Click for HQ
The "Underworld" franchise has been around for a while now, and certainly, it's challenging to keep something like that fresh. But the latest movie, "Underworld: Awakening," is in 3-D, and ups the action quotient. It also brings to bear a younger, hipper, angrier breed of vampire, who aren't content to let their kind be pushed around anymore. They're personified by the character of David, played by Theo James, a rebel with a cause. James, along with several other cast members, spoke to journalists at Comic-Con, and talked about his role in the movie, and what it was like to work with the film's two directors, Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein.
So, we understand there's not a lot you can say about this movie. So what can you say about this movie?
Theo James: That's true, that's a very good point. I'll begin by saying...[laughs].
So, what role do you play?
Theo James: I play David, who's of the younger vampiric generation, if that's the word. He's kind of at loggerheads with his dad, his father, Thomas, who is Charles Dance, and there's a whole purge, where the humans are trying to eradicate the vampires. He represents the gung-ho, new, younger generation, who want to actually step up to the plate and fight back, basically.
How long after the previous movie does this one kick off?
Theo James: Pretty much straightaway, but there's a hiatus period, and then the new movie kicks off, if that makes sense. It's kind of a continuation, it very much feels like one and two and this one run in sequence, and they're quite similar in what they're trying to achieve. But this is bigger and has kind of a dystopian feel to it, because of what's changed.
How was doing all the action in this one?
Theo James: Yeah, man, I got to do some cool shit, which is good. Actually, I managed to wrangle a lot of training, as well, because I made sure that I gave the impression that I was up for it. I got free running training with the stunt guys, which was great, and boxing, which I'd already done quite a lot before. Knife work and how to kill somebody in 30 seconds. Kidding about that last part.
What about martial arts?
Theo James: Yeah, but I don't really have that background, so it was kind of working with what I had. I had done boxing for quite a long time, at University and stuff, but I'm not nimble when it comes to high kicks and stuff. It was trying to hone my own natural skill set with what they wanted.
You have extensive boxing experience?
Theo James: I don't know if I'd call it extensive.
How did that come about?
Theo James: I started young, then I did it at University, and I just took it up again, actually. When I got back from this, not so long ago, there's a guy that I used to fight with, and we started doing stuff again. And I managed to semi-dislocate my shoulder about two weeks ago, which was great.
How much of your own stunt work did you do?
Theo James: I did all of my own stuff, yeah, the fight work. I didn't drive the cars, because I wasn't allowed, but otherwise, yeah. I was up for doing as much as I could, just for the fun of it really, and to make it as real as possible.
What was it like working with the directors, how do you say their names?
Theo James: Måns [Mårlind] and Björn [Stein]. Yeah. It was cool, it was interesting, I've never worked with guys who do that in a team of two, but it worked quite well, because they're so linked. They're not brothers, but they've known each other for a long, long time, and they've been working together for such a long time that everything they do is very intuitive to one another's opinion anyway.
Did they work together, or do they split up?
Theo James: They're both always on set, but they take days and periods to do the shooting themselves, so one of them will be solely on that day.
What was the most difficult thing about the shoot, and how long did it last?
Theo James: It was three-and-a-half months, I think. The most difficult thing was the rain in Vancouver, maybe. No, it was pretty cool, to be honest. Vancouver was good, but it did feel quite cold after a while. No, I can't think of any major fuck-ups.
How does this world compare to the previous films?
Theo James: It runs on the same sort of theme. It's based in reality, but it's a world that's contemporary but also slightly removed of that kind of styling and the ambiguous nature of it, I suppose.
Are you a fan of the genre?
Theo James: I like the genre, man, yeah, it's cool. I knew the first movie quite well, I'd seen it with mates years ago. I hadn't seen the third one, but I've watched them all since. What I like about the "Underworld" thing is that it's a mix of cool genres, as well as creating its own message, I suppose. But it's also very dark, and it's quite badass, really. Quite cool.
Talk about working that way, working with two directors, one of whom directs on one day while the other will take another.Did that take some getting used to?
Theo James: I thought, maybe, it possibly would, but no, to be honest, it really worked. I think it might not work in a different environment, but because of the way they work, it really works very well. They know exactly what they're doing and what they're looking for, and they're so close that they've got a singular vision.
How much of a presence was Len [Wiseman] on the set?
Theo James: He was around, definitely a strong presence. He's the creator.
What's next for you?
Theo James: I was just saying, I don't know if I'm allowed to say yet.
Do you have a favorite of the "Underworld" movies?
Theo James: I think the first one, though to be honest, the second one is good as well. It upped the stakes a bit, and the action pushed the boundaries a bit more. But I like the way the first one set up the world.
You think this one pushes the boundaries the most?
Theo James: I think so, yeah. It's a whole other level. It's quite ambitious that way.
Source upcoming-movies.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.