Exclusive: Aldis Hodge Talks Jack Reacher: Never Back Down, Underground Season 2 & Hidden FiguresPosted by Wilson Morales
October 26, 2016
Currently in theaters is “Jack Reacher: Never Back Down,” directed by Edward Zwick and featuring the return of Tom Cruise as the title character. The film also stars Cobie Smulders, Danika Yarosh, Austin Hebert, Patrick Heusinger, Aldis Hodge, Robert Knepper and Holt McCallany.
Based on author Lee Child’s 18th book in the bestselling Jack Reacher series, “Never Go Back,” the film follows Reacher going on-the-run with Army Major Susan Turner (played by Smulders) as they race to uncover the truth about active duty soldiers, once under his command, who are being killed.
For Aldis, who plays Espin, an officer under Turner’s command whose loyalty is tested after she is arrested, the last few years has been a great for the North Carolina native. Best known for playing Alec Hardison on the TNT series “Leverage” for 5 seasons, his career took off after playing MC Ren in the 2015 biopic and critically acclaimed blockbuster “Straight Outta Compton.” Since then, Hodge landed one of the lead roles in WGN America’s series “Underground,” which is entering its second season and will next be seen opposite Taraji P. Henson and Janelle Monáe in the mathematician film “Hidden Figures.”
In speaking exclusively with Blackfilm.com, Hodge talks about his character in “Never Go Back,” what’s expected for Noah in season 2 of “Underground,” and his role in “Hidden Figures.”
How would you describe Espin?
Aldis Hodge: He’s different soldiers rolled into the best of one. He’s by the book, does his duty and wants to be the best soldier possible. He thinks outsides the lines a little bit because he understands that sometimes you need to rely on your civilian tactics to be the best soldier possible. He’s a little avant-garde that way. He came up under the ranks of Reacher and he was taught by the best but they didn’t have the best relationship. Reacher gave him a tough time. Pulling a little bit if that Reacher instinct, he knows when he smells something funny and that’s when he has to step outside from being a soldier to be the best tactician possible. He’s a standup guy and nonsense. He’s about getting the job and he’s loyal and wants to do good.
After Straight Outta Compton, was this something that they came after you for or did you have to audition for the role?
AH: I auditioned for it. I called it serendipity because both my parents are Marine. Most of those tactics are from my mom.
How was working opposite Cobie (Smulders) and Tom (Cruise)?
AH: They are both fantastic. On the set, fun was a priority because we had nothing but fun. Cobie is warm and so open. She exhumes confidence and that commanding leading woman that she is and did a fantastic job. Tom is really kind and really great to sit back and watch because he understands every part of what needs to go on set. If you want to school for a production, not just acting, you sit back and watch Tom. He’s really engaging. He’ll pull you in and make sure that you’re good and make sure that what you need is taken care off and make sure that all your questions are answered. I had a fantastic time because I felt that I was working with people that I known for years.
Did you read the Jack Reacher books prior to production?
AH: I was very much aware of Jack Reacher but only started to read the books when I had auditioned and realized that I was getting closer to possibly getting the job. “Ok, let me do my research.” The books are fantastic and I’m happy that Espin pops up a couple of times.
Can you talk about shooting in New Orleans?
AH: New Orleans is New Orleans. It’s a great city and fun and great food. It’s one of those cities that when you are working hard hours like we work, you have to do as much as possible to stay out of trouble. Not much of a problem for me, but in New Orleans, trouble tries so much to find you. I had been in Baton Rouge for five months prior to this film because I was shooting my series Underground. I had already been in and out of New Orleans, so by that point, I felt that I was still home. It was comfortable. Right now, I’m living in Savannah, GA. I don’t even have an apartment in LA. I just roll wherever the check takes me. It’s nice. It’s how I discover the world. It’s nice when you have the sense of familiarity as well and I definitely have that in New Orleans.
With Season 2 of Underground coming up, what’s expected from your character that you can talk about?
AH: I definitely can’t talk a lot about it but with my character, last season we left off with Noah once again getting caught. The difference is that he’s been through tumultuous journey and now he’s rediscovered a sense of foundation within himself and who he is as a man. He’s discover love and been given love for the first time. For him, that is freedom. With Rosalee and that bond and relationship, that is his freedom. So, when you strip that away, what do you think that turns a man into. I would say that he is most feral creature at his best. He is still much a technical tactician. He still a logical man, thinking and planning, but there is this edge to him. He’s going to do what he has to do to get his family back because that’s all that he has that feels like freedom. That’s what he has that feels like home and it was ripped away.
Come December, you will be back on the big screen in “Hidden Figures.” What’s your role in that film?
AH: In “Hidden Figures,” I play Levi Jackson. In real life, he was married to Mary Jackson, who is played by the wonderful Janelle Monáe. Levi is a wonderful man. He’s very loving and very caring and a lot of fun. He was really a standup guy for his family and really supportive of his wife, which I find to be quite exemplary in today’s culture. Even what he represented back then, making the unpopular choice to stay home and handle that business while his wife wanted to go pursue her dreams and be an engineer, that didn’t matter to him. All that matter to him was family. A happy home. Making sure that his wife knew she had a strong guy to depend on. I find that to be great for what a man should be. I found it quite an honor to have played him and hope that I did him justice. I hope that we honored the family without betrayal of who these people were. “Hidden Figures” is a fantastic story and so happy that it’s coming out and really grateful to be a part of it.
Although you’ve been working over 10 years and spent good amount of seasons on TNT’s Leverage, it seems that now, you are starting to get a lot of attention with more roles and visibility. Did ‘Compton’ give you more opportunities or did you get a PR person. Why did it so long for you to get this far?
AH: Let me give you the scoop. I’ve been in this business since I was two years old. I’m 30 now with 28 years in the game. The main thing I think is consistency. I’m constantly looking for ways to learn and elevate your craft, patience for yourself and patience for this business. It’s not a fair business. You may be great but it may take years for someone to notice what you’re capable of because of politics. For me, I’m not sure where I’m at in my career. “Leverage” for me started nine years ago. Every job is a step to the next thing. For me, I feel that my career trajectory is going up. That’s based on knowing who I am as an actor and what I want my audience to see and knowing where I want my career to go. Having the foundation of true and loving people behind me and that’s my mom, my brother, and my sister. People that won’t say yes to everything. People that won’t say it good when it’s not good. If they want me to be better, they will give great constructive criticism for me to excel. This is a job where you have to dedicate your all and 28 years in, I feel happy with myself. I feel happy where I’m at with my career but I’m not satisfied. I’m still very hungry. There are so many things that I need to accomplish and the way things are going, I hope it keeps going in the right direction.
In going back to “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back,” what did you learn from director Edward Zwick that you can take to the next project?
AH: Ed Zwick is fantastic. I think he communicates well, which for a director is one of their biggest tools – constant communications with the actors and constant communication to the crew, but it’s how you communicate. How do you delegate to your team what you need and he understands how to do it well. He knows how to get the performance out of you because he knows the things you need. He’s able to look at the end result and know what that is so I know how to hit before I even start. Also understanding where my storyline is. I’ve been blessed to work with great directors such as John Rogers, co-creator of Leverage, Anthony Hemingway, director and executive producer of Underground. These guys have taught me so much. I take my pieces here and there and with Ed Zwick, I love his candor and cool demeanor, but he knows where he needs you to be and he knows how to get you there.
