British filmmaker Edgar Wright is set for a notable year with several projects underway, including his upcoming reimagining of the 1980s film The Running Man featuring Glen Powell. Alongside this, Wright is adapting the 2020 bestseller The Chain, scripting the story with Jane Goldman, known for her work on the Kingsman series. These developments highlight Wright’s renewed focus on directing after a relatively quiet period.
Potential Reunion with Simon Pegg Sparks Interest
Excitement is building around rumors that Wright may collaborate once more with frequent partner Simon Pegg on a new comedy film. Despite this, the new project will not be a continuation of their Cornetto trilogy, preserving the trilogy’s unique status. After discussing a preliminary idea, Pegg remarked,
“When Edgar and I do our next movie, we’ll probably disappoint everyone. There’s something always in the works with Edgar and I. It’s not a matter of if, just when”
—Simon Pegg, Actor and Writer.
Nick Frost, who often co-stars alongside Wright and Pegg, also expressed his enthusiasm for future joint efforts, saying,
“I think me, and Simon and Edgar will definitely do something else at some point. Even if we’re 60, it’s like, so how are these 60-year-old friends now? What’s their relationship like? And our audience will be 60 as well. We’ve all grown up together.”
—Nick Frost, Actor and Comedian.
A Decade of Selective Film Work from Wright
Although known for his influential films, Wright has directed only two feature films since 2017: Baby Driver and Last Night in Soho. During this period, he also directed a music video for artist Beck and produced a live concert film for the band Sparks. While he is not prolific in quantity, Wright’s films maintain a reputation for quality and inventiveness.
His work with Simon Pegg, particularly the Cornetto trilogy with hits like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, remains highly regarded. These films continue to be celebrated as iconic comedies, reinforcing Wright’s impact despite a moderate output over the years.
Influence of Terry Gilliam’s ‘Brazil’ on Wright’s Vision
Wright credits Terry Gilliam’s 1985 film Brazil as a crucial influence on his creative style. The dystopian sci-fi movie, which explores themes of surveillance and control through a surreal narrative, left a profound impression on Wright during his teenage years. Reflecting on the film, Wright said,
“When I first saw Brazil in the late ’80s, it hit me like a truck. It was such a powerful, bold vision, so joyous in its escapism and so crushing in its ultimate nihilism, that it left my teenage mind in tatters. I wasn’t quite sure what I’d watched, but knew it was unlike anything I’d seen before.”
—Edgar Wright, Director.
Though one of Robert De Niro’s lesser-known performances, Brazil remains a landmark movie often cited among the greatest British films. Wright notes its enduring creative impact, adding,
“The impressive fact is that, decades later, I still haven’t seen anything quite like Brazil. It escaped from Terry Gilliam’s brain with such velocity that its power even today is undeniable. I showed it at the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles in January of this year, and it still confounded me.”
—Edgar Wright, Director.
Terry Gilliam’s New Film Plans and Potential Collaboration
At 84 years old, Terry Gilliam recently announced his latest film, Carnival: At the End of Days, featuring Johnny Depp and Adam Driver. The dark comedy revolves around God intending to end humanity, only to be persuaded otherwise by Satan. Despite plans to begin filming in April, Gilliam is struggling to secure funding for the project. Given Wright’s admiration for Gilliam’s work, there is speculation that he might support the ongoing campaign to bring the movie to fruition.
