Scott Pilgrim vs. Jason Schwartzman, the Seventh Evil Ex

Matt Patches: Not to say this is indicative of you as a person, but you nailed the swarmy Gideon Graves. How did you get involved with Pilgrim? Is Gideon a role Edgar [Wright] always wanted you to play?

Jason Schwartzman: I think the answer is yes, but I didn't realize this until more recently. I've always loved Edgar Wright's films and Spaced as well. I hesitate to say that he had a dream list or wish list, because I try to dream of things that are reachable. Edgar was bigger than a dream - he makes things in the UK. So I didn't think...I didn't see myself, you know, putting on an English accent anytime soon and I didn't know if he would ever make a movie with Americans.

One day I found out he was doing press for Hot Fuzz here and it was set up that we could meet, and have coffee together. Specifically, ten coffees together. When I sat down it was kind of an instant bond. I asked him what he was working on and he said he was working on Scott Pilgrim vs the World.I went out and got the books. I wasn't involved at that point, I was just reading it because I loved Edgar Wright, and it was something he was recommending. Really...those were the first graphic novels that I ever read and I wish every book could be a graphic novel because you could read it so much more quickly. You could read five books for lunch and you feel so much more productive when you read a graphic novel.

Matt Patches: You were well-versed in the ways of the Pilgrim.

Jason Schwartzman: We kept in touch and whenever he came to Los Angeles we would hang out, go see a movie. A year after our first encounter, he called me very excitingly and asked if we could meet. He said he had something for me, so I met him at my favorite coffee store. He reached into the bag that he had and took out a script, which was Scott Pilgrim vs the World, with my name lasered in diagonally across every page. He slid it over and said, "this is for you and I was hoping you'd play Gideon Graves."

Matt Patches: Was there any hesitation?

Jason Schwartzman: I just touched it and I said I'm in. I didn't even have to read it. I did go home and read it, you know, of course, but it just made me so happy. It was a real honor to know that he and Michael Bacall were thinking of me while they were writing it. That's great when a director you love, thinks of you. It's a great feeling.

Jump to:

Learning Edgar Wright's fight combos

Jason Schwartzman vs. San Diego Comic-Con

Old school NES, his upcoming album and producing new movies