Shaun Of The Dead Was Possible Thanks To This Underrated 25-Year-Old Comedy Show

Shaun of the Dead has obvious inspirations from some horror classics, but it was actually possible thanks to an underrated 25-year-old comedy TV show. Back in 2004, Edgar Wright brought the zombie comedy Shaun of the Dead, which would go on to become the first entry in his Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, along with the buddy cop movie Hot Fuzz and the sci-fi comedy The World’s End. Shaun of the Dead followed Shaun (Simon Pegg), an oppressed salesman in London going through some personal issues with his family, girlfriend, and coworkers.

To further complicate everything, a zombie apocalypse suddenly took over, so Shaun and his slacker best friend, Ed (Nick Frost), came up with a plan to rescue Shaun’s mother and his ex-girlfriend and hide at their favorite pub, the Winchester – but their plan didn’t go as they expected. Shaun of the Dead has been named one of the greatest comedy films ever made and continues to have a loyal following. Shaun of the Dead has been praised for its humor, performances, and references to other zombie movies, and it was all possible thanks to a comedy TV show.

Shaun of the Dead Was Inspired By An Episode Of Spaced

Spaced Was Created by Simon Pegg & Jessica Stevenson

Back in 1999, the British sitcom Spaced premiered on Channel 4. Spaced was created by Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson (now Jessica Hynes), who also starred as the main characters Tim Bisley and Daisy Steiner. Spaced had a surreal, comedic, and sometimes action tone as it followed twenty-somethings Tim and Daisy who met while flat-hunting. To meet the requirements of a relatively cheap flat, Daisy and Tim decided to pose as a couple, and though they often reminded their friends that they were not together, romantic tension eventually developed between them.

Spaced was directed by Edgar Wright, who had previously worked with Pegg and Hynes in the comedy series Asylum. Despite only having some actors and a comedic tone in common, Spaced was key in the development of Shaun of the Dead as the latter was inspired by an episode of the former. Shaun of the Dead was inspired by season 1’s episode “Art”, in which, after taking speed, Tim spent the whole night playing Resident Evil 2. As a result, Tim hallucinates a zombie invasion, even punching an artist in the face at his art show.

Shaun of the Dead Has Various References To Spaced

Spaced Was Very Influential In Shaun of the Dead

The influence of Spaced’s “Art” in Shaun of the Dead is evident once you know the essence of the episode. Ed is a mirror to Tim, being the slacker character who spends most of his days playing video games, and thus, is the one with a better idea of how to deal with the zombie apocalypse (though that doesn’t mean he’s right). Shaun of the Dead also has other references to Spaced, especially in its cast.

In addition to Pegg and Frost (who played Tim’s best friend, Mike Watt), Hynes has a cameo as Yvonne, an old friend of Shaun they come across on their way to the Winchester and who rescues Shaun and Liz at the end. Peter Serafinowicz, who plays Shaun’s super serious roommate Pete, was a regular guest in Spaced, as was Bill Bailey, who played a zombie. Julia Deakin, who played Tim and Daisy’s landlady, Marsha, had a cameo role in Shaun of the Dead as Yvonne’s mother.

When Wright and Pegg realized they needed more people to play zombies, extras were recruited from Spaced fan communities. Shaun of the Dead has other, more subtle Spaced references that fans of the show will easily catch, as are a zombie of Michael Smiley’s character, Tyers O’Flaherty, and jokes from the show that made it to the movie. Shaun of the Dead has a lot to thank Spaced for, and it paid tribute to it in many ways.