Edgar Wright’s Hidden Gem: The Perfect Sitcom You Forgot About!
Prior to the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy, Edgar Wright gained recognition by directing a British sitcom that boasted a flawless rating on Rotten Tomatoes, rivaling the acclaim of his celebrated comedy series. Known for his distinctive storytelling, humor, and visual gags, as well as his frequent collaborations with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, Wright’s body of work has made a significant impact in the industry. Although he has diversified his portfolio with films such as Last Night in Soho and The Running Man, Wright remains most celebrated for his comedies.
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are no strangers to popular collaborations, with the Three Flavors Cornetto Trilogy being one of their most celebrated works. Co-created by Edgar Wright, this trilogy – consisting of “Shaun of the Dead”, “Hot Fuzz”, and “The World’s End” – explores different genres (horror, action, and sci-fi) intertwined with humor, each featuring a distinctive Cornetto flavor. While the Three Flavors Cornetto Trilogy is widely recognized as Wright’s defining work, it’s important to note that he directed a highly acclaimed British sitcom, “Spaced”, starring Pegg and Frost, well before these movies were made.
Spaced Is A Hilarious British Sitcom Starring Frequent Edgar Wright Collaborators
Spaced Was Created by Simon Pegg & Jessica Hynes
1999 saw the debut of the British sitcom “Spaced” on Channel 4 in the UK. This comedic series was conceived by Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes. The story revolves around Daisy Steiner (portrayed by Hynes) and Tim Bisley (Pegg), both in their twenties, searching for a new place to live. By a stroke of luck at a café during their apartment hunt, they hatched a plan to pretend to be a well-established couple to secure a reasonably priced flat. Their ruse succeeded, and they moved into the building, where they crossed paths with some eccentric neighbors.
Among them was Brian Topp, an angst-filled, quirky conceptual artist, and Daisy and Tim frequently encountered their closest companions: shallow Twist Morgan (Katy Carmichael) and firearms specialist Mike Watt (Frost). In the TV show Spaced, we followed Daisy and Tim as they maintained the pretense of being a couple (whilst insisting to their friends there was no romantic involvement), all while navigating the challenges of young adulthood.
As a die-hard cinephile, I can’t help but reminisce about the phenomenal impact of “Spaced” on our TV screens. Its unique concept, clever writing, distinctive tone, and remarkable performances catapulted it to success, even earning a few nods at the prestigious BAFTA TV Awards.
Beyond being the launching pad for the talented trio of Wright-Pegg-Frost, “Spaced” also served as the genesis for further collaborations between Wright and its stellar cast. Many actors from “Spaced” have graced the big screen in some of Edgar Wright’s subsequent films.
| Spaced Actor | Edgar Wright’s Movies |
|---|---|
| Simon Pegg | Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End |
| Nick Frost | Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End |
| Jessica Hynes | Shaun of the Dead |
| Julia Deakin | Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End |
| Mark Heap | The World’s End |
| Peter Serafinowicz | Shaun of the Dead |
| Michael Smiley | Shaun of the Dead, The World’s End |
| Bill Bailey | Hot Fuzz |
| Lucy Akhurst | Shaun of the Dead |
| Reece Shearsmith | Shaun of the Dead, The World’s End |
Why Spaced Only Lasted Two Seasons
Spaced Ran From 1999 To 2001
Although Spaced achieved great popularity, it was limited to just two seasons, concluding in 2001. In an interview with Esquire in 2019, Edgar Wright explained one of the reasons a third season wasn’t produced was because they had matured beyond the characters portrayed in the show. Wright likened Spaced to a reflection of himself and the cast at that time, making it highly personal. Following Spaced, Wright transitioned to the big screen with Shaun of the Dead, bringing Simon Pegg and Nick Frost along, and has since not ventured back into television production.
An American Remake Of Spaced Was Canceled After Negative Reaction From The Show’s Creators
Thankfully, The American Version Of Spaced Never Happened
Despite no plans for a third season of “Spaced” and the main cast members pursuing larger projects, there was almost an American adaptation in the works. In 2007, it became known that Fox had intentions to produce a pilot for an American adaptation of “Spaced”, but this news was met with criticism from fans and the original show’s creators. During a reunion event in the same year, Simon Pegg disclosed that he had been approached about an American remake years prior, but felt that “Spaced” would not suit American television.
Producers of the American adaptation of Spaced informed Wright that certain alterations would be necessary for the show, such as removing Mike’s gun fascination, profanity, and drug references – elements crucial to the characters, their narratives, and the humor. However, the remake never materialized because neither Pegg, Hynes, nor Wright were consulted when the American version was announced in 2007, thus the project did not proceed.
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2025-06-04 01:20