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The timing wasnt right back then The idea of us doing it was just a lot of work.
We dont like work, Waititi says but now,Shadowsis finally coming to television with a brand-new cast.
You guys never really wanted to doWhat We Do in the Shadowsas a TV show.
We dont like work.
For a while after we did the film, we were just like,Ugh.
Also, we didnt want to be in it.
We decided to trick other actors into doing that.
Really, it worked out better because its still in the same universe as the film.
Our characters still exist and theyre still in New Zealand.
Theres an opportunity for a crossover.
If we ever felt like we wanted to play those characters again, we could.
You executive-produced the series and directed the first episode, but you didnt write it with Jemaine.
Back when theShadowspilot got ordered, as soon as that happened, I gotThor.
Was he mad at you?Yes, he still brings it up.
I was the one who convinced him to do this TV show and then I just left.
And thats also a country that happens to have better comedy than the U.S.
If you made this TV show exclusively in America by Americans, there would be no color in it.
Itd be wacky and over-the-top and I dont think there would be as much sadness in it.
The film had a real melancholy feel to it we wanted to show the human side to these monsters.
In America its like, Joke, joke, joke, joke.
Oh wait, theres something thats sad kill that.
Joke, joke, joke, joke, joke.
Itd be loud and thered be a shit-ton of vampire jokes.
Its just a different style.
The vampires live in a big old house on Staten Island.
Any particular reason for choosing that city?Staten Island feels like New Zealand.
Youd assume that vampires would all go to Manhattan or London some cool metropolis where everythings happening.
But I think they wanted to hide away.
Its that guy, the one that just keeps on talking and theres no way out.
How do the vampires show up on camera?
With a lot of old cameras, the mirrors were only there to line up the shot.
So, the mirror is not the thing catching the image.
The mirror is just the thing that the cameraman looks through.
Theyd just point the camera in the general direction and hope the vampires turned up in frame.
There was a bit more drawn-out process back in the old days.
Nowadays, we dont have that problem with capturing vampires because its all digital.
I think people need to know how hard it used to be for documentarians.
Can I ask you another question now?Oh, sure.
It was recently announced that Destin Daniel Cretton was picked for the next MCU project,Shang Chi.
Were you also up for that gig?[Snorts.]
I dont know why I said that with such potency.
Let me re-answer that.
No, I wasnt.
Im doing the final episode.
For six months, theyve been setting up the tone and the characters.
If I came in with my style full-on, itd pretty much ruin the whole thing.
There are a few moments where its very distinctly me, though.
Speaking of secretive companies, you just keep going deeper and deeper into the cave.
Marvel, LucasFilm, and now Apple.
Well, were glad for that.
They just dont stop.
And if Im doing a secret show, why donttheykeep it secret?
I essentially run that set.
I dont want to be burdened with the responsibility.
Like, what if I divulged something in a really innocent interview?
Ill just say this one thing, though: Everybody dies at the end.
And I feel like the way that I did it was perfect for me.
It sounds like youre happy riding this wave.I get home from time to time.
I couldnt have gone fromThortoMandaloriantoJo JoandShadowstoTime Bandit.
It would have taken so much longer.
Youll beplaying Hitler inJo Jo Rabbit, right?Thats right.
Hes an imaginary Hitler, which meant I didnt have to do much acting.
Jemaine answered, One-hundred films likeWhat We Do in the Shadows, and you agreed.
Does that still ring true?No, Id make half of a big film.
Is that a true story?Yes, thats a true story.
Though, one thing Ill tell you about Jemaine: He does lie a lot.
One of us never lies and the other one never tells the truth.
So, which one is it this time?
I mean, I could be lying right now …
