Ricky Gervais: ‘People Don’t Watch Films That Have the Wrong Font’

As if we needed another reason to adore comedian Ricky Gervais, the co-creator of the original UK version of The Office and possible host of next year’s Oscars, a profile in the current issue of Entertainment Weekly (but not available online) reveals his appreciation for the power of design. In a sidebar focused on “Five splashy projects that Ricky Gervais says he turned down,” the ur-David Brent explains his rationale for passing on the starring role in a remake of Arthur, the 1981 starring Dudley Moore as “the most quotable drunk millionaire that is likely to ever steal your heart.”

“I said no straightaway,” says Gervais. “Why would I mess with a perfect comedy? They know people don’t watch films that have the wrong font—it’s got an ’80s font.”

The other four movie offers he turned down (for non-typographical reasons)? The Da Vinci Code, Star Trek, Magnum P.I., and Pirates of the Caribbean 2, the latter because, “I didn’t want to sit in a Winnebago for six months waiting to show up as a comedy pirate for two minutes.”

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