Monday, November 16

• Nick Frost Talks Paul and Tintin

  Nick Frost wasn't doing much acting before he met Simon Pegg, who included him in his TV show Spaced and has collaborated with him on Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and the upcoming Paul, a movie about two British comic book geeks (Frost and Pegg) who encounter an alien near Area 51. Unlike their previous collaborations, Paul has Greg Mottola at the helm rather than Edgar Wright, though Frost told Movieline the trio is not breaking up.

  It kind of felt like we were cheating on each other, but in a good way — a kind of sexy, duplicitous way. It's good for us all to go off and do other things. Obviously, we'll get back together. People enjoy the stuff that Simon and I do, but I think they get bored of us.

  Paul is also the first movie that Frost has co-written with Pegg, though he says it's been planned for years.

  Simon and I were really big fans of [Steven] Spielberg, and really big fans of The X-Files, as well. We kind of had the idea for Paul when we were shooting Shaun of the Dead, so it's taken quote a while to actually make it. We were shooting the scene in the garden when we were throwing the record at the zombies, and our producer said, "So what do you want to do after this?" And we just kind of came up with an answer on spec, and lo and behold, we made it a few years later.

  Frost and Pegg got to be more than just fans of Spielberg in their other upcoming project, both actors got to work with Spielberg on The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, Spielberg's first animated movie. The process was a scary one for Frost.

  It was really terrifying, since I've only been an actor for eight years. I was a waiter before that for quite a long time. Going from someone who didn't really want to be an actor to working with Steven Spielberg was a heck of a leap. I felt like a five-year-old boy going to college, if you know what I mean. I don't really remember going to high school that much, but I remember watching Close Encounters for the first time as an eleven-year-old and thinking, "F**king hell, this is amazing." Being on set with him and he knows your name, and when he's happy with a take he does a little dance ... it's a great way to work.

  Spielberg has never used the motion-capture technique used to create Tintin, though Frost says Spielberg learned quickly.

  I think he was basically learning as he went along, but his rate of learning and a normal human's rate of learning is a lot different. Most of the time, he shot it like you would any other movie. He would actually operate the camera a lot of the time — he was very hands-on. The way we shot it, it kind of felt like rehearsing a play, because we were doing long takes in a room with four or five other actors in gray suits. It felt a little bit like we were in the Actor's Studio.

  Paul is scheduled for release sometime in 2010, while The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn opens December 23, 2011.

  
  

  Posted 11/16/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Nick Frost | Simon Pegg | Steven Spielberg | Greg Mottola | Edgar Wright | Tintin | Paul

Saturday, November 7

• Simon Pegg Updates Paul

  There hasn't been much word regarding Simon Pegg's newest film, Paul, about two British slackers who decide to go to Area 51 in search of aliens after a trip to Comic-Con only to discover an actual alien. There's been one still released, which doesn't really show very much, and actor Jason Bateman talked about getting a gift from his Paul co-stars, but that's about it.

  Apparently, even Pegg is aware of the lack of news, because he recently offered an update to his fans in the forum of his web-site.

  Hi all

  Thought you might like to hear how things are going on the Paul front. It's been a while since we wrapped now and with the absence of Lance B's video blogs, I guess things must seem to have gone very quiet. Rest assured the good (space)ship Paul is progressing apace. Our venerable and brilliant director Greg Mottola [Superbad], is currently ensconced in an edit suite in NYC with Oscar winning editor, Chris Dickens (Slumdog Millionaire ... and Spaced, Shaun and Fuzz), putting together the first pre f/x cut. The next phase of the process will see Greg and Chris continue to hone and cut the movie and will of course entail the complex process of bringing Paul himself to life, combining the efforts of ace f/x wizards, Double Negative and further work with The Green Hornet himself, Mr. Seth Rogen. Rest assured all is going well and we're all very excited. More news of a kind as we encounter it.

  Simon

  Paul also stars Sigourney Weaver, Bill Hader, Blythe Danner, Jane Lynch and Rogen as the voice of Paul.

