Pinewood Studios Group has announced that it will be providing facilities and co-investment for A Fantastic Fear of Everything, a new British film starring Simon Pegg. It is the first film to receive support from “Pinewood Films” – an initiative launched earlier this year which sees the group return to investing in British indie film production.

A psycho-comedy, Fantastic Fear… is written and directed by musician-turned-filmmaker Crispian Mills, marking his feature debut. He is joined by co-director and animator Chris Hopewell as part of a collaboration with Collision Films, whose work includes Radiohead”s There There and The Killers” Smile Like You Mean It. The film is produced by Geraldine Patten and stars Simon Pegg (Paul). Universal Pictures will release it in the UK and other territories such as Germany and Australia.

Pegg plays Jack, a children”s author turned crime novelist whose research into the lives of Victorian serial killers has turned him into a paranoid wreck, persecuted by an irrational fear of being murdered. When Jack is thrown a life-line by his agent and a mysterious Hollywood executive, what should be his ‘big break” rapidly turns into his ‘big breakdown”, as Jack has to confront his demons.

Shooting has just begun on location at the Pinewood Group”s Shepperton Studios and in London. Commenting, Pinewood Chief Executive Ivan Dunleavy, said: “We are thrilled to be announcing Pinewood”s involvement in A Fantastic Fear of Everything. We have waited for the right project, at the right time to launch our new scheme and with the involvement of Keel Films, Universal Acquisitions and Simon Pegg this is the perfect fit.”

Creative Industries Minister Ed Vaizey said: “I”m delighted to see Pinewood Films getting off the ground. It”s a vote of confidence in the British film industry, and another step forwards in terms of a diverse and vibrant production sector in the UK.”