We sat down to talk to Simon Pegg about Burke and Hare.
We ended up talking about John Landis for ages…
Its early summer.
Simon Pegg is doing advanced interviews for his incoming film,Burke And Hare.
Were not allowed to run it until now.
However, it worked out surprising well.
And, in particular, working with director John Landis.
Heres what happened…
John Landis!
Id read the script before I realised John was doing the film, and I liked it.
It was one of those things, because I write a lot of my own stuff.
I prioritise that, but this came up and I though thats good.
I said yes, of course.
We met when he came to theSpacedscreening in L.A.
He and Edgar [Wright] have become friends, and hes always been very supportive of us.
And so we went out to seeTerminator: Salvationtogether… Im as amazed by all of this.
He called, and said, ?
Do you want to go out and do something?, and I said, Okay.
It sounds like a date, dinner and a movie.
Do you want to be in it?And I said, Yes, just.
So, who was De Niro and who was Pacino?
I think he was definitely Pacino.
He was in pursuit of you, then?
He was definitely Pacino.
When you sit opposite him, there must be an urge to drag out stories from his earlier films?
What was yours that you asked about?
You know what, I can honestly say that, with John, there is no need.
You never have to ask John to tell you a story.
He is a story machine.
His career is so varied.
InTowering Inferno, he is the guy who jumps out of the window on fire.
He was a stuntman on one of thePlanet Of The Apesmovies.
His stories go from there, right through his career, through Michael Jackson, you know.
Everything reminds him of something else.
Hes like Did I ever tell you…?
So, we had this amazing dinner.
He tells great stories aboutTrading Places.
But you never have to prompt him.
He would hold up shooting!
Hed stop shooting and tell a story or a joke.
His jokes are legendary.
Now I just get e-mails from him with bad jokes.
How do you sit round with him, Andy Serkis and yourself, preparing to play graverobbers?
Thats whats great about John.
Hes very much an actors director.
Hes got very definite ideas as well.
Hell get your input, and then go, No.
Hes very collaborative, and wants to take time to get things right.
But at the same time, he works very fast.
Wed get together, talk about the scene, and wed just do it.
When hes happy, hed say Brilliant, and then wed move on.
And from your perception of the film, do you see it as a macabre buddy movie?
Thats exactly what it is.
Johns very cautious about people calling it a horror comedy.
Its not a horror.
Its not even a horror comedy.
Its a comedy, if anything a romantic comedy.
It just so happens to be about two mass murderers.
And I think its important that its seen like that.
Its a black comedy, and theres a lot of sweetness in it.
You root for these guys in a way.
Thats the clever thing about it.
You catch yourself sympathising with two murderers.
Its the tagline missing from the poster, isnt it?
A comedy about two mass murderers.
I always thought it should be a really bleak picture, and then bubble writing saying Burke and Hare!
Obviously, its got one hell of a cast list too.
Ronnie Corbett, for starters.
Ronnies in it, yeah!
The stuff youve done in Britain has been very ensemble led.
Was the thinking here to fuse that with Johns experience of American comedy?
Well, Ive got to say that hes got a great sensibility, John, generally.
Hes been over here many times.
He knows the culture, he knows the country.
Johns been a fan ofThe Two Ronniessince the early 80s.
So, it was entirely him, you know?
He wanted a good ensemble.
He wanted to gather together a great British cast.
Hes an insatiable consumer of stuff.
So, when he hired Reece Shearsmith, he watched all ofThe League Of Gentlemen.
Hes got a cameo in the new series ofPsychoville!
So, he knows his onions.
For me, it was great to be someone like-minded.
Can you talk about working with Andy Serkis?
Andys great fun, but hes very concentrated.
He takes the job very seriously, which is great as an actor.
Hes exactly the kind of person you want to act opposite, for the film to be good.
Hes incredibly personablE and great fun, and we had a terrific time on set.
We got a chemistry very quickly.
Burke and Hare are best friends, and theres a sweetness to who they are.
They were desperate men, but they were humans, not monsters.
Just time, then, to ask about one of your future projects:The Boys?
I thought you were going to go withStar Trek!
I was very flattered to be inThe Boys, without realising I was!
Darick Robertson drew me as Wee Hughie, and I later found out about it.
And DC had a panic attack, and thought I was going to sue them for image rights.
Which, of course, I wasnt.
Im in a comic!
I know Adam McKays attached to it.
Im in it, because Im in the comic.
Its about the character.
If theyre happy for me to play it, Ill definitely consider it!
Burke And Hare is on general release now.