  
  
  Next Showing: Paul is expected to debut in the U.K. in 2010

  Posted 11/07/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Jason Bateman | Simon Pegg | Shaun of the Dead | Hot Fuzz | Paul

Sunday, September 27

• Jason Bateman's Amazing Paul Wrap Gift

  Jason Bateman recently wrapped shooting on Paul, the latest Simon Pegg comedy about two comic book nerds (Pegg and Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz compatriot Nick Frost) who meet an alien (voiced by Seth Rogen) while traveling cross country across the U.S. Bateman told Collider that before he left the Paul set to fly home, Pegg and company gave him the ultimate present.

  He and Nick and Joe Lo Truglio and Bill Hader and Kristen [Wiig] and the director, Greg Mottola, gave me the Japanese one-sheet from Teen Wolf 2. Which was pretty fantastic. And they all signed it with really clunky, semi-funny wolf puns like, "it's been a howl working with you" or crap like that. It's very, very funny and beautifully framed and very tasteful — which was sort of hilarious too. But the real joke was me trying to get it home. I don't know how you check something like that. I couldn't carry it on. So it cost me a lot to ship it back, but I'll bill them for that.

  Has Bateman hung the poster in a prominent place in his house?

  No. You can probably bid on it on eBay right now. I don't know where I'm going to put it. I told them immediately as I saw it, "my wife's never going to let me put that up in the house." So we're going to have to wait till we can afford a house with a room where fun stuff goes. It was pretty cool of them though, they're a nice group.

  Paul is scheduled to open sometime in 2010. To see a first-look poster of Paul, head here.

  
  

  Posted 09/27/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Jason Bateman | Nick Frost | Simon Pegg | Teen Wolf Too

Friday, September 4

• Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson Don Bowler Hats in New Image from Tintin Production

  It looks like Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson are trying to make a fashion statement promoting The Adventures of Tintin, the 3-D motion-capture trilogy they're both producing. The Spanish site Estrenos de Cine just published this photo, which they received from Sony Pictures.

  In the photo, the two directors don antiquated bowler hats, a particularly common article of clothing in the Tintin universe. We agree with the folks at Cinema Blend who say that it's rather bizarre seeing Jackson all lithe and trim. Maybe his former hobbit-esque physique was a very prolonged publicity stunt for Lord of the Rings. Either way, it doesn't stop us from getting excited about Tintin, which unfortunately isn't due in U.S. theaters until December 23, 2011.

  The story is based on the Belgian comic strip series that first appeared in the late 1920s. The comic follows Tintin, a Belgian reporter, and his sidekick dog Snowy as they embark on various adventures across the globe. Paramount and Sony, who are producing the movies, decided to release the first movie, Secret of the Unicorn, in international cinemas beginning in late October 2011, ahead of the domestic release. This is due to its familiarity abroad and its lack of exposure in the States. Spielberg will direct that movie, while Jackson will take over for the second.

  The current cast includes British star Jamie Bell in the title role and Daniel Craig as his nemesis. Also cast are Andy Serkis (Gollum in Lord of the Rings), Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones, and Mackenzie Crook.

  You can check out the official English-language Tintin site for more pictures and videos from the production.

  
  

  Posted 09/04/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Daniel Craig | Mackenzie Crook | Nick Frost | Simon Pegg | Steven Spielberg | Peter Jackson | Gad Elmaleh | Jamie Bell | Toby Jones | Andy Serkis | Tintin

Monday, July 6

• Simon Pegg Talks Star Trek Sequel

  

  With Star Trek screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci already working on a sequel, Simon Pegg, who plays Trek's engineer Scotty, feels pretty confident that the sequel is not far away.

  I know the writers are busy thinking about it. I don't really know anything about the story, or if I'm in a bigger role, but I'd imagine we'll be back this time next year. That's not official, but I reckon it's probably about 18 months away from being in the cinema.

  Pegg's not the only one who's excited for the sequel. Director J.J. Abrams has said that the possibilities for the next Trek are limitless.

  
  

  Posted 07/06/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Simon Pegg | J.J. Abrams | Star Trek | Star Trek 2

Friday, May 29

• Steven Spielberg's Tintin Due in December 2011

  Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn finally has a release date. Variety and The Hollywood Reporter confirm that the 3-D motion-capture feature, which went into production this past January, will arrive in U.S. theaters on December 23, 2011.

