Donald Faison talks Kick-Ass 2By Wilson Morales
August 12, 2013
Coming out this week is the return of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse in their signature and respective roles as Kick-Ass, Hit Girl and Red Mist return for the follow-up to 2010′s irreverent global hit: “Kick-Ass 2.”
After Kick-Ass’ (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) insane bravery inspires a new wave of self-made masked crusaders, led by the badass Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey), our hero joins them on patrol. When these amateur superheroes are hunted down by Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse)—reborn as The Mother F%&*^r—only the blade-wielding Hit Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) can prevent their annihilation.
Also appearing in the film as Doctor Gravity is Donald Faison, best known for his role in the 90s hit film ‘Clueless’ as well as the TV series ‘Scrubs.’ Aside from a cameo appearance in last year’s hit film, ‘Pitch Perfect,’ it’s been a while since we last since the New York native in a prominent film role. Currently, he’s the star of the TV Land situation comedy The Exes.
In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Faison talks about his role, working with director Jeff Wadlow and the cast, wearing the costume and being blessing to still be working after 20 years in the business.
What role do you play?
Donald Faison: I play Doctor Gravity, who is an inspired vigilante. Kick-Ass inspired him to become a superhero; put on a costume, and fight crime in the streets. He also introduces Kick-Ass to Justice Forever. It’s a group of superheroes that fight side by side and Kick-Ass joins. That’s really Doctor Gravity’s story. He’s the guy that introduces to this gigantic new world.
Had you seen the first film and what intrigued you to be a part of this one?
DF: I had seen it. It was the first superhero film I had seen when no one had any powers. Other than Batman, but he’s rich and has all these gadgets and stuff like that, it was cool that these people were inspired by what Batman was. They went out into the streets and fought. When I saw the first film, and I saw Chloë Grace Moretz, it tripped me out. This is the type of movie that I want to be in. I had previously worked with Jeff Wadlow on a pilot that didn’t go. It was me, Sullivan Stapleton, who’s in the next ‘300’ film and Jeff did a pilot together and it was picked up as a series, but we all kept in touch and Jeff hit me up. Well, I hit him up and congratulated him on ‘Kick-Ass 2’ and he was like, “Yo! There’s a part in it for you. You have to audition for it.” I was like, “I don’t care. I’ll audition for anything; and it’s ‘Kick-Ass 2’ so that sounds great.” I auditioned twice, got the movie, and the rest is history.
Since we don’t see much of you on the big screen, what does a role in a sequel to a hit film do for your career?
DF: Yes, it’s been a hiatus for me. I guess I did do it a lot when I was younger, and then ‘Scrubs’ happen and I was on it. What does this do for me? For me personally, it’s a great accomplishment. I get to put on a superhero costume and it’s something I always wanted to do.
How was wearing the costume?
DF: It’s great wearing the costume, and the only problem is that it gets hot when you on the stage. We started in Toronto in the first half of the movie. The first week of filming I was like, “I’m good.” It was cold outside and I’m the one with the warm outfit while everyone else is freezing their butts off. Someone said, “That’s cool, but wait til we get to the soundstage.” I didn’t think I needed to be worry about it. Soundstages usually have air conditioners and all that stuff, but because the ACs were so loud, they had to turn it off. So when I walked onto the stage, it would be 70 degrees.
If you don’t have a costume on, and just have something flexible like Night Bitch, who’s wearing a bra, leather pants and heels, then you were fine. In Toronto, she was freezing, but on the soundstage, she was good to go. Me however, in the Doctor Gravity outfit, which is all this synthetic material and stuff, it was so hot and I was drenched. I had goggles on and it would start to fog up. A lot of the fight scenes I would have to work with goggles and I couldn’t see anything and it was just about memory, and remembering choreography. It all worked out great, but that outfit was a pain in the ass. It was scratchy and scratched the crap out of me. You don’t smell good after you take it off, but it was all worth it in the end.
How was working with Aaron?
DF: That was great. The first fight scene that I’m in is Kick-Ass and Doctor Gravity versus a bunch of thugs. I remembered that we rehearsed it that night and I learned my moves and we shot that scene for about 4-5 hours. I slept for 24 hours afterwards. I was so exhausted. Aaron got up the next day and went to work. I remembered not being able to move my legs and pulled a butt muscle, which I didn’t you could do, but the cheek went out on me and I was limping. That’s when I knew that this kid (Aaron) is built for this. He’s literally built to be Kick-Ass.
What’s a good reason for folks to ‘Kick-Ass 2’?
DF: It’s bigger and better than the first one. I think the first one is a great one is a great movie but this film has so many more great things about it. Just think about when you saw ‘Star Wars’ and how you loved it, and then you’re introduced to Lando Calrissian in ‘Empire Strikes Back’ and it becomes an even better movie. I feel that’s what ‘Kick-Ass 2’ is. There are more characters and the stakes are higher. It’s not Kick-Ass versus Chris D’Amico’s dad anymore; it’s Kick-Ass and company versus the Toxic Mega Cunts, which is like the Empire in a lot of ways. There are more of them than there are of the good guys.
Do you care to comment on Jim Carrey’s lack of involvement to promote the film?
DF: The movie is a fantasy, action, comic book movie and it’s violent. It’s true. Where ‘Kick-Ass’ left off, ‘Kick-Ass 2’ takes it from there. Jim is great in this movie. He gives a masterful performance. Not a good performance, but a masterful one. He’s really good in this movie. He’s entitled to his opinion at the end of the day. So be it. I was just happy to be in a movie with Jim Carrey.
How happy to be in this business a little over 20 years?
DF: I’ve been lucky. I was lucky to be on ‘Scrubs.’ I auditioned for it and it was hard work, but it was fun. This is a game of skill and luck and being at the right place and time. From ‘Clueless’ to ‘Scrubs’ to ‘Kick-Ass 2’, I’ve been very blessed and lucky to be here. I can’t give credit to anything else but that. I’m here because I got lucky.
What keeps you grounded?
DF: My wife keeps me grounded. She knows how to smack a brother upside his head when he acts stupid, and my baby on the way keeps me ground.
