Jan 7 2010 Michael Cera Killing Some Guys with a Flaming Katana
From the final battle of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (spoilers!), here's Michael Cera wielding a katana that is on fire as Jason Schwartzman and Mary Elizabeth Winstead look on. If you would like to purchase one of these fire swords, they will be available for purchase at 4 AM, when a man named Mr. Odell will be selling them after a basic cable station goes off the air and is replaced by a bizarre, low budget shop-at-home station that sells literally hundreds of knives for $50.
(Bigger here. Thanks, Carter.)
Nov 16 2009 Edward Woodward Dies at 79
Edward Woodward, the British thespian not at all related to the Watergate scandal, died today at 79. The actor is probably best known for his role as sergeant Neil Howie in The Wicker Man (it turns out there was a Wicker Man before Nic Cage's), though some may remember him for his Golden Globe-winning part in The Equalizer, from the the British spy series Callan, or, more recently, for his part in Hot Fuzz.
Director Edgar Wright has written a fine memorial here. Burn a woven twig effigy in the Woodward name tonight.
Oct 20 2009 Hot, Official 'Hot Fuzz' Slash Fiction
Since the advent of the internet, finding homoerotic fan fiction has become a breeze for all interested in homoerotic fan fiction (little known fact: the first information sent over a modem was a short story about Kirk and Spock falling in love). But official homoerotic fiction written by the original creators!? Preposterous!
OR SO YOU THOUGHT. At last, your slash fiction dream has come true: a couple days ago Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost tweeted a pseudo-sequel to Hot Fuzz in the style of homoerotic fanfiction, and it's loaded with steamy, seductive lines like...
Danny wanted to tell Angel that from some angles he looked a bit like Paul Walker. He’d tell him one day…One day.
and
”Have you seen the notebook?” asked Angel, searching furiously in the glove compartment. “Many times” replied Danny fondly.
Read the whole thing here. It's pretty much safe for work, as long as your co-workers won't mind your swooning.
Jul 10 2009 Where is My Ant-Man, Wright?
Bad news for those of us anxiously awaiting the size-altering, insect-communicating portion of Marvel's never-ending superhero movie line-up. Speaking to Empire, writer/director Edgar Wright revealed he hopes to move from his in-production film, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, to a film called Baby Driver, thus putting off his adaptation of Ant-Man and the finale to the Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy:
"I’d like to make Baby Driver next if possible," he told us. "On this film and other things I’ve been blogging furiously and putting up a photo every day, but I think when I do that one I’d like to go completely silent for once. Probably because it’s not an adaptation or anything, or a sequel to anything else. I’d like to just make it in private, basically."We hoped that this might be a tale about a baby driving stuff around, but Wright set us straight: "No, you’re thinking of Baby Transporter, which is the Muppet Babies of the Transporter series." Instead, a quick online search showed that this is in fact a "a wild spin on the action and crime genre which will be set in the US.”
So is this going to be next on Wright's To Do list? Well, looks like. "Simon’s [Pegg] not involved in Pilgrim. And I was kind of involved with Paul as a producer at the start, but basically I can’t be in two places at once. I’m not one of those people who can do three things at the same time, even though I try to be. So once I’m doing one thing, like this, I’m only doing this. Other things – like Ant-Man and me and Simon’s next film – have all gone away until I’m done with this."
God, what do I have to do to see a movie about a crime-fighting scientist who use his skills to invent technologies that enable him to shrink and a helmet that allows him to control ants? I've waited long enough, world.
Jun 12 2009 New from 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World': It's Kim Pine
On Edgar Wright's blog, the director has posted the the first shot of Alison Pill in-costume as Kim Pine for a scene in Scott Pilgrim vs the World. The Leeloo-haired character is Pilgrim's friend and fellow musician in the band Sex Bob-Omb, but I'm sure that if you didn't know that then you probably don't care anyway. Because what do you care about, anyway? Love? Humanity? It doesn't seem like it sometimes.
May 27 2009 'Scott Pilgrim' Blog Six: The Fighting One
Hey, it's director Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World video diary #6: fight scene edition. Learn how stunt men practice with a really giant hammer while the kid from Hotel for Dogs sits around backstage! See production on the comic book adaptation first-hand from the comfort of your workplace/home/cell! That's internet power:
Continue Reading " 'Scott Pilgrim' Blog Six: The Fighting One "
May 18 2009 Nitpicky Nerds Have Nothing on 'Scott Pilgrim'
Edgar Wright has posted another video blog update on the progress of his Scott Pilgrim adaptation, and once again I'm astounded by the ridiculous detail he's gone through to accurately replicate the wardrobe, locations, and even exact panels from the graphic novel series. Like Sin City and Watchmen, this looks like it's going to be a movie where you'll want to make sure to read the comics beforehand so, later, you can experience the joy of smacking your friend's arms in the theater and shouting, "Holy shit, that's just like that part in the comic!" Except your friend doesn't even know what you're talking about; they've had The Dark Knight Returns borrowed for about a year-and-a-half and it's obvious they aren't going to read it or any of your other recommendations. What an asshole.