  The story is based on the Belgian comic strip series that first appeared in the late 1920s. The comic follows Tintin, a Belgian reporter, and his sidekick dog Snowy as they embark on various adventures across the globe. Paramount and Sony, who are producing the movies, decided to release Secret of the Unicorn in international cinemas beginning in late October 2011, ahead of the domestic release, due to its familiarity abroad and its lack of exposure in the States.

  The movie is the first in a series of three adaptations, with the second to be helmed by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson. Spielberg and Jackson are also producing the series, along with Kathleen Kennedy. The current cast includes British star Jamie Bell in the title role and Daniel Craig as his nemesis. Also cast are Andy Serkis (Gollum in LOTR), Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones, and Mackenzie Crook.

  You can check out the official English-language Tintin site, which includes pictures from the production and a video message from Spielberg and Jackson.

  
  

  Posted 05/29/2009 by Rich Z

  Related: Kathleen Kennedy | Mackenzie Crook | Nick Frost | Simon Pegg | Steven Spielberg | Peter Jackson | Gad Elmaleh | Jamie Bell | Toby Jones | Andy Serkis | Tintin

Tuesday, January 6

• Hold Me Now: Pegg and Frost to Play Tintin Thompson Twins

  Comedy duo Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) have joined the cast of Tintin, the 3-D motion-capture adaptation of George Remi's classic comic. Rather than aging '80s pop icons, these Thompson Twins are a pair of bumbling detectives identical in every way except for the shape of their mustaches.

  Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings, King Kong) will play Tintin's sidekick, Captain Haddock. The lead role of Tintin has not yet been cast.

  Tintin is a two picture project being directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson.

  Source: Variety
  

  
  

  Posted 01/06/2009 by reelz

  Related: Nick Frost | Simon Pegg | Steven Spielberg | Peter Jackson | Tintin

Friday, August 8

• Pegg, Novak Joining Tarantino's Bad News Bastards

  Ok, the title of Quentin Tarantino's upcoming World War II flick hasn't actually been changed, but the Kill Bill director is assembling such an odd and seemingly incongruous collection of actors for Inglorious Bastards that his remake of Enzo Castellari's cult classic is starting to look a little more like The Bad News Bears than The Dirty Dozen (Castellari's original inspiration). Today, the trades are reporting that Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz), B.J. Novak (TV's The Office), David Krumholtz (TV's Numb3rs) and Nastassja Kinski (a bunch of German flicks) are all in talks to join confirmed castmembers Eli Roth and Brad Pitt -- thus giving us a few more head-scratchers to ponder.

  Of course, Tarantino is known for audacious casting choices (Pulp Fiction's John Travolta being the most famous -- and most successful -- example) and certainly no one is expecting Saving Private Ryan from the guy, but this is a period flick set against the backdrop of a war that actually took place. Getting a little too ridiculous with the cast risks stretching the bounds of believability beyond even his own admittedly loose standards.

  Can't wait to see how this one turns out.

  
  

  Posted 08/08/2008 by reelz

  Related: Quentin Tarantino | Simon Pegg | Inglourious Basterds

Tuesday, April 1

• Simon Pegg tells us 'How to Lose Friends'

  At the recent junket for Run, Fat Boy, Run, star Simon Pegg confirmed news of his next project, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, based on the memoir by Toby Young, about, as Pegg says, a journalist who "went to New York to work for Vanity Fair and basically made a complete ass of himself."

  "The screenplay that Peter Strong wrote is very much based on the book," Pegg continued. "I mean, we specifically changed the name of the character so it's not Toby. Not least to prevent the real Toby Young's ego being any more enlarged by events!"

  The cast of How to Lose Friends is studded with stars Kirsten Dunst, Jeff Bridges, and Gillian Anderson, amongst others. But it was costar Megan Fox that impressed Pegg the most. "Transformers was no indication of just what a talented actress she is," he gushed. "She blew everybody away on set. She only got a chance to run away from a robot in Transformers."

