Reece will join Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis in the cast of the horror comedy "Burke and Hare" which is based on a pair of British serial killers. Reece will play 'McKenzie'. Simon will play 'William Burke' and Andy will play 'William Hare'. The film is directed by John Landis and written by Piers Ashworth and Nick Moorcroft. Its status is 'pre-production' at the moment.

Plot Summary:

Based on the true story about the famous murderers, 'Burke And Hare' follows the hapless exploits of these two men as they fall into the highly profitable business of providing cadavers for the medical fraternity in Nineteenth Century Edinburgh, then the centre of medical learning. The one thing they were short of was bodies.

__a href="http://us.imdb.com/title/tt1320239/" __http://us.imdb.com/title/tt1320239/

It's a perfect film for Reece, I think. I definitely want to see it. I am very curious about it since I've first read about it. And this was before I knew Reece would play in it. I can hardly wait for it. :D

Right up Shearsmith's ghoulish street!! What a cast! And John Landis at the helm?! Fantastic!!

Oh, it absolutely is!

According to Kirsty, McKenzie was Dr Knox's (who willingly accepted the murdered bodies) right hand-man. And this matches with something I found on a website a few minutes ago.

I nearly can see Reece as McKenzie now. :)

Excellent - I can't wait!

Here is the full press release for Burke and Hare:

An award-winning international cast has joined “BURKE & HARE”, the new film from legendary director JOHN LANDIS (An American Werewolf in London, Blues Brothers, Michael Jackson’s Thriller). Principal photography commenced on 31st January around London, Edinburgh and Ealing Studios with SIMON PEGG (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Star Trek, Spaced), as William Burke and recent BAFTA-nominee ANDY SERKIS (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, Lord of the Rings, King Kong) as William Hare, the notorious Edinburgh murderers.

ISLA FISHER (Wedding Crashers, Confessions of a Shopaholic) takes on the role of Ginny, an ambitious young actress and the object of Burke’s affections and JESSICA HYNES neé Stevenson (Spaced, Son of Rambow, Shaun of the Dead) as Hare’s long suffering wife Lucky. The supporting cast consists of the cream of British acting and comedy talent including: Oscar-nominee TOM WILKINSON (The Full Monty, Michael Clayton), TIM CURRY (Rocky Horror Picture Show), RONNIE CORBETT (Extras), REECE SHEARSMITH (League of Gentlemen), DAVID SCHOFIELD (Pirates of the Caribbea n), ALLAN CORDUNER (Topsy Turvey), BAFTA Award-winner BILL BAILEY (Nanny McPhee & The Big Bang, Black Books), HUGH BONNEVILLE (Notting Hill), MICHAEL SMILEY (Spaced) and SIR CHRISTOPHER LEE (Lord of the Rings).

According to Landis: “BURKE & HARE is a very black romantic comedy in the classic tradition of the Ealing Studios’ Kind Hearts and Coronets and The Ladykillers”.

“BURKE & HARE” is a comedic take on the true story of the 1828 Edinburgh body-snatchers William Burke (Simon Pegg) and William Hare (Andy Serkis). These two Irish entrepreneurs discover that a dead body can fetch a hefty price when the demands of the leading medical professors Dr. Knox (Tom Wilkinson) and Dr. Monroe (Tim Curry) reach beyond that of the local supply.

Just have found out about the press release. What an awesome cast. Tim Curry is in it too. I'm getting more and more excited about it. :D

I've found this news about it (Source: Shock Till You Drop):

Shooting Begins on Landis' Burke and Hare

John Landis has begun principal photography on Burke & Hare.

Joining Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis, as graverobbers William Burke and William Hare, respectively, are Isla Fisher (Confessions of a Shopaholic), Jessica Hynes (Spaced), Tom Wilkinson (Batman Begins), Tim Curry (Stephen King's It), Ronnie Corbett, Reece Shearsmith (The Cottage), David Schofield, Allan Corduner, Bill Bailey, Hugh Bonneville, Michael Smiley and Sir Christopher Lee!

Landis describes the film as a "black romantic comedy" in spite of its story which is a comedic take on the true story of the 1828 Edinburgh body-snatchers Burke and Hare. These two Irish entrepreneurs discover that a dead body can fetch a hefty price when the demands of the leading medical professors Dr. Knox (Tom Wilkinson) and Dr. Monroe (Tim Curry) reach beyond that of the local supply.

That's quite a cast! This is Landis' first fictional feature since the '90s. He's spent the last decade working on short films, television projects (Masters of Horror) and documentaries (Slasher).

Furthermore I've found this on a site about the character Reece could POSSIBLY play. But it's different spelled, so I'm not really sure anymore, if it's really his character.

