Q: So this is Scorpion King 3, how did you feel about joining such a fan favourite franchise, and had you seen the other Scorpion King movies?
I hadn’t, actually. I responded to the role and the script, and basically had a conversation with Roel Reiné, the director. I really responded positively to the direction he was going to take theatrically in making the film, and so I signed on as kind of a labour of love.
Q: Can you tell us a little more about your character, Horus, and what it is that drew you to playing him, what you liked about him?
Well, I liked his fairness. He seemed as though he was caught politically in a world where a lot of forces are toying with one another, and the position that he chooses to take, clearly engenders the greater good, if you will, and he does the great deal that he needs to do – whereas the others seem to be taking the route that just benefits themselves. Horus makes decisions that benefit the other citizens, so I liked that side of Horus, and the fair mindedness of Horus, particularly in light of some of the forces that he is drawn into fighting, that have disparate agendas. So he’s a fair guy who you have respect for.
Q: What were the challenges for you, and was it easy to embrace a regal, “King of Egypt” side of yourself?
You know, for me, I just decided to let the costume and the outer accoutrements define his place. What I was more interested in was finding the heart and mind of the guy, and then hopefully he would become regal to match the outer stuff, the superficial aspects, the strappings of a king, along with the loneliness of a decision-maker. Like all decision-makers, it can be a lonely place to be, and a very dangerous place to be – and that can be a compelling combination.
Q: How does Horus fit into the story of Mathayus and his bid to reclaim his empire?
Well, when I join forces with Mathayus during the film, I don’t feel that he has an agenda of that proportion. I feel as though he is a disenfranchised figure who has got these unbelievable skills that I can use for my gain; I feel as though he is a powerful guy but he’ll end up not being on the right side of history, so he’s a very valuable tool for me to utilise in terms of me trying to bring together these forces who are vying for power, in the Eastern sectors of the kingdom.
Q: You shot the film in Thailand and it looks amazing: you filmed in amazing temples – it looked really beautiful – but how was that? Apparently there were a lot of bugs?
No more so than some of the places I’ve worked! But yes, I guess it can get rather hot and uncomfortable in Thailand, particularly when you are wearing six or seven layers of clothes that define your regality! But I never remember feeling compromised or put upon, any more so than any other locations that I’ve been on. It was my first time in Thailand personally, and for me, most of the exercise was about immersing myself into this unbelievably beautiful culture, and then getting a chance to visit these temples that were in remote locations, and spending a day or two in parts of Thailand that not a whole lot of tourists go to see, so that’s one of the great benefits of being an actor.
Q: Let’s talk about the fighting, because the battle scenes that I have seen look absolutely epic.
I didn’t have to participate in the big, big, big battle scenes – I had a couple of smaller things that I did amongst my own troops – but in terms of the big battles, I think that was more Billy (Zane) and my dear, dear friend who was in Once Were Warriors (1994); he is a real actor, Temeura Morrison. He had a big part to play in a lot of the big battle stuff. I had the sense to just sit on the throne and take part in things a lot less taxing.
Q: That’s the benefit of being a king, you see, you don’t have to go out and get your hands dirty in the big battles!
As Mel Brooks once said, “It’s good to be the king.”
Q: If you were going to go out and buy the DVD – for the fans – how does this third film raise the bar for the franchise, do you think?
I think that Roel Reiné, our distinguished director, has just got a great facility – visually – of creating epic scenes on film, so it’s certainly got a great amount of razzle dazzle. I have already alluded to the fact that the script is rather smart, and it’s depiction of warring forces at work vying for power is theatrical and compelling, so I would be surprised if those who are already into the Scorpion King franchise wouldn’t find this a great addition.
Q: How was it working with Billy Zane? He has said that he really enjoyed chewing some scenery during his “Raising of the Gods” scene.
I actually watched Billy work – I was never on screen with him – but just watching him work, I felt I should have been paying admission because it was kind of fun! It’s so entertaining! He’s one of these wonderful actors that doesn’t leave anything in the locker room. He comes to play and he’s not afraid to make bold or theatrical choices, and I truly admire that.
Q: How does this differ for you from doing something like Sons Of Anarchy?
There are ways: horses instead of Harleys; crowns instead of leather coats – the differences are immeasurable. It’s a great thing to be able to do The Scorpion King when you are on hiatus between seasons of Sons Of Anarchy, which is such a contemporary piece and such an expression of modern day parlance, whereas The Scorpion King is an expression of a very chaotic tale, a more classical tale of morals and values. So it’s a great way to clean the palate, and to come back to work and come back fresh.
Q: And a final question for the fans: do you still get a lot of questions about Hellboy (2004)? What sort of things do they ask? And are you always going to be proud of Hellboy?
I am really proud of the two Hellboy movies, and the great association with Guillermo Del Toro – who is one of my dearest friends in my life, as well as someone I greatly admire as an artist to an unbelievable degree. Most people want to know about the third one, and since it is so big and unwieldy to get a movie like that up and running, and since Guillermo is so busy doing other things right now, I’m not sure whether the third one will ever happen.
The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption is released on Blu-ray and DVD 27 February from Universal Pictures UK.
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