Don't Expect a 'Shaun of the Dead' Sequel, Says Edgar Wright
Zombies often rise from the dead, but that won't happen for Shaun of the Dead. Edgar Wright’s iconic film celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, yet a sequel remains unlikely. During promotion for his new movie The Running Man, Wright addressed the possibility of a follow-up, politely dismissing the idea.
He explained that both he and longtime collaborator Simon Pegg feel there’s no more story left to tell in the Shaun universe. Wright stated:
"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 believes many sequels fail because the original story covers everything essential.
Wright’s Approach to Sequels
Looking at Wright’s career, he is not typically focused on direct sequels. His closest projects are the loosely related Cornetto trilogy and, arguably, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. Meanwhile, the zombie genre has welcomed continuations and expansions.
- The Walking Dead franchise has generated multiple spin-offs and sequel series.
- Zombieland, often compared to Shaun of the Dead, evolved into a mini-franchise with a sequel film and TV spin-off in 2019.
Additionally, many decades-later sequels from major studios like Disney have become common, though this trend has not influenced Wright’s stance on Shaun.
Author’s Summary
Edgar Wright confirms there will be no sequel to Shaun of the Dead, highlighting that the story was fully told and there’s no creative drive for more.