Jason Statham
"Playing with the Big Kids!"
Jason Statham is best known for as a regular in Guy Ritchie’s action dramas like Revolver, Snatch and Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, as well as films like The Italian Job, The Transporter films, Death Race, and Crank.
Then, Statham seized the opportunity to work with frequent co-star Jet Li and several other action greats like Dolph Lundgren and Bruce Willis in Sylvester Stallone’s all-star action film The Expendables. Now the 44 year-old English native reprises his role as Lee Christmas in The Expendables 2. It was brought up how Jason is the closest thing to a modern action hero and that America does not have one anymore.
“And you’ve got all of them on the film’s poster,” Jason remarks, “We don’t have any other Brits. I mean, come on, these are cinema’s biggest action heroes of all time. So that is, you know, as good a line as you could ever get. You know? So, I mean, we have to tip our hats to the chaps who’ve created…who coined the phrase ‘action hero’. I mean, Sly and Arnold [Schwarzenegger] and Bruce that phrase only appeared because of those chaps.”
Jason was asked whether any adjustments are made on an action film where plenty of his co-stars are over the age of 50.
“Well, listen, what we do is quite, it’s contact sport and it’s inevitable that you’re going to get an injury,” Statham says, “Whether your 20 years old or 40 years old, it doesn’t matter what you are. If you’re doing it correctly and you getting stuck in and you’re giving it your most, there’s going to be injuries that come, so the thing is, this group of lads here, they do it and they lead by example and they don’t sit in the chair and have some stunt double do it. Once in all in and that’s how they go. I have massive respect for those chaps, because I’m seeing it first hand, so it’s
Jason Statham
"Playing with the Big Kids!"
Statham was asked whether he felt any younger actors like his co-star Liam Hemsworth have the potential to live up to his older co-stars as true action screen icons.
“There’s so many great actors out there,” Jason believes, “The list is endless. I don’t want to mention any names because it’s unfair to the rest of them, because there’s so many of them. There’s a good bunch of chaps out there that could maybe do what we’re doing, who knows, we’ll see.”
Jason was asked if he got injured at any point during the shooting of The Expendables 2.
“No. I was pretty lucky this time around,” Statham replies, “I didn’t get any damage. A few of the other chaps did, but I was lucky enough to get away with it.”
Statham also touched on the numerous amount of artillery he and the cast wield in the film.
“There’s a lot of big weapons on this film,” Jason says, “We’ve also had plenty of schooling, well myself in a lot of other films, so there’s no one like the rest of the crowd. They’ve all seen guns many, many times and we all know how to use them.”
“So I think we moved first in the technology of building them,” he continues, “There was no new stuff that we haven’t seen. I think Liam Hemsworth a big 50 caliber, which is very hard to sort of run and carry and shoot. He’s used one of those in his two arms before, so nothing new.”
Jason was asked how much the 10 year-old kid in him got to enjoy working alongside action heroes like Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, and newcomer Jean-Claude Van Damme.
“It’s a painful experience, is it?” Statham says, “It’s a great job. We share a lot of laughs. A lot of stuntmen are the unsung heroes that we get to work alongside with them. We share a great friendship and to me, it means a lot, you know.
“It’s like
Jason Statham
"Playing with the Big Kids!"
Statham was asked if seeing the cast list of this film makes him only want to step up his game.
“Yes, as it should do, yes,” Jason answers, “It just takes you back. You see all those people, you know, you’ve seen right next to you about to shoot a scene together, so normally you’re used to sitting in the cinema and watching them on the big screen, slightly different. You’re there in the good company, so you don’t forget those things.”
Jason was asked if he shared that same rapport with Stallone off set as well as on.
“We’re good friends,” Statham replies, “Yes. The chemistry either there or it’s not. I don’t think you think you can sort of work on that and you can’t sort of practice how to create chemistry, it’s just one of those things. If you’ve got that sense of humor, that sort of banter, it comes easy and if it ain’t there, then don’t try and sort of work on that, I think, it’s one of those things, personalities.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to The Expendables 2 where what previously had been a cameo role has now expanded. Statham spoke of his experience witnessing the former California governor on set.
“Again, he’s like one of my heroes,” Jason answers, “Just to see him in the scene is just an amazing thing to see. During back in his body building days, I was remembering him pumping iron years ago. It was one of the best documentaries, sports documentaries, I had seen at that time.”
“Whatever he turns his hand too, he excels in,” he adds, “Seven times Mr. Olympia. He’s won like
Jason Statham
"Playing with the Big Kids!"
Jason was then asked what he thought of Schwarzenegger personally.
“I don’t know Arnold,” Statham says, “No. It’s the first time I’ve met him. So that was great. I pulled the sack off his head and there he was. It was the opening sequence where he’s got the bag on his head and it was great. That was my first on the film set.”
Statham was asked if he got starstruck in Arnold’s presence.
“You recognize him,” he says, “He’s so familiar. It’s like there he is. Yes. But you don’t sort of get all stupid about it. I mean, it’s like, it’s like a respect, it’s like, it’s a, it’s a good thing to shake, you know, Arnold’s hand. And to be there and be directed by Sly.”
“It’s a terrific sort of moment,” Jason adds, “But you don’t lose yourself, it’s not like one of those, it’s not like a childhood sort of fantasy. It’s just, you know, you have a lot of respect and awe of the great things that they’ve done and to be in the company and give them a good handshake is terrific. Yes.”
Jason was asked whether Stallone and Schwarzenegger ever had a rivalry during their action star heyday.
“They’re best friends,” he replies, “They meet every week. They have lunch every week. It’s like they’re good pals. Yes. Whatever rivalry there was, I don’t know about it, I’m sure there’s you know, many opinions and stories, but whatever it was ain’t there now. They’re good friends”
“The one thing, you know, is about the pair of them, is their sense of humor,” Statham continues, “They’re always laughing. They’re always, you know, they always have something funny to say. That’s what I like.”
