Read on for a very formal press release from Rogue Pictures, the ultimate gist of which is this: Rogue, which is the "genre arm" of Universal Pictures, will distribute Hot Fuzz in North America. Why is this interesting? Because Hot Fuzz is the geek-droolingly anticipated follow-up flick from the boys who treated us to Shaun of the Dead.
Continuing the company’s expansion of its feature slate, Rogue Pictures will domestically distribute Working Title Films’ contemporary action comedy Hot Fuzz, which began production last month. Rogue Pictures president of production Andrew Rona made the announcement today.
A Working Title production in association with Big Talk Productions, Hot Fuzz marks the eagerly anticipated second feature from the co-creators of 2004’s award-winning sleeper hit Shaun of the Dead, the romantic zombie comedy ("rom zom com") which was also made by Working Title and Big Talk and released by Rogue domestically. As on the earlier movie, Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright have written the original screenplay, with Wright directing and Pegg and Nick Frost starring. Also as on the earlier movie, Natascha Wharton is executive-producing. Hot Fuzz is produced by Nira Park (Shaun of the Dead) and Working Title co-chairs Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.
Pegg and Frost are joined in Hot Fuzz by a stellar U.K. cast, including Jim Broadbent (Academy Award winner for Iris), Paddy Considine (In America), Steve Coogan (Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story), Timothy Dalton (The Living Daylights), Paul Freeman (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Anne Reid (The Mother), Billie Whitelaw (Twisted Nerve), Stuart Wilson (The Mask of Zorro), and Edward Woodward (The Equalizer); and Shaun of the Dead alumni Martin Freeman and Bill Nighy.
Pegg stars in the film as London’s top cop, police officer Nicholas Angel. This tough law enforcer is good at his job – so good, in fact, that he makes his colleagues look bad. As a result, his superiors "promote" him to the village of Sandford, where all is garden parties and neighborhood watch meetings. Partnered with Danny Butterman (Frost), an oafish but well-meaning young local cop, Angel struggles to adapt. But he just can’t… until a series of grisly "accidents" indicates that foul play is afoot. Suddenly, this seemingly idyllic town is a case that Angel has to crack – hard.
Rona commented, "’Shaun of the Dead‘ was the very first Rogue Pictures release, so it’s especially gratifying to reteam with Edgar, Simon, Nick, Nira, and our friends at Working Title."
Park added, "We’re delighted to once again be joining creative forces with Rogue Pictures and Working Title on what’s going to be a very exciting and very funny film. With ‘Hot Fuzz,’ we’re going to give the police action genre the same treatment we gave the living dead!"
Production on Hot Fuzz, which is being shot on locations in North London and Wells, commenced in mid-March and is slated to finish in early June.