Sir William Mackenzie: sympathetic ophthalmia and glaucoma before ophthalmoscopy

One of the practitioners of probably the oldest surgical specialty, ophthalmic, was the eminent Scottish ophthalmologist, Sir William Mackenzie. Educated in Edinburgh, he moved to Glasgow, and described and named sympathetic ophthalmia before the time of the ophthalmoscope, well defining his powers of observation and deduction. Founding the Glasgow Eye Infirmary, his `Practical Treatise on Diseases of the Eye' appeared in English in four editions (1850-1884) and in French and German. In this also appears the first full and clear account of glaucoma. Both he and the illustrator of his book, Wharton Jones, moved to Glasgow because of rather indefinite connections with Robert Knox, the anatomist, who was allegedly helped by the bodysnatchers, Burke and Hare. Mackenzie and his book were highly regarded before the revolutionary ophthalmoscope. He was knighted and appointed Surgeon Oculist to the Queen in Scotland.

It is shaping up to be a masterpiece! Tim Curry is always good...

Good find there Nadine - I wonder which "McKenzie" it is that our chap is playing then? *ponders*

I'm sure it will be a masterpiece. Tim Curry was great and scary in Stephen King's IT. It would be great if Reece had a scene with him. Or with Christopher Lee. Must be like a dream come true for him.

Thanks Ellie. :) - Yes, me too.

I hope that the current promo image for the film is the one which will be used... it's beautiful and macabre... :D

I hope so too. I LOVE it!!

It looks AWESOME! Very dark and creepy. It's very horror film style. It reminds me a bit of a horror film poster, but I can't remember which one.

Very creepy but rather arty in its way...

This just in from thisfilmison.com

"Burke and Hare

Simon Pegg (Formally of Spaced and Sean of the Dead fame now starring in roles such as Run Fat Boy Run, I’ve Disappeared up my own Colon and Will Suck Cock for a 5 minute spot on Letterman) and Andy Serkis (LOTR, Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll) head a cast made up of actors who are too old, too British or too talented to hold a starring role themselves.

For those of you with no interest in history, medicine or pub quizzes, Burke and Hare were a pair of Irish immigrants / serial killers who sold their victim’s corpses to the Edinburgh Medical College for dissection during the early 19th Century. A rich vein of comedic ‘fried’ gold if ever there was one.

The film is due for release this year and could be one to watch as it’s cast list of unmarketable misfits currently includes such legends as Christopher Lee, John Cleese, Dan Aykroyd, Reece Shearsmith, Bill Bailey, Bill Nighy and more.'"

They call Reece a legend... *loves* Wouldn't agree he's an unmarketable misfit however! No way jose. Did you all note that though - due for release THIS year?! Hoorah!

Yeah, definitely.

Wow, Reece, a legend. Love that! You're right, Reece isn't an unmarketable misfit. Oh, hopefully they won't change the release and it will come out this year. Ooh, so many new things with Reece to look forward to.

Here be an article about some of the filming at Knole House in Kent - it also states again the film is due for release at the end of the year!

http://www.kentnews.co.uk/newsStory.aspx?id=33018

Gordon bennet, I'm already twiddling my little thumbs for a trailer..... TRAILER I SAY!

Well, it seems that it really will be released this year. As far as there won't be any last minute changes. Hooray!!

I want to see a trailer too.

Here are some pictures of the set. Just the set. No photos of any scene. What a shame. But they look great anyway.

__a href="http://remingtons.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/simon-pegg-andy-serkis-and-john-landis-filming/" __http://remingtons.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/simon-pegg-andy-serkis-and-john-landis-filming/

Cool beans! Thanks for posting Nadine :D

Here's a short video from the same guy who got to watch Simon and Andy filming last night. Apparently the shoot is seven weeks and they've been filming in London before going onto Edinburgh, which was where they filmed last night. No Reece in this video, so I don't know if he was onset and just not in the scene.

__a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4i9GCIibzo&feature=player_embedded" __http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4i9GCIibzo&feature=player_embedded

My pleasure Ellie! :)

Great video! Thanks for posting it Ellie! x

I hope there will be pictures or videos of Reece soon. I'm a bit curious how he looks in it.

Two articles about the filming last night. They don't really say something new, but with lovely photos of Simon and Andy.

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/Simon-Pegg-and-Andy-Serkis.6095117.jp

http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment/Burke-and-Hare-brought-back.6094605.jp

And another article with other pictures of the set and the YouTube video.

__a href="http://remingtons.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/burke-and-hare-photos-and-clip-plus-inception-info/" __http://remingtons.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/burke-and-hare-photos-and-clip-plus-inception-info/

Well Nadine.. this is your lucky day!! Have added pics of Reece looking INCREDIBLY DASHING to the Miscellaneous gallery!

Go see!

