Most of the time, it’s a foolish journalist who tries to make a story out of additions to a film’s IMDB page, but when those additions are confirmed by the star of the film, then it feels like solid enough ground to tread on. Simon Pegg, the star of John Landis’ upcoming black comedy “Burke and Hare,” which started filming in London last week, had already confirmed on Twitter that his partner-in-crime would be motion-capture king Andy Serkis, following the departure of David Tennant.
Tom Wilkinson and Isla Fisher joined the cast shortly afterwards, and now Pegg has confirmed that almost all of the cast list listed on IMDB is correct (with the exception of John Cleese apparently, who isn’t in the film). And boy, what a cast list — it’s a veritable who’s who of British character actors and comedy greats. Aside from Pegg, Fisher, Serkis and Wilkinson, we’ve also got Hugh Bonneville (“Iris”), Mike Leigh veteran Allan Corduner, David Schofield (the “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequels) and David Hayman (“The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”).
Plus, most excitingly, the film will mark Pegg’s reunion with the co-writer and co-star of his breakthrough hit comedy show “Spaced,” Jessica Hynes (formerly Stevenson). The actress hasn’t worked with Pegg since her brief cameo in “Shaun of the Dead.” But she’s forged a strong solo career starring in the likes of the brilliant “Son of Rambow,” as well as garnering a Tony nomination for her excellent performance in “The Norman Conquests” on Broadway. From the sounds of it, she’ll be playing the wife of William Hare (Serkis), while Fisher will play an actress being courted by William Burke (Pegg).
Hynes is in good company, as a number of fellow “Spaced” alumni are also in the cast. Reece Shearsmith, of the comedy group The League of Gentlemen is on board, alongside stand-ups Bill Bailey (who appears in the upcoming “Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang”) and Michael Smiley, who played pilled-up cycle courier Tyres on the show.
Furthermore (yes, we’re still going), a press release has also revealed that horror icons Tim Curry and Sir Christopher Lee will also have roles. Landis calls the film “a very black romantic comedy in the classic tradition of Ealing Studios’ “Kind Hearts And Coronets” and “The Ladykillers,” which, combined with the cast, is almost enough for us to book our tickets right now. We did say almost, however — Landis’ form in the last, well, 25 years has been very poor, and the writers are behind the fairly dreadful cash-in comedies in the “St Trinian’s” series. But, to attract a cast like this, it’s got to look promising. Right?…