Nick Frost Talks "Paul" And Recommends Six Sci-Fi Movies

The English actor-writer indulges us in some unabashed geekery.

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Image via Complex Original
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Nick FrostShaun Of The DeadSimon PeggEdgar WrightGeorge A. RomeroHot FuzzBad BoysPoint Break

SuperbadGreg MottolaPaulSteven SpielbergSeth RogenPaulE.T.AliensBack To The Future

PaulGene RoddenberryPaul six sci-fi movie recommendationsPaul

Complex: Paul is the first movie that you and Simon Pegg have starred in together without your pal Edgar Wright sitting in the director’s chair. Do you and Simon feel like you have to prove yourselves a bit on this one?

Nick FrostScott Pilgrim vs. The WorldLaughs.

nick-frost-and-simon-pegg-in-paulDid you guys start writing Paul after Hot Fuzz, or is this a project that’s been in your heads for a really long time?

Nick FrostShaun Of The DeadLaughs.Shaun Of The Dead

Scott PilgrimPaul

Paul is actually your first screenwriting credit—Simon and Edgar wrote both Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz. Did that just naturally happen?

Nick FrostShaun Of The DeadHot Fuzz

couldShaun Of The DeadHot FuzzClose Encounters Of The Third KindE.T.Star WarsIndiana Jones

Was the writing process quick?

Nick FrostneededRun Fatboy RunLaughs.



Are the characters you and Simon play close to how you guys are in real life? Meaning, are you guys huge nerds who wear Star Wars shirts?

Nick FrostLaughs.arePaul

Attack Of The ClonesNew HopeLaughs.Laughs.Oh, I love you. I love you for saying that. Look at me—I could be this guy in 30 years

Nothing wrong with that—we’re all huge geeks around here. When you guys were writing this script, did you have anyone in mind for Paul’s voice?

Nick Frostin an exaggerated Rip Torn voiceLaughs.





paul-the-alienIt also helps that the effects used to create Paul are pretty damn effective. Often with computer-generated characters in live action movies, they look cheesy and not at all realistic, but Paul looks really good.

Nick Frosthas to

Little Miss Sunshine

The idea behind Paul is that he’s been on Earth for over 60 years and has secretly guided both pop culture and the government’s philosophies toward aliens. That set-up allowed you and Simon to write a scene in which Paul basically gives Steven Spielberg the idea for E.T. over the phone. How fun was it to get to tweak the history behind one of your all-time favorite movies?

Nick FrostTintinPaulTintinLaughs.



Check out Nick Frost’s 6 sci-fi movie recommendations after the jump.

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

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The Thing

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The Day Of The Triffids

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The Core

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Sleeper

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The Andromeda Strain

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