Exclusive: Simon Pegg Talks Paul Actor on his upcoming sci-fi comedy Source: Empire
More details about Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s forthcoming self-written comedy Paul were announced this week – most mouthwatering of all the revelation that the title character, who accompanies Pegg and Frost’s Brit geeks across America, is actually an alien.
But we weren’t satisfied with that, so we got Pegg on the blower and jabbed him repeatedly with pointed and probing questions, like some demented movie Paxman, until he spilled more beans.
“I’m very, very excited about it. I think it’s a bigger film than probably Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz put together,” he said, before emphasising, “but it’s very much not the third one in the cycle. That’s reserved for when Edgar and I write together.”
That film, provisionally titled World’s End, is in the works, but Pegg is currently focused on Paul, which will start shooting next April in New Mexico, with Greg Mottola on board as director.
“I was a huge fan of Daytrippers, not to mention Superbad,” said Pegg, who’s been working on the idea with Frost for almost five years. “That’s why Greg sprang to mind, because he’s got a great indie sensibility.”
Pegg and Frost will play Graham and Clive, respectively – two British geeks on a pilgrimage to the San Diego Comic-Con. “They’re not the most confident guys in the world - Nick’s character is perhaps slightly more confident than mine, but they occupy the position of geek, you know?” said Pegg. “And their world is about to get a whole lot bigger.”
Cue the title character, who the two friends pick up while travelling across the Midwest in a hired RV. “He’s not your average alien,” teased Pegg of Paul.
At the moment, though, it’s not clear whether Paul will be an entirely CG character. “We’re figuring it out at the moment and having real fun, working closely with Double Negative who did Shaun and Hot Fuzz and Cloverfield and Hellboy II,” added Pegg.
“We’re looking to really work to find the best way to do it and to create something which is utterly believable and sympathetic and has gravity and presence and is somebody that you totally buy. He’s the eponymous hero, so he has to be amazing.”
"I have a bad feeling about this" To quote Han Solo...... I seem to remember a film in the past with the title Howard The Duck....... Although a saving grace is that I struggle to see Pegg and Frost making that error......Oh and George Lucas isnt involved..... ... Read More
love this idea - not totally original or earth shattering but then what is??
will watch with interest...
they should really stop off at devil's tower though.
If I had Pegg's Hollywood mates I'd get Spielberg on board as a tourist visiting the Close Encounters location ... Read More
Jay & SIlent Bob?
They have to meet. They have to. Just a quick cameo. My head would explode at how awesome it'd be to see Pegg, Frost, Mewes and Smith on the same screen. ... Read More
L: The_Hat
...except set in America with a van and an alien. Lord of the Rings was great. You do the math!
sp;
Unless you are American, it's MATHS. ... Read More
I too have made that pilgrimage to SDCC, something every British geek should do at some point in their lives. This is a movie I can relate to. Except for the alien bit. ... Read More