May 1 2009 New 'Scott Pilgrim' Blog Reveals Stars Live Nothing Like Us
On the official Scott Pilgrim vs. The World blog, a third video blog has been posted, this one focusing on director Edgar Wright and his cast and crew doing their first week on location in Toronto. Honestly, it isn't particularly interesting save for one fact the costume designer let slip: to help deal with the psychosomatic chill that results from working around fake snow, the actors were offered silk long underwear. SILK! The most luxurious fabric ever made! So I hope that keeps you warm, your majesties, because the entire long underwear budget probably went to making sure your legs were comfortable, and now the rest of the crew has to wear long johns made of loosely woven human hair. Does that make you feel like a big man, Michael Cera?
Continue Reading " New 'Scott Pilgrim' Blog Reveals Stars Live Nothing Like Us "
Apr 13 2009 Scott Pilgrim Vs. The Vlog
Hey, everyone, there's now an official Scott Pilgrim vs. the World blog--WITH VIDEO. And that's in addition to director Edgar Wright's daily photo blog! We Scott Pilgrim fans are going to need one of those browsers that can do the tabbing just to keep up with all this Pilgrim stuff!
Below the cut, Wright's first video blog (I call them "vlogs"):
Mar 4 2009 'Scott Pilgrim' Movie Still Accurately Recreating 'Scott Pilgrim' Comic
It's been a few days since we last saw anything from the set of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, so let's take a moment to gaze upon how Edgar Wright is effectively replicating panels from the books. Rear-view-on-swings recreation accuracy has prevailed. We did it.
The lower, sagging swing is a nice touch, though the implication that Michael Cera needs prop assistance in looking awkward is absurd. If Cera were angrily shouting from the balcony of a castle, Pope-style, he would still be pitiable.
From: Edgar Wright Here.
Feb 25 2009 Ann Not as Bland in War Paint
"That's Ann, from Arrested Development!?" you ask in disbelief before spouting out some quotes about mayonnaise and calling her "Egg".
"Yes, it is," I reply. "She has a role as Roxy Richter in Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but if you haven't read it, I'd be feeding you the spoilers if I told you more than that."
"I just blue myself," you say, because you aren't paying attention and now you've moved on to Tobias quotes.
February 24th, 2009 [Edgar Wright Here]
Feb 17 2009 Scott Pilgrim Has Correct Coat Style
Adding to his collection of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World cast members obscuring the lower half of their faces with drawings of who they're playing, director Edgar Wright posted the above shots of Michael Cera as the title character and Anna Kendrick as his younger sister, Stacey. Looks like everyone can cross off "Stacey's hair's darkness & straightness" and "Scott's coat having a fur hood" off their lists of potential inaccuracies to endlessly complain about.
Feb 12 2009 From 'Scott Pilgrim': Knives and Flowers
Edgar Wright has added two new photos to his MySpace blog, providing the first complete looks at Ellen Wong as Knives Chau and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona Flowers in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. So, uh... Wong is really nailing looking like a teenage Asian girl... and Winstead has definitely hit the mark on being a wide-eyed, white 20-something, I guess? It's harder to evaluate a comic book-to-film adaptation when the characters' "costumes" are mostly just different race/gender/haircut combinations.
Feb 11 2009 Evil Ex-Boyfriend #1 Practices His Moves
Edgar Wright has continued his trend of providing cryptic, unlabeled, often-obscured photos of his Scott Pilgrim stars with this latest shot of Satya Bhabha. In case you haven't read the comic, it involves Scott Pilgrim fighting off a series of his new girlfriend's evil ex-boyfriends; Bhabha plays evil ex-boyfriend #1, Matthew Patel, and it appears his training regiment consists of imitating DVD menu screens. It seems silly, but it works--that's how I learned to pretend to strum a ukulele along with the Arrested Development theme.
Feb 9 2009 Some 'Scott Pilgrim' Things
So I went to the New York Comic Con this weekend. Ready to hear some things? I have so, so few things, but here's one of my few things: Superman apparently doesn't know what he's talking about. I asked Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O'Malley about the animated portions of the film adaptation Brandon Routh mentioned in an interview last week, and O'Malley claimed he'd heard that and was confused what the actor meant. The author went on to say he and Wright had talked about doing some stylistic things--like giving some flashback scenes the kind of crayon-drawn backgrounds seen the books--but weren't planning fully-animated portions. No animated, talking chipmunks or anything. Madness.
Second thing: O'Malley said Michael Cera has been working out to look less doughy for his lead part in the film. Good for him. We should do the same. Let's all try to get a little healthier this year, OK? No more anything that's enclosed cheese-based.
Third thing: Director Edgar Wright posted the above photo of Mary Elizabeth Winstead as key love interest Ramona Flowers. She's good at looking doe-eyed to the side while wearing fanciful nail polish, just like the character!
That's it.
Feb 4 2009 Superman Says 'Scott Pilgrim' Partially Animated
All sensible people are eagerly anticipating Edgar Wright's adaptation of Scott Pilgrim, so you'll love adding this bit of information to your copybooks: Brandon Routh, who's playing one of the evil boyfriends, told Collider the film will be a mixture of live-action and drawn animation. Like Cool World! Or maybe nothing at all like Cool World. Who can say what will or will not be like Cool World? If you can, please do so in the comments.