  For more from Pegg on his current movie, Run, Fat Boy, Run, as well as dish on his role in Star Trek, check out our full Interview with Simon Pegg.

  
  
  Next Showing: Look for How to Lose Friends in theaters this fall.

  Posted 04/01/2008 by reelz

  Related: Simon Pegg | How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

Friday, March 28

• Run, Fat Boy, Run review

  Satire king Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) is back in Run, Fat Boy, Run, a romantic comedy about an out-of-shape average guy who decides to run a marathon to win his ex-fiancee back.

  Take a look at our interview with Simon Pegg on his experience filming Fat Boy--as well as scoop on Star Trek. And to find out if it's worth running to the theater for, take a look at our review.

  
  
  Next Showing: Run, Fat Boy, Run opens today, March 28, 2008.

  Posted 03/28/2008 by reelz

  Related: Simon Pegg | Run, Fat Boy, Run

• Simon Pegg talks Run Fatboy Run and Star Trek

  Simon Pegg, writer/star behind such cult faves as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, sat down with ReelzChannel the other day to talk about his upcoming movie, Run Fat boy Run, which costars Thandie Newton and Hank Azaria.

  Not ones to let an opportunity slip through our hands, however, we did manage to get him to dish a little bit on the upcoming Star Trek movie, in which Pegg takes on the iconic role of Scotty.

  So, for the latest scoop on Fatboy and Star Trek, check out our Interview with Simon Pegg.

  
  
  

  Run Fatboy Run trailer

  Simon Pegg Stars

  Posted 03/28/2008 by reelz

  Related: Simon Pegg | Run, Fat Boy, Run | Star Trek

Friday, October 12

• Star Trek news aplenty

  Slashfilm posted an excellent article last night aggregating the latest on J.J. Abrams' Star Trek. Evidently Abrams is continuing along with his unusual casting choices.

  First, as reported in today's Variety, British cult-favorite funnyman Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) will join the cast as Scotty. And according to TrekMovie, John Cho (American Pie, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) will be playing Sulu.

  Finally, Moviehole is claiming that the budget for the highly anticipated feature is said to be in the neighborhood for $150 to $160 million. We're pretty sure you could find a real Klingon for that kind of dough.

  
  

  Posted 10/12/2007 by reelz

  Related: Simon Pegg | John Cho | Star Trek

Monday, March 19

• Can't Wait for Hot Fuzz? Go to a Hot Fuzztival.

  Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (aka the team that brought you Shaun of the Dead) is coming out with Hot Fuzz, a comedic send-up of cop/action movies, that opens in theaters on April 20th.

  To promote the movie, "Hot Fuzztivals" with Q&As with the Hot Fuzz team, rare theatrical prints, screenings of cop movie classics and advance screenings of Hot Fuzz are happening in select US cities.

  Washington, DC - Fri, March 23 @ Arlington Cinema N Drafthouse (Arlington, VA).

  Boston, MA - Fri, March 16 - Thurs March 29 @ the Brattle Theatre (Cambridge).

  Chicago, IL - Sun, March 25 - Mon, March 26 @ the Brew & View and the AMC River East.

  Atlanta, GA - Mon, March 26 - Weds, March 28 @ the Palace Theatre.

  San Francisco, CA - Tues, March 27 - Tues, April 3 @ the Landmark Lumiere Theatre, Landmark Embarcadero Center Cinemas, and Landmark Clay Theatre.

  Dallas, TX - Thurs, March 29 @ the AMC Northpark 15.

  Austin, TX - Sat, March 31 @ the Alamo Drafthouse Downtown.

  Seattle, WA - Mon, Apr 2 @ the Landmark Varsity Theatre.

  Los Angles, CA - Sat, Apr 7 @ the Aero Theater (Santa Monica).

  New York, NY - Tues, Apr 10 @ the Film Society of Lincoln Center/Walter Reade Theater.

  Check your local listings for details.

   

  
  
  

  Reelz Clip

  The creators of Shaun of the Dead are back again.

  Posted 03/19/2007 by reelz

  Related: Nick Frost | Simon Pegg | Edgar Wright | Hot Fuzz | Shaun of the Dead