Edgar Wright Turned Down American Remake of ‘Shaun of the Dead’ That Would’ve Earned Him Millions

In a recent candid interview, acclaimed filmmaker Edgar Wright spoke openly about the dangers of movie franchises oversaturating the market and killing audience enthusiasm. Without calling out any specific franchises, Wright argued that nonstop sequels and expanded cinematic universes announced years in advance could dampen excitement and leave fans longing for something fresh and original. 

What Does Edgar Wright Think Studios Should Invest In?

According to Indie Wire, while acknowledging his own experience making follow-ups to beloved properties, Edgar Wright stressed the importance of also investing in fresh, original films. He said: 

“We desperately need more new movies. I know IP is the dreaded word but it’s even like finding new things that could be a series. It doesn’t just have to be the same things again and again.” 

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Wright used the example of the James Bond franchise, applauding the producers, he said: 

“I think they’re pretty smart actually because they’re willing to kind of put a pause on things to build anticipation. They are the exception.”  

He feels other studios could learn from Bond’s example of letting fans miss something so that interest is reignited for future installments.

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Would Edgar Wright Greenlight More Films Like ‘The Matrix’ Today?

Reflecting on classics like Alien, Terminator, and Star Wars which began as original screenplays, Wright questioned whether a big-budget film like The Matrix could even get made by a major studio today. 

He said, “So the fact that the studios don’t want to take those gambles, like, would anybody make ‘The Matrix’ now like the budget was in 1999? It seems unlikely, which is sad. That’s my rant over.”

Ultimately, he feels Hollywood needs to maintain the audience’s “desire for something new.” While recognizing the economic realities studios face, Wright made an impassioned call for more balance between capitalizing on existing franchises and giving creative minds the chance to develop bold, game-changing films that could become franchises themselves.

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