Edgar Wright’s Scott Pilgrim Vs The World held its European premiere in London’s Leicester Square on Wednesday and Jake was there to give us a report direct from the red carpet…
London's Leicester Square is the cinema capital of the UK. Every year there's more than a few glitzy red carpet premieres for fans of both film and celebrities to get a little bit closer to the beautiful people who make dreams come true on a silver screen.
Tonight is the European premiere of Scott Pilgrim Vs The World and hundreds of fans have turned out to get a glimpse of its star cast. Some have turned up with t-shirts emblazoned with Bryan Lee O'Malley's creation and a few have even come out in costume. Not bad for what was once a little known graphic novel series.
To bring some of you, who've never even so much as glanced sideways at a Scott Pilgrim book, up to speed: yadda yadda yadda, 20-something slacker, yadda yadda, plays bass in crappy indie band yadda, meets girl of his dreams, yadda yadda fight her evil exes, yadda yadda, massive videogame overtones, yadda yadda made into film by Edgar Wright yadda yadda blah. Got that? Good!
Hostess with the mostest, the heavily pregnant Lauren Laverne, herself no stranger to being young and in a band thanks to her years spent in Kenickie, was on hand to deliver facts about the movie, announce the big names, and generally keep everyone entertained with her charming Geordie lilt!
The crowd were abuzz with excitement, some proudly showing off their copies of Scott Pilgrim to the cameras, and were sent into a frenzy by the almost constant stream of celebrities walking up the hallowed red carpet.
In attendance were some of the biggest names in UK comedy. Familiar faces belonging to such luminaries such as Armando Iannucci, sadly, not researching for a bold new direction for The Thick Of It, comedy and music performer extraordinaire, Matt Berry, incredibly busy yet fantastic Olivia Colman from Peep Show, Joe Cornish of Adam and Joe fame and X-Factor runner up, Olly Murs. Florence Welch minus her machine turned up and seemed to have brought her own fan club with her, with a good chunk of the crowd chanting her name.
Bryan Lee O'Malley was brought up onto the stage to chat with Laverne about the original graphic novel, talking about the general influences behind the book. The eagle-eyed comic fan may also have spotted the Phonogram boys, Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, walking in too.
Of course, the crowds were there to see the stars of the film and they weren't disappointed. Ellen Wong, Brie Larson, Satya Bhabha, Jason Schwartzman and Anna Kendrick all showed up and happily signed autographs and posed for photos. Brandon Routh and the one man Marvel universe that is Chris Evans showed up, whipping the crowds into a full on frenzy!
The real man of the moment, though, was undoubtedly Scott Pilgrim himself, Michael Cera. The girls in the crowd screamed his name in adoration, which should give hope to other thin, bespectacled geeks. He looked at ease as he signed anything that was thrust at him. Dressed a little casually for the occasion, he revealed to the assembled press pen that his glasses were bought from Specsavers while in Dublin. See? Top showbiz gossip, there.
If Michael was dressed a bit too casually, then Mary Elizabeth Winstead brought a big dollop of glamour with her, wearing a vintage dress even a fashionably clueless nerd such as myself could recognise as being gorgeous, doubtless costing many times more than my entire outfit with enough left to have paid for my dinner after.
No mention of Scott Pilgrim Versus The World could be complete without giving an almighty mention to Edgar Wright. Since breaking into the geek consciousness with Spaced, he's constantly delivered fried gold with Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz becoming modern classics. Speaking to the crowd, he said how passionate he was about the books and how he tried to stay true to the spirit of them. He was full of nothing but praise for the cast and crew, mentioning how hard everyone worked over several years to bring it to screen. Simon Pegg also made an appearance to give kudos to his long-time working partner.
There seemed to be a real buzz greeting Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, from both fans of the series and movie lovers alike. Hopefully, this can translate into decent box office after the mediocre takings from last week. The screening itself was a big hit with the assembled audience and, overall, word was positive from the folks we talked to after.
Simon Pegg himself tweeted afterwards that it's the closest thing you'll ever see to a Spaced series 3. And if that doesn't get you salivating at the thought of seeing it when it goes on general release on the 25th, then, quite frankly, nothing will.
Heard at the Premiere:
Brie Larson on performing onstage as Envy Adams: "I had no idea my body could move that way!"
Michael Cera on being a kung fu hero: "It's cool. I don't know if I could do it as a living, though."
Mary Elizabeth Winstead on Ramona's hair: "We got through a lot of wigs! I couldn't do that as often with my real hair."
Edgar Wright on adapting the original graphic novels: "I was so passionate about these books. It was hard work!"
Scott Pilgrim Versus The World goes on general release on 25 August. Photography courtesy of Marion Cromb.
Click on the photos below, courtesy of Marion Cromb, for a bigger, better look...