Movies: The Expendables 2 – Red Carpet Interviews
Last Monday, Ramp.ie hit the red carpet at The Expendables 2 premiere in London’s Leicester Square to speak to some of the movie’s talent. We didn’t get to speak to everyone – Arnie arrived fashionably late and was marched by a stream of chanting reporters; Mr. Stallone ended up not speaking to the press due to the death of his son last month; and Mr. Jason Statham won everyone’s hearts, even though he did not have a conversation with even one journalist, as he signed autograph after autograph for fans and took God knows how many pictures – but we did catch a few words with the other stars…
Scott Adkins, a professional martial artist, one of the stars of The Bourne Ultimatum and upcoming Zero Dark Thirty, the new Kathryn Bigelow film, talked to us about shooting The Expendables 2.
You know, it was a long time shooting it, this was a massive film. I spent a lot of time in a hotel room and stuff like that. Every day you go to set and there’s these huge explosives going off.
Did you have a lot of time to hang out then?
Well, they were working a lot more than me. I was too busy training hard to look good!
Did you get to show them any of your tricks on set?
Just got to show them how old they were really!
What have you been working on now at the moment?
I just finished work on the Kathryn Bigelow film Zero Dark Thirty. Bigelow has managed to get a lot of access but there is a lot of respect involved. I never really knew the full script. I turned up and just did my bit. I’m very proud to be involved with it.
Will you be up for an Oscar?
I won’t be but she will be!
Also on the red carpet was Jean Claude van Damme:
Do you have a romantic side?
Em. No.
How about the fitness stuff and these kind of films, will you still be doing them when you’re 80?
[Laughs] Yes, I will. If you keep on training you feel like you’re on top. I’m creating a blog now and it’s going to be about training. [Descends into a three minute conversation about fitness techniques.]
How about your own life, would you ever like to write your own book?
I’m going to write a biography of my own life because, you know, it is kind of unusual.
And a film about your life?
I’m too old to play me…
Who would play you?
Let me write the book first… [laughs]
Finally, Simon West, the director who had the tough job of taking over the reins from Sylvester Stallone’s pet project, makes his way up towards us. There’s been a lot of talk about perhaps working with women in the next project or maybe making an all-female action film.
[Genuinely excited] I would LOVE to do the female Expendables, with people like Sienna Miller since we’re here in London. Jolie would be excellent. They can see how much fun we have had on this one, so why not do it with the women? I’ve worked with Jolie before for Tomb Raider and she would be great. She started working from very young and I’ve watched her blossom into this great world figure, she’s really mature and just a great human being.
What was it like working with all the egos on this production?
[Laughs] Oh, there were a lot of egos. But they all controlled themselves. Most of the time! You know these guys are very professional and they’ve done this a lot, obviously. They understand what’s required of them and they’re just happy to be back there.
Was it difficult to take over from Stallone for this film?
You know, I thought it would be, but it wasn’t difficult. When I took the job, I checked with him first. I said ‘You’re going to be ok with this are you? Another director coming in?’ He’s a big personality, you know. But he’s acted in more movies than he’s directed so that’s the fun he was having. Just sitting back…
Were you told off ever?
[Laughs] No… The only comment I got was ‘a little closer’…
The Expendables 2 is in cinemas nationwide.
