Morris Chestnut talks Kick-Ass 2Posted by Wilson Morales
August 15, 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.”
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.
Replacing Omari Hardwick as Marcus, Hit-Girl’s guardian is Morris Chestnut, who’s been on the screen throughout the year with role in “Identity Thief,” ‘The Call” with Halle Berry, this film, and the upcoming “The Best Man Holiday.”
Blackfilm.com had a chance to speak with Chestnut on his role in “Kick-Ass 2” and what’s changed that we now see him more often than before.
How exciting to be included in this action-packed sequel?
Morris Chestnut: It’s really exciting. I was a big fan of the first film and. Just to be able to come on board and be a part of it is great. The only thing I didn’t like is that I didn’t get to kick any ass. Everyone is having fun and they’re in costumes and beating people up and I’m the killjoy. I’m the one that says “Don’t do this and don’t do that.”
Well, if you were one of the guys fighting with a costume, what name would you give yourself?
MC: That’s a really good question. I don’t know. I want to be something cooler than “The Enforcer.” Maybe “The Enforcer on Steroids.”
How was working with Chloe?
MC: It was interesting. My daughter is 14 and around her age when we were shooting the film. I think she’s great. We didn’t get that much together because she came in from shooting ‘Carrie’ to this film and we just hopped on set without rehearsals. I think she’s a professional and it comes across on screen.
Earlier this year you played a cop in ‘The Call’ and you’re playing a cop in this film as well. How much knowledge do you now have of the position?
MC: Not enough to actually be one, but just enough to play on TV and in movies. I’ve seen my share of dramas, documentaries, and series regarding police officers and tracking evidence, so I’m fairly familiar with the law.
What did you pick up from Jeff Wadlow that you haven’t got from other directors?
MC: I think it comes across in the movie, but Jeff has a childlike enthusiasm. For what he’s doing for the film. I think he really set the tone. This film will be more ramped up than the first one. It will be more tangled with more fights. Jeff was very excited about certain scenes and more energetic and he really set the tone.
Is this the sort of film you would let your daughter see?
MC: I actually would. Do I think movies and music influences people to a certain degree? I don’t it think influences kids to a situation that’s not in them. What I think the film does is desensitize people to violence.
Having been in the business 20 years now, you are now getting roles that have you being wiser. Is that a good thing?
MC: I do. I think there will be an opportunity where there’s a risk and I can do something outside the box. In terms of my career, I think I established my image of trust, of loyalty, and protection and Hollywood picked up on that.
Between Identity Thief, The Call, Kick-Ass 2, and the upcoming The Best Man Holiday, you’ve been working hard lately and more visible on screen. Did you change agents?
MC: I did change agents and looked at the overall perspective of things. The team I’m with is doing a great job and they are really fighting for me to get these roles. I got a chance to sit down and reflect on things were going.
With ‘The Best Man Holiday’ coming up in a few months, what do want to get from that film?
MC: I hope that we can entertain them to a greater level than we did with the first film. I do think that what they have in the can is enough to hold up and quite possible surpass what the original did. That’s the goal. It’s really to entertain and you hope that some of the underlying messages from the characters get through to people. Some people will get some things from the film that others don’t because of their own personal experiences in life. I think if we entertain to a level where people want to watch the film over and over again, certain messages will come out and with this particular, and it’s about friendship, forgiveness, and just being there for your friends. In the last film, the characters were out of college and they were just starting their lives, and there was a wedding and other drama.
What can you share about your character Lance that we didn’t see in the trailer?
MC: (laughs) There were certain things that you did not see for a reason. That’s a good question.
How many kids do Lance and Mia have and he’s still playing football?
MC: They have four kids. He’s happily married and still playing football for the Giants. He’s actually going for the rushing record. It’s doesn’t happen that often where a potential Hall of Famer is still playing with his original team. I’m a huge NFL fan and to shooting in the Buffalo stadium was amazing. To see my picture on the megatron scoreboard was amazing. It was a ton of fun.
You’ve played an athlete, a law enforcement officer and earlier this year, you had tweeted something about doing the comic Black Panther. Is that an option for you? Do you still see yourself playing the role if Marvel comes knocking at your door?
MC: I can definitely see myself playing the role. I don’t know if they could, but I would love the opportunity. I think I have the physicality and I have other things involved, but yeah, I would love to.
Did you follow the Black Panther growing up? Have you watched all of the Marvel films thus far?
MC: Not growing up. I was not a huge comic book fan. I was primarily a sports fan and I read comic books, but I wasn’t an avid reader. I haven’t seen all of the Marvel films but a lot of them. There are huge spectacles that take you on these wild rides. These are event tentpole movies. I’ve taken my son to a majority of them and I think there are great.
What’s next?
MC: Next month, I go back to doing the Showtime series Nurse Jackie and then we’ll see what happens after that. The good thing about doing the show is that it’s over 20 episodes that we have to shoot, but half of that. That allows me to do other projects. That’s the beauty of cable shows. Network shows, which I also love, do limit your availability to do features.
