From Hollywood’s top actors to globetrotting adventures, high octane action and even a few streaks of comedy, Red Notice, a Netflix original, has all the ingredients to become a huge blockbuster. News18.com recently chatted with film writer and director Rawson Marshall Thurber, who talks about bringing Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot together, how to get an original idea for an action-comedy difficult and why is he not worried about the critics.
You were in the middle of shooting for Red Notice when the pandemic started. How was it to resume shooting amidst all the restrictions and protocols?
Red Notice was a very challenging film, which was probably the most challenging film of my career. I also think this is my best film till date. The global pandemic that broke out in the middle of our shoot was incredibly challenging. We were closed for six months, and we had to come back and figure out how to make this film during a pandemic where there is no vaccine and no protocol, but how to creatively address those issues. To be done where we couldn’t shoot around the world and had to figure out how to shoot it in Atlanta. It was unprecedented.
How did you decide the casting of the film?
There is a lot to like about each of them. Dwayne (Johnson) and I have worked together twice before and I thought he would fit in perfectly for the role. For the character of Gal (Gadot), I needed someone who had beauty and class and mystery and mischief, all in one and an actor was a very short list and Gal was at the top of that list. And then there’s Ryan (Reynolds). There is nothing that man cannot do. He is funny, flamboyant. He can handle action and comedy at the same time. All three were my first choices for roles and I was very fortunate to have them.
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We have seen a lot of action comedies, especially cop friend movies being done in Hollywood from Bad Boys to Rush Hour and many more. How do you ensure that your film is fresh and different from what you have tried before?
This is a good question. It is always a challenge to try something with a new spin or a new angle, or something amazing that has never been done before. Because action comedy is a worn out genre. But I think the trick, if there is one, is the balance between action and comedy. You want both of those plates to be rotating at the same time, but not so much at the same frequency so that they resonate more harmoniously. That’s why you want your action to be thrilling and exciting, but not too scary, edgy because that will make people uncomfortable and they won’t laugh. And you don’t want your comedy to be too broad, too silly, too funny, otherwise the action and danger won’t feel real. So it’s about balancing those two, two vowels and balancing those two together and separately and keeping those consonants moving around at the same time.
Red Notice is a tentpole movie that is not a sequel or has any superheroes. In the current climate, is it rare to find original scripts that don’t belong to a franchise or are part of the superhero universe?
You are right in my opinion. Unfortunately it is rare to have an original idea on such a scale. It just doesn’t happen very often now. And there’s a good reason for that. It is a huge investment and it is scary for those who are investing money because they don’t know whether the audience will like it or not. So I feel really, really, really grateful for this opportunity and for the faith Netflix has placed in me and in my three lead actors, Dwayne Ryan and Gal. I am very proud of the finished product.
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Are you worried about the critical acclaim of the film?
Not necessary. This is a movie made for the people who like to pay and watch movies. This is a film made for the entertainment of all. From the age of eight to the age of eighty and whether you are on the left or right side of the political spectrum. So it’s always good when you get good reviews. But I’m not really worried about what the critics say about the film. I am really concerned with how the film plays out for the audience.
At Red Notice, you take visitors to some of the most fascinating destinations around the world. If you are planning to make a sequel to the film, would India be considered a destination?
I have never been to India, I always wanted to know how beautiful the country is. And it’s definitely on my short list of places to visit and potentially, you know, if we’re lucky enough to make another (sequel), India is one of these places to take the story forward. It is possible.
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