The Ballad of Wallis Island is a heartwarming comedic drama about old musical partners coming together in the most awkward way possible. The movie stars Tim Key as a reclusive lottery winner who uses his money to reunite his favorite musicians, Herb McGwyer, played by Tom Basden, and Carey Mulligan’s Nell Mortimer. The movie was written by Key and Basden, and directed by Bad Sisters and A Million Little Things director James Griffiths.

ScreenRant’s The Ballad of Wallis Island review pointed out that the movie was based on a short that Basden and Key released 18 years ago. In that sense, the movie itself has as much history as its two estranged bandmates have within its story. While the impetus of the story is Key’s Charles, the reunion and reconciliation between McGwyer and Mortimer is an emotional hook reminiscent of films like Once.

ScreenRant’s Liam Crowley spoke with Tom Basden, Tim Key, Carey Mulligan, and James Griffiths at SXSW 2025 about their work on The Ballad of Wallis Island. The stars and filmmakers discussed the concept’s long journey to becoming a feature film and what changed to make that a viable option. Plus, Mulligan (a veteran of bittersweet music-related films thanks to her turn in the Coen Brothers’ underrated folk tale Inside Llewyn Davis) shared her thoughts on what makes her character tick.

The Ballad Of Wallis Island Began In 2007 As A Short Film

It Was One Of Many Sketches Basden & Key Wrote Together

“In truth, I don’t really know,” Tom Basden admitted when asked at the top of the interview where the story of The Ballad of Wallis Island came from. He continued: “It was a time when me and Tim were writing a lot of sketches and generating a lot of ideas.”

“Some of those we would pitch to directors that we met and worked with as shorts. One of those was this idea of a millionaire lottery winner hiring a musician to play a private gig. We pitched [it] to Griff,” Basden said, “and he responded to it immediately.”

Carey Mulligan Was Ready To Go Based On The Script Alone

“You Just Understood What Their Relationship Was”

On some projects, actors do a lot of work behind the scenes on crafting a believable backstory for their characters. Thanks to the script, Mulligan didn’t feel that pressure on The Ballad of Wallis Island: “There was so much baked into the script that it felt like we didn’t have to sit down and decide on a detailed backstory. The way that the boys had written the script, you just understood what their relationship was. All of that stuff was so clear.”

“In terms of the songwriting,” Mulligan continued, “they were just such beautiful songs. I think there’s a private battle, probably, between them [over] who wrote what.” But other than that, the actor said, “they felt like such real people. It felt like a real relationship–all of that was just there, ready to go.”

Adding Carey Mulligan’s Character Was Key To Turning The Short Into A Feature

James Griffiths Reflects On Expanding The Original Idea

“Well, we were friends from the short onwards,” Griffiths said when asked what he had envisioned for the feature-length version of The Ballad of Wallis Island, “We’d always revisited this story and wondered how we could execute it or expand it. When the guys cracked it with the addition of Nell and what she brings in terms of the dynamic, it felt very clear to me that was the route forward.”

Charles Is The Heartwarming Secret Weapon Of The Ballad Of Wallis Island

Key Reflects On The Goodness Inside His Reclusive Lottery Winner

Despite a clearly fraught relationship unfolding around him, Tim Key’s Charles never wavers in The Ballad of Wallis Island. “He meets his hero and, not that he notices completely, [it] immediately goes really badly,” Key said when discussing his character, “I guess he’s just very resilient. I think maybe he’s been through a lot. I think he’s hardwired to see the good in people. Even though he’s met with this very surly man, he kind of thinks it’ll all work out in the end.”

“The response that we’ve been getting is that people do feel it’s a feel-good thing,” Key continued, “that wasn’t cynically the plan when we were writing it, but I feel the same. When you’re watching it, you really want it to work out well for him, and you really like any moment where they give him any kind of respect or love.” The movie’s heartwarming tone works on the filmmakers too: “I get quite touched when I watch it.”

Source: Screen Rant Plus

Check out our other SXSW 2025 interviews here:

• American Sweatshop
• The Astronaut
• The Studio
• It Ends
• How Was Your Weekend?