SDCC 2013 – Kevin Grevioux talks I, Frankensteinby Wilson Morales
July 26, 2013
During San Diego Comic Con 2013, Blackfilm.com had the opportunity to exclusively speak with Kevin Grevioux, the the co-writer of the hit supernatural saga, UNDERWORLD and the creator, executive producer, and actor of Lionsgate’s upcoming film, I, FRANKENSTEIN.
Also featured in the film are Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto, Socratis Otto, and Jai Courtney.
Set in a dystopic present where vigilant gargoyles and ferocious demons rage in a battle for ultimate power, Victor Frankenstein’s creation Adam (Aaron Eckhart) finds himself caught in the middle as both sides race to discover the secret to his immortality.
Besides being a screenwriter and actor, the Chicago native has also with Marvel, having written Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel, a character he created years ago as a young teenage comic book fan.
How does it feel to have this getting made after it was first announced in 2009 with a different director and producing team?
KEVIN GREVIOUX: It was a hard journey, but thank the Lord we got here because it’s hard to get a movie made let alone get one made well, especially when you’re talking about the speculative genres: science fiction, fantasy, horror and action/adventure to a certain extent. So I’m glad we are going to make it.
What do you think it was that sold the studio into greenlighting it? What kept people involved to make it happen?
GREVIOUX: I think persistence. I also think the recognition that we were trying to do something different with Frankenstein that had never been done before. That I had created such a rich world in terms of this particular monster. They saw that they could tell stories within this universe for a long time. This was the way to have another franchise. Nowadays, unless it’s a romantic comedy, you really try to milk that same cow as much as you can to create these franchises because they’re worth a lot of money. I think that’s what I saw when I first created it. Some good things can happen.
Is this another variation on “Underworld”?
GREVIOUX: It depends on what you mean by that. You’re talking about monsters. You’re talking about being in a horror genre but putting a twist on it and making it sci-fi. In that respect it is the same. If you’re talking about the same story, no.
How does it feel to be one of the few African American actors getting your own material on screen? You created “Underworld,” that became a franchise, and now you’ve got ANOTHER one. That puts you in another league, “This guy’s putting things together.”
GREVIOUX: I feel blessed, definitely, but I am by no means the only one. There are a lot of other brothers out there who are doing some amazing and prodigious things in terms of science fiction.
Not on the big screen!
GREVIOUX: You have to look at… a lot of people don’t know that Jeffrey Reddick is black. Jeffrey Reddick created “Final Destination.” See what I’m saying? Most don’t know that. There is the unfortunate nature of being a writer or person behind-the-scenes where no one really knows your face, your name and who you are. They really just know the actors and the director, and maybe to a lesser extent the producers. I think maybe with technology being what it is now there are people who were behind-the-scenes who are coming to the forefront visually. Also the fact that I’m a big fan of comic books, I used to work for Marvel and DC, I created a character for Marvel Comics called The Blue Marvel who they are making an Avenger now. That’s pretty cool.
In the movie?
GREVIOUX: In the comic books, he’s gonna be part of a team called The Mighty Avengers. It’s good to create stuff like that. I’ve been a fan since I was twelve! Having one of my characters become an Avenger is pretty cool. I think there are a lot of cats out there who are trying to do things, and it’s just a matter of time.
What about working with Stuart? How is his vision different from Patrick Tatopoulos? Obviously things changed, but what is different about working with Stuart?
GREVIOUX: I think Stuart being a writer as well he’s able to get into the minutiae of character that really brings out the tragedy of Adam Frankenstein. Who he is, who he’s trying to be, and how he gets there. It was just a joy to work with him, it really was.
Are you going to be in this movie and if so, what’s your role?
GREVIOUX: Yes I am. I play Dekar. Dekar is more or less a top henchman of the main villain played by Bill Nighy, Neberious. That’s my role.
Do you have anything else coming up?
GREVIOUX: Yes, a couple of things. I’m working with a publishing company called Arena Comics with Christopher Walker and Ben Fisher. I’m working on an animated series called “Monsteroids” with Ramon Entertainment.
You mentioned that you worked at Marvel. Who would you like to see on the big screen first: Power Man or Black Panther?
GREVIOUX: You know, I don’t know.
You know how the business goes and your words can carry a lot of weight.
GREVIOUX: Naw, I don’t think my words carry any weight to tell you the truth. I guess they’re difficult characters to bring to the screen because they were created in a time where a lot of black characters were marginalized and they were bad stereotypes.
I think the Black Panther to a lesser degree, but he’s still from the jungle. Even though he was depicted as a scientist you never really saw him doing anything on the level of Reed Richards or Henry Pym or Bruce Banner. I didn’t think his powers were necessarily that cool. He couldn’t do anything that Spider-Man couldn’t do better. Luke Cage was basically just a cat from the ghetto modeled after Fred Williamson, you know. (laughs) Escaped from prison, he was a burglar, thief, gang banger, not necessarily the stuff of heroism. I think Marvel has done some interesting things with him in the last couple of years which I think are laudable, but as to which one should come to the screen first I’m not sure. (laughs)
What’s a good reason to see “I, Frankenstein”?
GREVIOUX: Because it’s good. Because of Aaron Eckhart. Because of Yvonne Strahovski. Because of Bill Nighy. They bring an energy and gravitas to the material that I think elevates it above other genre movies of this nature.
