Simon says movie 1998 series#
And what better way to move back into the attentions of the powers that be than by taking the small step down to the small screen for a good-looking high concept series about a schizophrenic family man/super-spy? I've always considered the bench-marks for believable schizophrenic characters to be John Lithgow's cult turn in Brian De Palma's Raising Cain (honestly, it's much, much better than you remember), and much more recently James Nesbitt's frankly astounding twin-roles in ITV's otherwise poor Hyde.
Yet, against all odds, Slater has somehow been able to claw his credibility back- his appearance in the woefully underrated Bobby was measured and accomplished, as was his turn in The West Wing and even his voice-work in the regrettably forgettable Igor stands up pretty well. And then, he went and made The Good Shepherd (no, not that one) and Alone in the Dark, either side of the worst film in living memory- Churchill: The Hollywood Years (essentially an extended and unnecessary skit on the way Hollywood paints history- everything it said could and should have been said in a three minute SNL sketch)- and he flirted dangerously with dropping off the C-List. But when you think about it, Slater hasnt really made a great deal of unforgettable movies- Heathers, True Romance and Interview with a Vampire were about as good as it got to start with, and Slater had the considerable accolade of appearing in The Undiscovered Country opposite Captain Kirk and Co, but after a funny uncreditted turn in Austin Powers, he pretty much dropped off the A-List map. After early career promise pointed towards a likely heady future status- some film fans (myself included) even going as far as to see shades of Jack Nicholson in the intensity and the eyebrows.
Because in that universe Mr Simon Pegg has three million followers and rising.Christian Slater's star has often threatened to fizzle out completely over the past decade or so. There’s one thing however that the affable actor can’t resist talking about, and that’s social media. I could move to LA tomorrow and not work there for five years – all the ensuing films could be made at Pinewood”) to mischievously batting off standard opening questions such as, “When does this schedule end for you?” with a slightly awkward pause, steely-eyed stare and, “When am I going to die? I don’t know.” Yet he takes it in his stride with ease, as happy talking about his preference for Britain over Los Angeles (“I live in Hertfordshire. “This, then a phoner in the car on the way home and I’m done”) Pegg shows none of the weary fatigue your average A-List celebrity would display, having just spent an afternoon being cajoled by a photographer to leap about in a variety of near impossible poses. On the last leg of interviews for Trek (“This is the end of it,” he smiles, leaning back in his chair. Simon is in fine form when we sit down with him above a small photo studio in London’s not-so-plush North West suburb of Harlesden. The man can also write, and proved his big screen credentials alongside long-time writing partner Edgar Wright (whom he met on 1996 Paramount comedy, Asylum) with zombie comedy Shaun Of The Dead, then cop caper Hot Fuzz, and ultimately The World’s End, a tale of a long overdue pub crawl and the final film in their so-called Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy, due for release in July. Pegg’s talents don’t just reside within that rare combination of comedic timing and acting ability. And would it be too much to ask for a role in the new Star Wars? More on that later… Abrams, first alongside Tom Cruise in the Mission: Impossible series, then as Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in Star Trek and now Star Trek Into Darkness, out this month.
It’s a journey that has also resulted in a remarkable collaboration with director J.J. When the surreal big train appeared on bbc2 back in 1998, it was easy to lose the twenty eight year-old Simon Pegg amongst the surge of new comedic talent fighting for recognition.Īnd although Catherine Tate, Julia Davis, Mark Heap and Kevin Eldon can now all confidently stamp “Household Name” across their business cards (ok, perhaps not Kevin but he’s doing his best), it’s the solitary Pegg who has ultimately capitalised on a relentless output of British film and television to conquer Hollywood.
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