How Edgar Wright makes original movies in an industry obsessed with franchises

Hosted by

Director Edgar Wright on the set of his film “Last Night in Soho.” Photo by Greg Williams.

This week, KCRW revisits its conversation with filmmaker Edgar Wright. His music documentary “The Sparks Brothers” celebrates two musicians whose work he loves. Ron and Russell Mael are brothers who make up the band Sparks, and they’re a pair of complete originals. Wright is an original, too. His hit movie “Baby Driver” and upcoming thriller “Last Night in Soho” are based on ideas he made up. And he can’t help but wonder why movie studios aren’t willing to take a few more chances on fresh ideas. 

Wright tells KCRW that as a film fan, he’s “grown out of franchises because — and no disrespect to the films — I just think I don’t really need to see another ‘X-Men’ film in my lifetime. I’m good!”

Wright explains how fellow filmmaker Phil Lord inspired him to turn his obsession with the band Sparks into his new documentary.

Plus, KCRW has fresh banter about internal strife at Netflix, HBO Max numbers, and IATSE. The below-the-line Hollywood union has a contract, but will its members ratify it?

Credits

Host:

Kim Masters

Producer:

Kaitlin Parker