The Flickering Myth writing team look at the trailer for the final part of the Cornetto trilogy…
How’s that for a slice of fried gold?
Edgar Wright and co dropped the first trailer for the last part of their Cornetto Trilogy that started with Shaun of the Dead and carried on with Hot Fuzz. The World’s End could very well mark the last time we see Wright team up with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost who have been working together since their 1999 TV series Spaced.
“In The World’s End, 20 years after attempting an epic pub crawl, five childhood friends reunite when one of them becomes hellbent on trying the drinking marathon again. They are convinced to stage an encore by mate Gary King (Simon Pegg), a 40-year-old man trapped at the cigarette end of his teens, who drags his reluctant pals to their hometown and once again attempts to reach the fabled pub – The World’s End. As they attempt to reconcile the past and present, they realise the real struggle is for the future, not just theirs but humankind’s. Reaching The World’s End is the least of their worries.”
So, what did our writing team think?
Oliver Davis: “To the bitter end. Or the larger end.” That’s a great gag.
J-P Wooding: It looks fantastic. We knew what to expect from this final part of the Cornetto Trilogy and it looks like we’re going to get it. Looks like there’s a reasonable story but more importantly, it has (attempted) fence jumping. What do you mean you’ve never done it? Everyone should try fence jumping
Liam Trim: Will be keen to see this, purely because of the range of outstanding British talent involved. Simon Pegg seems to suit his character well and I loved the nod to Hot Fuzz with the fence gag at the end. However, looks like it could be too similar to Shaun of the Dead, for my liking anyway.
Luke Owen: I also felt it had a very Shaun of the Dead feel about it – not that that’s a bad thing.
Can’t say enough good things about the trailer. I love this trio together and it’s sad that this could be the last movie they do as a threesome. Some great cameos in there from the likes of Mark Heap which warms my heart and the fence jumping reference had me in stitches. Just a really, really, really great trailer.
And, as Oli said, ‘the lager end’ is a fantastic line.
Tom Jolliffe: It looks quite good. However, from the trailer, I couldn’t really say it looks particularly funny. Pegg is annoying me already, after only 90 seconds. I’d guess, bare minimum this will be passable entertainment. I don’t think it’ll be a patch on Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz though. I’d bet my left one on that.
Chris Cooper: Looking forward to this. Recently watched Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz again, and they both cracked me up (especially Hot Fuzz). Great to see the recurring fence gag. We don’t see that much really, so I’m hopeful that when we see it in full any similarities will be minor. Loved Paddy Considine in Hot Fuzz so good to see him back. Wright/Pegg/Frost have done nothing to make us doubt them so I’m expecting a strong end to the Cornetto Trilogy.
Villordsutch: Very much looking forward to this and the trailer has made me rather excited. Excellent!
Matt Smith: Good trailer, like most people I’m probably most excited just to see another (unfortunately, the last) instalment in the Cornetto Trilogy.
I think everyone knew the fence gag was coming, but it’s still hilarious. Also nice to see Brian from Spaced behind the bar!
Ozzy Armstrong: Not as keen as I was for he previous two.
While it’s a little funny, I didn’t really laugh at any point and I did actually wince slightly at the fence moment as I think they look like they’re just repeating the same jokes without improving them.
As Chris said, this trailer just made me want to watch the previous two Cornetto offerings but unfortunately didn’t make me particularly want to see this.
I’ll trust in the guys as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz were both brilliant movies however I might need to see more of the footage before I get really excited
Jack Morris: I have been so excited for this since I heard The Cornetto Trilogy was coming to an end, not because it was finishing, but because they were finally making another film. I am torn after watching this trailer. One half of me is screaming like a child at Christmas because it is finally here and the release is immanent, but on the other half it somehow doesn’t look quite as good as Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz. Maybe I will be proved wrong and it will be a great and fitting end to the trilogy, only time will tell. I think I will carry on siding with the excited, fan-boy part of myself until I see the actual film! Looks like a stand up ensemble cast as well. Looking forward to seeing their chemistry on screen. “We are here to get annihilated”
Andrew Naylor: Will ITV2 be showing it 4 times a week next year? Is Hot Fuzz ever off that channel?
Jack Morris: Only when they aren’t showing Shaun of the Dead.
Luke Owen: I’ve seen a few people (outside of this team) say that the trailer hasn’t blown them away – but I would argue that the trailers for Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz weren’t all that great either. The true genius of Wright/Pegg movies is the repeated viewings aspect where you spot jokes you didn’t on previous watches.
For me, all I wanted to see from this trailer was the basic plot, a couple of jokes and Mark Heap. I got all three of those so it’s a win in my eyes.
Jack Morris: Just thought I’d ask – where is the love for Reece Shearsmith? was rather chuffed to see him pop up
Luke Owen: He’s no Mark Heap.
Martin Deer: Trailer genuinely made me laugh several times, which is more than be said for a lot of “comedies” I’ve seen at the cinema lately. Looking forward to it. And the fence gag… brilliant!
Piers McCarthy: This trailer made me smile so much. Just to see them all back together (and some cameo spots of Spaced bunch) makes everything better. I wasn’t sure about the alien thing as it’s slightly similar to a (zombie) invasion they’ve done before, but I can’t fault their decision as they always pull it off.
Hot Fuzz felt very Americanised (and I realise that was the point) but it’s great to see the British way in focus and so lovingly parodied. This looks like a perfect end to the Cornetto Trilogy (I just wish it didn’t have to end).
It will obviously be quite self-referential but I love them so I love those jokes (fence gag was brilliant).
Trailer also looks like it’s not giving too much away, so plenty of laughs saved for the cinema!
Chris Cooper: Did anyone think the ‘aliens’ look like fear toxin casualties from Batman Begins? Batman especially is seen as having light coming from his eyes and mouth in a similar way.
Robert W Monk: It looks like 3 out of 3 for Wright/Pegg/Frost! Really looking forward to this, not least as ‘local’ pub crawls to the sound of Primal Scream is vaguely memorable in the mists of the early – mid 90’s…add to this Mark Heap, Reece Shearsmith and loads of other non-crap Brit comic actors and I can’t wait!
Helen Murdoch: I’ve been waiting for the conclusion to the Cornetto Trilogy for so long and the trailer hasn’t disappointed.
It’s nice to see the tables turned this time with Nick Frost as the uptight one. Simon Pegg looks hilarious as usual and the supporting cast are sure to excel.
The highlight of the trailer for me was the return of the fence joke. Only Pegg, Frost and Wright can get away with telling the same joke each time and make it even funnier.
Alice Rush: With all the nostalgia and love for this film series I think it would have taken a massive screw up all round to make people NOT excited for this film. Just from the trailer it seems like the film they’ve been dying to make for ages.
Really looking forward to this. It looks to have the humour of the previous two, and I’m looking forward to seeing Martin Freeman take a bigger part in this series.
After the first two I just have a lot of trust in Frost/Pegg/Wright so I’m not too worried about it being a let down. Mark Heap also validates anything in my mind!
Anghus Houvouras: Hard not to love this trailer. I’m so in the tank for Edgar Wright. Spaced is a TV series I return to with frightening regularity. And I consider both Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz to be as close to perfection as genre skewing comedies can get. The World’s End trailer checks off every box: pithy, charming, and gonzo. I’m really curious to see how this plays in the US. Wright has been a god among the geeks but he hasn’t had that crossover success here. I’m not sure if The World’s End is going to be a big hit in America, but I’ll be there on day one.
So, an overwhelmingly positive response – but what else would you expect from the team of Wright, Pegg and Frost?
What did you think of the trailer for The World’s End?
