The Invention Of Lying is being presented as the latest film from Ricky Gervais — and that’s fair. After all, the guy co-wrote and co-directed the movie in addition to playing the lead.
However, it’s worth noting that Ricky Gervais is not the lone creative voice behind the project. The concept (about the first man to ever tell a lie in an imagined truth-filled world) actually came from co-writer/co-director Matthew Robinson, who makes his feature filmmaking debut with the film.
“I was basically just an unknown screenwriter working in Los Angeles for the last ten years,” Robinson told Metro. “I wrote the script and got it to producer Linda Obst. I told her that I would love to get it to Ricky Gervais on a lark. I thought I had no chance.”
Robinson was not only able to land Gervais as the star of his film, but also as a creative collaborator. “He said after reading page 10 he called his agent and asked for my phone number. Three weeks later I was in London working on the script with him.”
Despite having never even met before, Ricky Gervais and Matt Robinson were able to find a creative groove instantly.
“The more we worked on the script and the more we fell in love with the story, the more Ricky became worried about giving it to another director,” says Robinson.
Both Robinson and Gervais were pleased with their collaboration and had no problem bringing the script to life as co-directors.
“We worked in exactly the same way as I do with Steve Merchant. We had one simple rule. We didn’t compromise. One veto from either of us and it was out,” says Gervais.
• For The Invention of Lying photos, a trailer and screen times, or to buy tickets, click here
