Movies
The comedian and actor told ShortList that he hoped Cemetery Junction, written and directed with Stephen Merchant, would be a UK version of US films about everyday legends.
Gervais said: "We didn't want to make it grim, or gritty, or slash-your-wrists-type realism. We wanted it to be about heroes like we see American heroes. We want this to be like a British Saturday Night Fever or Rebel Without A Cause.
"Even when casting, we saw it. If we called in 1,000 people, we'd have 500 Mr Darcys and 500 'You slags'. We had to find people that were real and effervescent and exciting and cool."
He added: "We had a very strict remit. We wanted to find our own John Travolta or our own James Dean and I think we have."
Cemetery Junction stars young actors Tom Hughes, Jack Doolan and Christian Cooke alongside Ralph Fiennes, Julia Davis, Emily Watson and Gervais himself.
> Click here for a Cemetery Junction video teaser
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