Wednesday 3 March 2010

Foreign Objects: Spaced USA

Wednesday 3 March 2010

In 2008, a US remake of UK geek-comedy Spaced (1999-2001) was made, without the blessing of its creator/stars Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes. This unaired pilot, executive-produced by McG (Charlie's Angels, Terminator Salvation), earned immediate condemnation from Spaced's fanbase on both sides of the Atlantic, who were both apalled that Pegg/Hynes hadn't even been approached about the project and justly skeptical that it would even translate. Fortunately, Spaced USA never got beyond a pilot; partly because the online response from its intended audience was so overwhelmingly negative, but also because it was frankly terrible. And that's despite the fact they used 90% of the same script, which just goes to show how much Pegg, Hynes and director Edgar Wright brought to the table. However, for everyone curious to see a bizarro version of Spaced with American accents, an Italian version of Brian, and zero sense of comic timing, you can now watch a full 4-minutes of the nightmare avoided (embedded above.) Thanks to a Twitter headsup from @simonpegg himself.