Duo set to play Thompson Twins

Spielberg, who is co-directing the $130 million project with Peter Jackson, recently summoned the Hot Fuzz star to the films’ ‘motion-capture’ set which generates digital special effects to offer him the role.

‘Steven’s smoking a stogy, cap on head, like he’s always been since I was a baby,’ Pegg told the Sunday Times. ‘I shook his hand and chatted about films.

‘He gave me the mo-cap [motion-capture] camera, and I had a play around with it. Then he said, “Hey, maybe you and Nick Frost could play the Thompson Twins.”’

Thomson and Thompson – their names spelt differently – are the bungling, moustachioed, bowler-hatted detectives in Herge’s classic comic strips.

An unnamed source told the Sunday Telegraph: ‘Spielberg thinks they make such an amusing pair that people will be happy to overlook their obvious physical differences.’

Pegg had previously been tipped as a possible Tintin, even though at 38 he is a lot older than the teenager of the books.

The first Tintin film was due to be released late next year. However Universal Studios was last week reported to have had second thoughts about the price tag, which could delay – or even halt – the plans.

Thomas Sangster, who played Liam Neeson's stepson in Love Actually, will be the Belgian child reporter.

The motion-capture technology, similar to that which Jackson used to bring Gollum to life in Lord of the Rings, is expected to help recapture the distinctive look of the comic books.

Published: 21 Sep 2008