‘Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World’ Director Edgar Wright Promises Film Will Honor Comic

[Bryan Lee O'Malley]

http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/08/06/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world-dir...

For comic fans in the know, one of the most highly-anticipated upcoming comic films along with “Watchmen” and the next series of sure-to-be-Marvel blockbusters is the film adaptation of Brian Lee O’Malley’s comedy/action/romance series, “Scott Pilgrim.”

Regarding the film (which will officially be titled “Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World”), much has been announced to get “Pilgrim” fans worked up since Universal picked up the option in 2005: Edgar Wright (“Shaun of the Dead”) is set to direct, up-and-coming screenwriter Michael Bacall will write the script and Michael Cera (“Superbad”) and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (“Live Free or Die Hard”) are set to play the lead roles of Scott Pilgrim and Ramona V. Flowers, respectively — however, plenty of questions remain.

We caught up with Wright to see if the director could shed any more light on the story about the kid who must defeat the Seven Evil Exes to win his girl’s heart.

Set to begin filming in January of 2009, Wright remains relatively tight-lipped in terms of story details and possible castings, but assures fans that series creator O’Malley will be integral to the process. “We’ve been working with Bryan Lee O’Malley, the author; he’s been very much involved,” said Wright. “Unlike some other adaptations I’m going to make sure the original author was respected.”

Furthermore, much like the source material, Wright plans to make the film stand out from what fans have grown accustomed to in terms of comic book movies, saying “I think what’s cool about it is there have been a lot of comic book films but there haven’t been any comic book adaptations of comedies of comic books. You’ve had all these really great comic book adaptations recently and there’s a chance to do something a little bit more pop-arty like the book so that’s something I really want to bring to the screen.”

[triplea]

Awesome. I eagerly await a first trailer or teaser or anything.

[Julien]

or do you mean you Edgar-ly await? I know it was a horrible joke, but i had to say it.

[Bryan Lee O'Malley]

They haven't started shooting yet!

I highly doubt we will see anything concrete until next year. (But who knows?)

[Jimmy Mills]

Yah, the only thing im really wondering about is the style. Like, will it be shot like a normal movie? Will it be anime-ish in moments? Will characters have light shooting out of their heads and scream words like "YES!" or whatever? It's basically a visual effects question. Will it be very extreme or very subtle? That's my big question so far. I know 99.9% of the comedy will transfer over, but alot of the humor is based on things that can't happen in the real world. Like subspace.

[Bryan Lee O'Malley]

They are doing some effects tests soon. I think only Edgar and his close staff know what he's going for, and only after the tests will they know for sure how far they want to push it.

Nobody wants it to look like Speed Racer (even though that was probably my favourite movie of the summer). But it's going to be influenced by some of the same things, I'm sure.

[Jimmy Mills]

Well as long as we know there will indeed be effects. That's what really makes it so original is that it is a story about regular people doing regular things, but its mixed with such extreme effects at random opportunities. Usually its one or the other, really fantasy based or uber realistic, not both. It almost breaks the 4th wall. So yah, that will be awesome to see in the movie if it at all transfers over.

[AliceQuinn]

well if you haven't seen the tv series Spaced i suggest you download/rent/buy it now it is fucking fantastic
that series is why Wright can pull this off, i have confidence that he can do it with out a huge special effects budget

the real question is: can the cast live up to our expectaions?

[Ben Berntsen]

I second that. Spaced is awesome. AND Americans can finally get it on DVD, which is as awesome as a 3-day weekend.

I guess it's just personal opinion but I think both Spaced and his two studio films have been exceptionally well-cast. I found them to be groaner-free... which is more than I can say for a lot blockbuster directors (exhibit A: anyone who cast Orlando Bloom in anything)

[tokyo-zombie13]

in previous recent interviews Edgar Wright has said that they planned to begin shooting this fall...i remember him saying this in an interview with G4 during Comic-Con.

[Julien]

I seriously not for one moment had any lack of faith in Edgar Wright. I just finished Spaced and I have even more confidence in it. Its going to be cool.

[Simon Anlezark]

Would Ghost World or American Splendor count as adaptations of comedy comics? Ghost World is only really a comedy for its first third, before turning into a very, very angry film (and I mean this as a compliment - I love that movie), and American Splendor is a half documentary weird hybrid thing...

Okay, thinking that through, it just might be the first of its kind. Great stuff.

[Bryan Lee O'Malley]

There are some old ones, usually bad, like Tank Girl or Howard the Duck or whatever. Men in Black is based on a comic too, but not really a comic that anybody read and I assume the film was pretty different from the original.

Anyway, I think he's talking about the current wave of relatively faithful hit superhero-type movies (and 300, Sin City, etc). Scott Pilgrim is definitely an anomaly there. They have generally been pretty gritty, serious-ass pieces of work.