Edgar Wright Explains Why His Best Film Never Got a Sequel (& It Makes Sense)

More than two decades ago, director Edgar Wright experienced his breakthrough with Shaun of the Dead. A lovingly crafted send up of the zombie genre, the film brilliantly combines elements of horror, comedy, and even romance to tell its highly entertaining story. The characters at the heart of Shaun of the Dead are a big reason why the movie was so successful, as audiences became invested in Shaun’s relationships with his best friend Ed and girlfriend Liz. Shaun of the Dead tells a complete story, but that hasn’t stopped fans from wishing they could see more of this zombie-infested London. However, no sequel has materialized, and Wright has no plans to make a follow-up.

In an interview with Polygon, Wright explained why Shaun of the Dead will remain a standalone film, sharing that he rejected the studio’s request for a direct sequel shortly after Shaun of the Dead premiered. “We weren’t really interested in doing it because we didn’t think there was any more story to tell,” he said. “There are a lot of franchises where the sequels don’t really earn their keep because all the story has been told in the first movie. When a character has gone through a massive change, it’s very difficult to have a second installment. Shaun of the Dead has him going from being a kind of sad sack to being a hero by the end of the movie. So it’s very difficult to start the next movie when there’s no obvious arc. We are very happy with it being a one and done.”

Shaun of the Dead Is Still Part of a Great Film Trilogy

Wright’s comments echo the sentiments of Shaun of the Dead star Simon Pegg, who similarly has pointed out that there really isn’t a compelling enough story to warrant a sequel. While it could be fun to pick things up years later and see what kind of challenges Shaun and Liz are facing as they continue living in a post-outbreak world (perhaps raising a kid together), it’s easy to see why Wright and Pegg feel this way. Shaun of the Dead was never envisioned as a franchise starter. The film’s tagline, “A romantic comedy. With zombies,” makes it clear it’s really about the Shaun/Liz dynamic, telling a story about an underachiever who finally takes action to get his life back on track. Shaun’s journey feels complete by the time the credits roll.

As proof of Wright’s point, comedy sequels are notoriously difficult nuts to crack. History is full of comedic follow-ups that struggle to recapture the magic of their predecessors. This is primarily because, in most cases, the original film was conceived as a standalone and only got a sequel because it was a massive hit. Considering how beloved Shaun of the Dead is, it would be a shame if it received an underwhelming sequel all these years later. Zombieland makes for an interesting point of comparison. A sequel finally arrived 10 years after the first film, and reviews were decidedly more mixed (though still leaned to the positive side). Even Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer thinks there’s only so many times you can return to a specific well.

Shaun of the Dead 2 never happened, but Shaun of the Dead is still part of a memorable film series. It became the first installment in Wright’s Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, which also includes Hot Fuzz and The World’s End. None of these films are narratively connected, but they are tied together spiritually. Aside from featuring the dynamic trio of Wright, Pegg, and Nick Frost, the movies explore similar themes, telling stories that deal with personal change. However, it never seems like Wright and Co. are retreading familiar territory because each installment parodies a different film genre, allowing it to feel fresh. In a way, that was a better approach than making a direct Shaun of the Dead sequel, forcing continuations of those character arcs.

While audiences have seen the last of Shaun and Ed, there’s always the possibility Pegg and Wright reunite at some point. A couple of years ago, Pegg shared that the two “started kicking ideas around” for a new movie, but nothing’s come to fruition on that front yet. Wright has been busy with his adaptation of The Running Man, which is scheduled to hit theaters later this month. Maybe once that film has had its moment in the spotlight, Pegg and Wright will put their heads back together and brainstorm something. It wouldn’t follow the same formula as the Cornetto films, but it would still be great to see the two working together again after all these years.

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