James Buckley will always be affectionately known as Jay from The Inbetweeners. He has a brand new movie coming out in cinemas on Dec 5th called The Pyramid. It’s a traditional, big-budget horror by first time director Grégory Levasseur and co-stars True Blood duo Ashley Hinshaw, Denis O’Hare and Christa Nicola.
EF sat down with James during his recent press tour to discuss the film, his career and ask that all important question – will we ever get a third Inbetweeners movie?
Can you tell us about your brand new movie The Pyramid and the character you play?
The premise of the film is basically a group of archaeologists and a couple of documentary filmmakers (who are following them) go into a pyramid and get stuck in there. And after awhile, they realise that something is after them.
My character is the cameraman for the documentary crew and is very much the voice of reason throughout the film. It’s almost like he’s one of the audience – he’s the one that says ‘don’t go in there or don’t open that door!’ He brings a bit of humour to the table too which is up my street!
How did you get involved with the project?
I was offered it – my agent got an offer out of the blue. They’d seen The Inbetweeners and thought it would be interesting so they took a chance with sticking me in a horror movie – which is really great.
I believe you were shooting in Morocco – what was that experience like?
It was a little bit boring because it was in a really tiny town that was on the edge of the Sahara desert or something like that – I might be completely wrong about that! Like geographically off! But that was it really – just sand!
What was it like working with Grégory Levasseur on his directorial debut?
Really great – really good at his job and the important things were he was really funny, had a good sense of humour and liked football. That’s why I liked him.
You started out in the theatre, and have had great success in TV and now movies. Do you have a preference between Theatre, Film or TV acting? What’s more challenging?
The most challenging right now would be theatre because movies and TV are pretty much the same for me. I haven’t done any theatre for years and years. Having to learn a whole script and to be in front of an audience… I think I’d have an anxiety attack! Hopefully I’ll get more courage to do theatre – I’d like to. I think I’m too fragile at the moment!
What kind of horror movies do you personally like?
I’m not into, like, vampire movies or werewolf films. Ghosts really freak me out and demons and things. I tell you what freaks me out the most… aliens. Because I think they might be real! (laughs)
As you know, The Inbetweeners 2 is out on DVD & Blu-ray this week. A lot has been discussed about the possibility of an Inbetweeners 3 being made? Given the massive success of the second movie, is there going to be another one?
There isn’t, I’m sad to say. I’m more gutted than everyone else, trust me! Unfortunately, if we didn’t age I’d love to go back and still be 18 forever. It’s a shame because we all really enjoyed doing it – but we are all too old to be doing it now, so there’s no choice!
Can you tell us about your upcoming projects? ‘Welcome to Purgatory’ sounds like an interesting prospect.
Yeah! I’ve not been briefed or told what I’m allowed to say or not say about it. There are some very exciting people in it, I know that much. I’m really looking forward to doing it but I’m not sure what I can say about the actual film.
Have you got any other projects coming up?
I’m in the middle of developing a script with Bwark (the guys who did The Inbetweeners). They are helping me write a script about a working man’s club that I drink in and the people that I know from there.
The Pyramid is in cinemas December 5th.
