Almost a decade after Shaun of the Dead launched director Edgar Wright (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) and star Simon Pegg (Star Trek: Into Darkness) onto the international stage, the thematic trilogy that started with that film will soon be coming to a close. This October, Wright's "Blood and Ice Cream" or "Three Flavours Cornetto" trilogy of genre parodies (which continued in 2007 with Hot Fuzz) will conclude – appropriately enough – with The World's End.

Information on The World's End has been at something of a premium, leaking out in small doses from a tightly controlled production. With the film officially in post-production, Wright and crew have begun to release the requisite promotional materials to build hype for the film's autumn release.

Empire has published two new photographs from the production of The World's End. One of these stills shows off the five members of the principal cast as they commence the film's central drinking extravaganza; another gives audiences a look at Pegg's ne'er-do-well protagonist Gary King. You can view these full-size images below.

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The World's End Martin Freeman Paddy Considine Simon Pegg Nick Frost Eddie Marsan

The World's End Simon Pegg

The World's End will follow a group of former friends brought back together by perpetual man-child Gary King to reenact an epic pub crawl they once embarked upon in their 20s. As the 40-something estranged companions try to drink their way toward The World's End pub, they soon discover that their adventure coincides with an as-of-yet unspecified apocalypse.

Though slight in number, the above images display a number of interesting tidbits about Wright's final parody. For one – and despite the fact that most of their faces are hidden behind glasses of ale – we see solid confirmation of a great central cast. In addition to Pegg, the circle of former drinking buddies contains Martin Freeman (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) as serious businessman Oliver, Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows) as dyspeptic car-salesman Peter, Paddy Considine (The Bourne Ultimatum) as former rock-star Steven, and – of course – Nick Frost (Attack the Block) as Gary's now-respectable best friend Andy Knight. It should be noted that – with the exception of Marsan – all of these actors have featured in at least a cameo role in the previous "Three Flavours" films. Nonetheless, this is an undeniably formidable gathering of comedic talent, which hopefully bodes well for the film.

Edgar Wright's The World's End gets a poster and release date

Perhaps the most dramatic aspect of the photos is the costuming for Simon Pegg's Gary King, which is something of a departure for the actor. Pegg often plays schlubby everymen or nervous geek-types (though he put did put in an impressively parodic performance of a stoic action hero in Hot Fuzz). King is described as, "...a 40-year-old man trapped at the cigarette end of his teens," and the photos of Pegg in character seem to embody that fully, appearing as an aging burnout trying far too hard to remain cool. Given that the previous "Blood and Ice Cream" movies have tackled themes of personal growth and accepting responsibility, we'll no doubt see Pegg shed some of these affectations as he attempts to reach The World's End.

The World's End is solidly on the list of films that we at Screen Rant are looking forward to most in 2013. Though we're still in the dark on just how Edgar Wright plans to light the planet on fire as his principals drink their way through North London, we'll be sure to bring you every new photo and morsel of news about the film that we receive.

The World's End will impact theaters on October 25, 2013.

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Source: Empire [via Coming Soon]