Director Edgar Wright shares that he was told that Shaun of the Dead would go "straight to video" by an extra when filming the horror-comedy. The 2004 horror-comedy was the first film in the director's Cornetto Trilogy and was followed by buddy cop comedy Hot Fuzz and sci-fi comedy The World's End. The film was a critical and financial success, receiving nominations for two BAFTA awards, and has since been widely discussed and analyzed.
Shaun of the Dead has become an iconic film since its release, made on a budget of $6.1 million, the film would go on to earn $30 million globally. The film has gathered a cult following and has been referenced many times, from Phineas and Ferb to World of Warcraft, to even a fictional sequel being advertised in Miles Morales's (Shameik Moore) dimension in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The film is incredibly recognizable, so much that stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost parodied a Shaun of the Dead scene for a COVID-19 advice video during lockdowns in the UK. However, Edgar Wright has revealed that not everyone during production had faith in the project.
While being interviewed by British comedian Russell Howard on his topical comedy show, The Russell Howard Hour, ahead of the release of his latest film, Last Night In Soho, Wright revealed an extra had told him that the film was destined to be "straight to DVD" in a humorous story. While shooting outside of the Duke of Albany pub in New Cross, the pub that would be used for the Winchester, an older extra cast as a zombie mistook Wright for a runner. The extra turned to Wright and told him that the film would be "straight to video," with Wright going along with the extra's assumption and politely agreeing. Check out Wright's full recount below.
"So we were in there, like, outside a pub in New Cross, and there was one like, there were a lot of extras there, and there was one guy that was in his seventies, an extra that you know was particularly amazing looking, and he came up to me thinking I was a runner on the movie, and he looked at the set and turned to me and he goes "Straight to video for this one"... I just, uh, like the polite man I am went "Yeah.."."
Though Wright has no desire to revisit Shaun or Ed, the original film helped Wright reach further global recognition, with critics, fans, and even other filmmakers and creatives such as George Romero, Quentin Tarantino, and Steven King, celebrating the film. Outside of the Cornetto Trilogy, Wright went on to direct an adaptation of Byan Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim VS The World, as well as direct original films such as Baby Driver and Last Night in Soho. The director was also originally set to direct Ant-Man for Marvel Studios, though left the project due to creative differences.
With Shaun of the Dead being as widely as celebrated and revered as it currently is and Last Night in Soho receiving much praise, it is difficult to consider a time where it would be considered a risk. By the time of its production, Wright was already a recognizable name in the United Kingdom through his television work, such as his directing role on Simon Pegg and Jessica Hyne's sitcom Spaced, which itself was celebrated and nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Best Situation Comedy. Despite the extra's initial skepticism, both Wright and Shaun of the Dead have certainly cemented their places in the history of the British film industry.
Source: Russell Howard