Inside the Making of The Ballad of Wallis Island: An Exclusive Interview with Tom Basden, Tim Key, and James Griffiths

The long-awaited indie comedy The Ballad of Wallis Island is finally hitting theaters, bringing with it a mix of heartfelt storytelling, music, and sharp British humor. Directed by James Griffiths and starring Tim Key, Tom Basden, and Carey Mulligan, the film follows a washed-up indie-folk duo who are lured into an unexpected reunion concert by an eccentric lottery winner.

In an exclusive interview with Kemberlie Spivey, the film’s creators, actors and co-writers Tom Basden and Tim Key, along with director James Griffiths, opened up about the creative process, the delicate balance between comedy and emotion, and the improvisational moments that made the film come alive.

A Story That Was Years in the Making

Before The Ballad of Wallis Island became a feature-length film, it was a short. In 2007, Tim Key and Tom Basden wrote and starred in The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island, a BAFTA-nominated short film that laid the groundwork for this project. The original story followed an estranged musician duo and the oddball who brings them together. Now, nearly two decades later, the idea has evolved into a full-length feature that expands on the characters, relationships, and the themes of nostalgia and redemption.

“We wanted to make something about music and memory, how it can transport you back to times in your life and help you through times in your life,” Basden shared.

Balancing Humor and Emotion: “It’s All Character-Driven”

One of the film’s biggest strengths is its ability to weave humor into deeply emotional moments without undercutting their sincerity. This was particularly important in the reunion scenes between Herb (Basden) and Nell (Mulligan), which carry significant emotional weight.

“You just play the truth of that situation and you play the truth of what the character would do, and it’s all character-driven,” Griffiths explained. “Then, you spend time in the edit just calibrating all those degrees, how emotional you want to let this thing go before you undercut it with comedy again.”

Basden agreed, adding that finding the right balance was an ongoing challenge.

“It’s really hard because it is so subjective. When you’re deeply familiar with the story, it’s difficult to know what’s going to land with an audience, what will make them laugh, and what will move them. I think we got it right, but it took time to shape it properly.”

According to Griffiths, the key was in the edit.

“We knew which scenes were meant to be out-and-out funny and which scenes needed to deliver emotion. But it wasn’t until we started putting it all together that we could track the balance of comedy and drama through the story.”

The Power of Improvisation: “You Just Jog Each Other Around”

While the script provided a strong roadmap, the team embraced improvisation to enhance authenticity.

“The script that Tom and Tim wrote was already tight, down to the rhythm and interruptions you see on screen,” Griffiths said. “But we also wanted to create a space where they could find opportunities on the day.”

Key explained that improvisation wasn’t about rewriting scenes but about finding deeper truths within them.

“We would never improvise story. We wouldn’t rely on improvisation to solve a problem in the script. But once we had a solid take of what was on the page, we’d loosen things up, try different things, and sometimes stumble upon a new kind of truth in the scene.”

There were also moments of unexpected humor that arose naturally on set.

“There’s a scene where I offer Tim’s character a cup of tea, and he asks for sage tea,” Basden laughed. “My character has absolutely never heard of sage tea in his life, so he just goes, ‘Noted. Going to get that right now, love the sound of it,’ when he clearly has no idea what sage tea even is.”

These subtle comedic beats helped bring the characters to life, making the humor feel organic rather than forced.

“We’re all a bit allergic to that style of comedy where it feels indulgent, where it feels like an actor hops out of character just to throw in funny lines,” Key noted. “The challenge is to stay in character and deliver something that still surprises the other actor, something that forces them to react in the moment.”

Casting the Right People: “Not Everyone Can Do Both”

For a film like The Ballad of Wallis Island, where humor and drama are so tightly interwoven, casting was critical.

“Not everyone can do both, bring the drama and the comedy,” Griffiths said. “Sean [Harris], AK [Adeel Akhtar], and of course, Carey [Mulligan], they’re all amazing at playing real, grounded emotions while also delivering funny moments in a way that feels completely natural.”

Mulligan, in particular, brought a new depth to the film. While the original short focused primarily on Herb and his awkward, forced reunion with his former bandmate, Nell’s expanded role in the feature film gives the story a richer emotional core.

“I loved the way the relationships were written,” Mulligan shared in a separate interview. “There was so much history baked into the dialogue, so much unsaid tension, but also a lot of warmth.”

A Celebration of Music, Memory, and Second Chances

At its heart, The Ballad of Wallis Island is about the way music connects people, how it can revive old wounds, rekindle relationships, and serve as a time machine back to pivotal moments in our lives.

“I think everyone has a song or an artist that takes them back to a time in their life,” Basden said. “This film is about what happens when you’re forced to revisit those moments, when you have no choice but to confront the past.”

With its unique blend of British humor, heartfelt storytelling, and an irresistibly charming cast, The Ballad of Wallis Island is poised to be one of the most endearing indie films of the year.

The film is now playing in select theaters and will be released nationwide on April 18th.