Ed Doyle reports from yesterday’s London press conference for RED 2….
Even stowed away on board the baking interior of elegant river-cruiser ‘Symphony’, moored at Embankment Pier on another day of blistering heat, most were helpless but to speculate on the imminent arrival of the royal baby elsewhere. No one was more curious than Dame Helen Mirren, radiating all in white, who invited critics to put forward estimates for the child’s name. I resisted the urge to cry out ‘Mary-Louise!” as Ms Parker herself joined the conference table in a purple dress, stepping precariously as the boat gently swayed to and fro. Last out – and late out – was Bruce Willis, the man-in-black shifting through a sea of faces with a calm, collected swagger and that unmistakable smirk.
Once all parties were seated, all recorders placed and all cameras firmly trained, the boat set sail at a reserved pace along the Thames, recreating the brief route of another boat ride featured in the trio’s latest outing – RED 2, out in cinemas on August 2nd. A sequel to 2010’s loose adaptation of Warren Ellis’ DC comic book, the film sees the cast reprise their roles as fugitives on the run from yet another vague conspiracy in need of unravelling. Dean Parisot takes the directorial reins to shoot a script courtesy of Jon and Erich Hoeber, who also penned the first film’s screenplay. Joining the cast for the second instalment – though not the press conference – are veteran actors Sir Anthony Hopkins as senile Dr. Edward Bailey, and Catherine Zeta-Jones as sultry Russian temptress Katya.
“I like to work in ensemble casts,” Willis professed, when asked about the ‘new recruits’. “All we tried to do all day was make each other laugh, and I hope that comes across onscreen.” Interestingly, Willis admitted a preference toward comedic roles over the typical action fare he’s well-known for. “I like to make people laugh, more than fight people,” he said.
What about singing roles, then? Willis’ eyes rolled into the back of his head. “There are a lot of really good singers in the world and I’m happy to let them handle that. I can’t even handle the sound of my own voice when I sing. It’s really excruciating.” When asked – somewhat bizarrely – if he could provide the recipe for a happy relationship, Willis sighed once more. “I don’t know if I’m qualified to answer that. Attention must be paid to your family and friends, and how you treat them. There’s nothing more important.”
Mirren confessed some trepidation in accepting the script for the original RED. “I was just a little bit ‘Ooo… are people going to think I’ve sold out?’ Then I realised how utterly stupid that was, and what an incredible opportunity it would be to do something I’ve never done before.” The experience was similarly fresh for Parker, who got the chance to bust her action chops for the first time, including one standout chase scene through the streets of Paris. “I’m a horrible driver,” she said. “In one take, I drove straight into a wall and the director watched it on a loop.” Despite the hiccups, Parker enjoyed the physical demands. “My character sort of fails miserably [at action], but it was good to be bad at it.”
The cast made it clear they were more than happy to revisit the franchise. “I just love these actors,” said Parker of her co-stars. “They’re legendary. It’s so easy to work with [Bruce] and hang out with him. All my scenes are with him, so that’s my main draw.”
“This film has expanded from the first,” explained Mirren. “They go to all these locations… It’s just faster, funnier and a little more furious than the first one.” Staying with the subject of revisiting characters, Mirren particularly extolled the virtues of storytelling on television, citing the critically-acclaimed Prime Suspect, in which she starred. “It’s great to play a character that can develop in time, in real-time. As you get older, the character gets older. As the world changes, they change. You can only really have that on television…”
Ed Doyle – Follow me on Twitter.
Originally published July 23, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
