Edgar Wright: The Definitive Guide To Homages, Influences And References

The TV news reports Shaun and Ed watch feature Sky News anchor Jeremy Thompson announcing a fake bulletin concerning the dead returning to life. The phrasing he uses of €˜removing the head or destroying the brain€™ is a homage to Night of the Living Dead, as Thompson€™s lines are direct lifted from the film€™s TV reporter. Also, Thompson€™s role was originally a lot smaller, but Wright and Pegg were so impressed with how he handed such ludicrous news with a straight face that they gave him a bigger part, which included lines at the end of the film when Shaun flicks through the channels. The DVD commentary also reveals that the duo were aware of Thompson€™s previous work, with Pegg remarking €˜he€™s actually in Volcano, as well, if you€™re a Jeremy Thompson completist.€™

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Durham University graduate and qualified sports journalist. Very good at sitting down and watching things. Can multi-task this with playing computer games. Football Manager addict who has taken Shrewsbury Town to the summit of the Premier League. You can follow me at @Ed_OwenUK, if you like ramblings about Newcastle United and A Place in the Sun. If you don't, I don't know what I can do for you.