AWESOME! It must be. Or I'm psychic. ;D

ADORABLE!! LOVE ALL of them! Especially "Reece + Ronnie Corbett on Burke and Hare set 3". *sighs*

Thanks for adding them Ellie! xx

Let's just hope that we see a lot of the both of them in it. But I'm afraid there won't be much though.

No problem ;) He looks absolutely wonderful in that uniform... I hope we get a few good scenes with them.

I think I'm probably the same height as RC, as that's about where I come up to on Reece :D

Oh yes, he does! - Hope so too. It would be awesome to see more than just one scene with them.

According to IMDB, RC is 5'1". I have a quite similar height. So, the same that goes for you, will go for me. :)

And two websites with pictures again. One of them has a few YT videos. Simon and Andy mainly. NO REECE AGAIN!

__a href="http://remingtons.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/burke-and-hare-edinburgh-day-2/" __http://remingtons.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/burke-and-hare-edinburgh-day-2/

__a href="http://www.accidentalsexiness.com/2010/02/25/simon-pegg-andy-serkis-keep-busy-on-burke-and-hare/" __http://www.accidentalsexiness.com/2010/02/25/simon-pegg-andy-serkis-keep-busy-on-burke-and-hare/

I'm 4 ft 11.... the shame! But as the saying goes, good things come in small packages!! Reece is certainly proof of that ;)

Lordy... maybe he hides when the photographers are around... :)

So true! :D - I'm about 5 ft 1 / 5 ft 2.

It seems like that... What a shame! Would love to see more pictures of him. :)

I've found these two YT videos of the set.

This is from the filming. I really tried to see Reece, but I haven't noticed him. :(

__a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srMQDzAL5_U" __http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srMQDzAL5_U

And this is a fan interview with john Landis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPsQs5qDh-E

Ooh! No, I can't see him, the hoods don't help!

Doesn't John Landis seem a lovely fella? :)

You're right. The hoods really don't help.

Oh yes, I think so too. :)

Another website about the filming of the third day. No photos or videos, but it's a nice little report of a fan who met Simon and Andy on the set and talked to them.

__a href="http://remingtons.wordpress.com/2010/02/27/burke-and-hare-edinburgh-day-3/" __http://remingtons.wordpress.com/2010/02/27/burke-and-hare-edinburgh-day-3/

Here are new pics from filming in London. Don't see Reece on them.

__a href="http://thefilmsmith.com/2010/03/10/london-burke-and-hare-photos/" __http://thefilmsmith.com/2010/03/10/london-burke-and-hare-photos/

And here are a few pics of the 'Edinburgh, Day 3' filming.

__a href="http://thefilmsmith.com/2010/03/02/burke-and-hare-set-photos-edinburgh-day-3/" __http://thefilmsmith.com/2010/03/02/burke-and-hare-set-photos-edinburgh-day-3/

OMG love those photos.. he does NOT look his age! *puts tongue away*

This film should be great.

It's the last day of principal photography today - then the crew will enter into post - production... *rubs hands*

Ooh, the release date is coming closer. Very exciting!

My friend found a tweet saying that Reece went to Ghost Stories last night - with the one and only John Landis... wow. That's brilliant! :D How odd it is... in 1980 when John made The Blues Brothers, Reece was 11, not knowing that in 30 years time he'd be taking the director to see a play by one of his co-writers... :)

This is so awesome! :) - Yeah, it is a bit odd. But what 11 year old child would think about doing something like that when it's grown up?

They wouldn't :) Fate is a weird but wonderful thing though.

OMG! Kudos points for John turning up with Reece!! ;) I'd give my League collection for the chance to go to something with him.

Burke + Hare will be released in the UK on 31st October 2010!!

Hooray! Halloween, how brilliant! What an awesome day for Reece. "Psychoville Halloween Special" and "Burke and Hare". :D

I just hope that the release date in Germany won't be much later than that. *crosses fingers*

Hopefully not Nadine! Have added the latest poster teaser to the gallery. John Landis is introducing a special promo screening today at the Fesitval de Cannes - nice!

It looks great! Simon Pegg wrote this morning on Twitter, "The Burke & Hare poster that surfaced yesterday is just a flyer for a 6 minute Cannes preview and not actual poster."" - I want to see this preview. I'll try to find it on the web somewhere.

Wow a preview clip!?? I hope you can find it!

I hope so too, Saz. I haven't found it yet, but I'm still looking for it.

Not an interview with Reece mores the pity - but Mark Kermode talks to Andy Serkis about Buke and Hare here

http://burkeandhare.com/bhblogs.htm

The Burke and Hare trailer is here finally!

__a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLqEizPaW0c&feature=player_embedded#!" __http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLqEizPaW0c&feature=player_embedded#!

Previews from today!!!

Great short clip with Reece!

__a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=10150301440215206" __http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=10150301440215206

New image of Reece as Mackenzie in the character gallery!