, while Frost’s upcoming projects include the eponymous role in Captain Pugwash. After that, could it be time for a big reunion?
(Images: Rex Features)
