Shaun Of The Dead's Simon Pegg becomes a bodysnatcher in new film... with Gollum as a sidekick

With previous roles in zombie movie Shaun Of The Dead and Moors murderer Ian Brady in TV drama Longford, Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis's latest film project is just as grizzly.

Pegg, 40, and Serkis, 45, play Edinburgh serial killers William Burke and William Hare respectively in the forthcoming black comedy Burke and Hare.

Dressed in Georgian clothing, the actors were spotted looking sinister in a dark and gloomy-looking Old Fishmarket Close off Edinburgh's Royal Mile last night.

Lock your doors: Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis, as serial killers William Burke and William Hare, filming on Old Fishmarket Close off Edinburgh's Royal Mile last night

The real-life Burke and Hare, who hailed from Ireland, were responsible for the deaths of at least 17 people from 1827 until 1828.

After murdering their victims, the pair then went on to sell the bodies to Dr Robert Knox, who dissected them in his anatomy classes at Barclay's anatomy school in Surgeon's Square.



They were assisted in their crimes by Burke's mistress Helen M'Dougal and Hare's wife Margaret Laird.

The pair were eventually caught when one of their lodgers tipped off the police after finding the body of their last victim, Marjory Campbell Docherty, under her bed.

Return of the bodysnatchers: Pegg and Serkis play serial killers who sold their victims' bodies to an anatomist

As the evidence against them was weak, Hare was offered immunity from prosecution if he testified against Burke - which he did - so the latter was found guilty and hanged in January 1829.

After serving a short time in prison, Hare was released in February 1829 and left Edinburgh, never to be seen again.

The movie, directed by John Landis, who was responsible for Michael Jackson's Thriller video, started filming on location in London and Edinburgh earlier this month.

Burke & Hare also stars Australian actress Isla Fisher as Burke's love interest Ginny and Pegg's former Spaced co-star Jessica Hynes as Hare's wife.

New friends: Pegg posted a picture of himself with co-star Tim Curry

Enthusing about his on-screen love interest Fisher, Pegg said: 'Thoroughly enjoying working with Shannon from Home & Away. Now I'm only one degree of separation from Mr. Fisher. Bonza.'

The film also stars Oscar winner Tom Wilkinson as Dr Knox, Tim Curry as Dr Monroe, as well as comedians Ronnie Corbett and Bill Bailey.

Clearly excited about working with Curry, Pegg posted a photo of himself with the actor on his Twitter page last week.

He also wrote on his growing friendship with his partner-in-crime Serkis: 'Really enjoying working with Andy Serkis. Genuinely lovely person and a fine, fine actor. Great watching him work.'

Burke & Hare is due for release later this year.