Don't Expect a 'Shaun of the Dead' Sequel, Says Edgar Wright
While zombies are known for returning from the dead, Edgar Wright’s Shaun of the Dead is not one of them. The film celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, but fans hoping for a sequel will have to hold their excitement.
During promotion for his new film The Running Man, Wright was asked by Polygon about the possibility of a follow-up to Shaun of the Dead. He politely dismissed the idea, saying that he and his longtime collaborator Simon Pegg feel there isn’t any more story to tell in that universe.
“Shaun goes 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.”
Wright noted that many sequels fail to “earn their keep” because the original film already covered the main story.
Wright’s Filmography and the Zombie Genre
Wright is not typically a director who makes sequels—the closest examples being the Cornetto trilogy or, to some extent, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. Despite this, the zombie genre has seen plenty of continuations and spin-offs.
- The Walking Dead franchise has spawned multiple spin-offs and sequel series.
- Zombieland, often compared to Shaun of the Dead, expanded into a mini-franchise with a TV spin-off and a sequel film in 2019.
In addition, the film industry has become accustomed to surprise sequels arriving decades after the originals, many notably produced by Disney in recent years.
Author’s Summary
Edgar Wright confirms there will be no sequel to Shaun of the Dead, citing narrative closure and a lack of creative drive for more stories in that world.