Jan 27 2009 Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Good Writers Making 'Tintin'
Paramount and Sony Pictures have put out a full press release for Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn, revealing that Daniel Craig will play the antagonist and Jamie Bell will play the lead. Sounds like someone (Steven Spielberg) saw Defiance!
Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment have announced the start of principal production in Los Angeles on the 3D Motion Capture Film "The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn," directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Jamie Bell ("Billy Elliot," "Defiance") as Tintin, the intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure, and Daniel Craig ("Quantum of Solace," "Defiance") as the nefarious Red Rackham.Bell and Craig are joined by an international cast that includes Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Gad Elmaleh, Toby Jones and Mackenzie Crook.
"The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn," from a screenplay by Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish, is produced by Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Kathleen Kennedy, is the first in the series of 3D motion capture films based on the iconic character created by Georges Remi, better known to the world by his pen name "Herge" and is due for release in 2011.
Edgar Wright, Steven Moffat, and Joe Cornish wrote the screenplay, too? I might have to watch this in a theater. You know?
Jamie Bell and Daniel Craig Join Tintin! [Coming Soon]
Jan 20 2009 10, 15 People Join 'Scott Pilgrim' Cast
If Edgar Wright writing and directing the film adaptation of Scott Pilgrim isn't enough to get you into this thing, how about this cast, eh? Cera is going to have to fight Superman and the Human Torch!:
"Pilgrim" centers on young slacker Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera), who meets the woman of his dreams (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) but finds he can win her heart only by battling and defeating her seven evil ex-boyfriends.[Chris] Evans plays evil boyfriend No. 2, Lucas Lee, a pro skateboarder-turned-movie star, while [Brandon] Routh plays the third evil boyfriend, Todd Ingram, a rocker with vegan psychic powers.
[Brie] Larson plays Pilgrim's ex-girlfriend, Envy Adams, for whom he still has feelings.
Also joining the pic, which will shoot Toronto, are Mae Whitman as Roxy Richter, the fourth ex, a female who is half-ninja; Ellen Wong as Knives Chau, who Pilgrim is dating when he meets his dream girl; and Anna Kendrick as Pilgrim's sister.
Mark Webber plays Stephen Stills, a member of Pilgrim's rock band. Alison Pill is the band's drummer and Johnny Simmons is Young Neil, the band's biggest fan. Aubrey Plaza plays Webber's on-again off-again girlfriend.
Satya Bhabha plays an ex-boyfriend who can summon demon hipster girls at will.
Chris Evans should probably play every extreme-sporting turd that comes up in a movie. Not since Dan Cortese played the mimbo on Seinfeld has someone so convincingly created a mascot for Dudes.
Jun 26 2008 Edgar Wright Discusses 'Ant-Man,' 'Scott Pilgrim,' How Much More He's Done Than You
A helpful commenter on Cinematical has pointed out a recent interview PiQ magazine did with Edgar Wright. In it, the writer/director briefly discusses his upcoming projects, Scott Pilgrim, The World's End, Them, and Ant-Man, and reminds you he was directing the amazing British comedy Spaced at 24. If you're like me, this last point will cause you a few moments of head-in-your-hands self-evaluation/self-pity. Don't worry; as usual, this will pass.
Here's what he said regarding Ant-Man:
I wrote that for Marvel and I’m in the process of doing a second draft. I had a lot of fun writing that script, I wrote it with this guy Joe Cornish, who is a really funny UK writer. It’s not really an out-and-out comedy. I think some people assume that it must be a spoof, but it’s not really. I guess it’s as funny as something like Iron Man is, it’s on that level of entertainment, really. It’s a big, high concept, special effects comic book adaptation, and very character-led and we found a way of… I guess in a similar way to Iron Man, the thing that worked with that and hopefully will with this is that it’s a different way of seeing a superhero origin, because you’ve seen so many of them and we really tried to figure out a fresh take on that story. So it’s definitely a Marvel film but it’s got a little twist on it in terms of the way that it plays out.
I've already decided this will be my favorite superhero movie alongside The Dark Knight, which I'm also just assuming will be very good. So don't screw anything up over the next several years, Wright, or it's going to completely eff up my entirely speculative list of great superhero movies.
May 6 2008 It's About Time: 'Spaced' Coming to Region 1 DVD
You're heard me rave about the wonders of the British series Spaced; now hear other equally-unrelated but more notable people say the same! Previously available only in Region 2 format, the Simon Pegg/Jessica Stevenson/Edgar Wright sitcom is at last coming to U.S. shores July 22, now with extraneous commentary by Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Bill Hader, Patton Oswalt, and Diablo Cody. I don't earnestly promote that many things, so take it to heart when I say if you haven't already procured the series by other means, take this opportunity.
Thanks to Caitlin for the tip, and for sharing her thoughts: "f***ing finally!!!!!!!!!!!!" Yeah, no kidding.
Spaced - The Complete Series Press Release and Box Art [TV Shows on DVD]