Pegg and Frost Cast as Thompson/Thomson Twins in Tintin Movie

The most recent casting news concerning Spielberg's upcoming attempt at creating a Tintin film franchise (the over-worshiped director is planning a trilogy, of course) concerns the roles of Thompson and Thomson, the buffoonish comic relief detectives. My own concern with a film version would certainly include the presence of these characters, who in cinema-form would most likely slow down the story with their constant antics, especially if left unchecked by the illustration of their good hearts and intentions. However, the casting of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, the notorious comic duo responsible for such gems as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz (well-made, irreverent, character-conscious movies) has boosted my confidence in this production of a classic.

The new Doctor Who head writer Stephen Moffat is the screenwriter, basing the plot apparently on Tintin books Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham's Treasure (why, out of all the Tintin installments, did they pick those? No moon? No tibet? No Blue Lotus? No Black Island? No Syldavia?). This inspires a bit more trepidation within me, however, since I am not entirely convinced of Moffat's impending success with the new (2010) Doctor Who series. The writer of such award winning earlier episodes as Blink and The Girl in the Fireplace, served up a real clunker last series in the two-part Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead, guest-starring Dr. Corday--er, Alex Kingston--as the Doctor's future-love whom he hasn't met yet but who's met him and naturally sacrifices herself to save him, as really all the guest stars seem to do. If Moffat thinks that all you need for a great episode or screenplay is a plot so elaborate you can't explain it in a blogpost, I fear he will continue to get worse instead of better, heaping action and intrigue upon lifeless, soulless characters, and then throwing in some tragedy so that the actors can have something to emote. Though I'm excited for new blood and less Russel T. Davies, if all Moffat has to offer is to make the Doctor "darker", I say bugger off.

And bashi bazouks, try not to destroy Tintin while you're at it. (Bowler) Hats off to the casting of Pegg and Frost, though. Now to see who gets the title role since the little juvenile (i.e. male ingenue) Thomas Sangster has pulled out.