Happy Sad Confused - Jai Courtney, Vol. II

Episode Date: June 29, 2015

The wonderful Jai Courtney joins Josh to talk about the time they first met on the set of Divergent, currently filming Suicide Squad, working with Arnold on Terminator Genisys, the origin of his name, and little Jai. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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or go to explorevolvo.com. The new BMO ViPorter MasterCard is your ticket to more. More perks, more points, more flights, more of all the things you want in a travel rewards card, and then some. Get your ticket to more with the new BMO ViPorter MasterCard and get up to $2,400 in value in your first 13 months. Terms and conditions apply. Visit BMO.com slash ViPorter to learn more. Hey, guys. Welcome to another edition of Happy Said Confused. I am Josh Horowitz, and you are listening to my weekly podcast where I talk to cool folks and talk to cool folks like you. See, I talk to cool folks, meaning I interview cool folks, but I'm also talking to you, other cool folks. Basically, it's all about cool folks. And this week is no exception. This week's guest on Happy Second Fused is the extremely talented, the manly, man, the leading man, the up-and-comer that is Jai Courtney. Jai Courtney, you know, two or three years

ago, who the hell was Jai Courtney, right? None of us really knew. And now he's in like 17 different franchises. He, uh, I think I first, I know I first met him. We talk about this. I first met him on the set of Divergent. He was in the first couple of those films in that series. He was in the last diehard movie. He is now filming suicide. squad, that crazy new Warner Brothers kind of villain team up movie. And he is also one of the stars in the sequel slash reboot slash, I don't know what you want to call it, Terminator Genesis, which is about to come out as we speak here today. Terminator Genesis was a pleasant surprise, I have to say. I don't know. The first trailers, I was not into it. I will confess. I was

a little worried. I've been burned before. We've all been burned. We've all been burned before in the Terminator franchise. Terminator Salvation, I don't know how or why that movie exists in such a horrible way, given the sum of its parts, given that Christian Bales in it and a lot of other cool people, didn't work. But the good news is Terminator Genesis is, and I describe it this way to everybody, it's a fun summer movie. Is it as good as the James Cameron first two Terminator movies? No, but it's actually a lot of fun. Does it make much sense? I'm not sure, but I enjoyed the action sequences. It kept moving. I enjoyed Arnold Schwarzenegger back in action as the Terminator. There was enough for me to leave the theater saying, I got my money's

worth. So check out Terminator Genesis. Perhaps the start of a whole new Terminator trilogy, we will see that depends on you guys. I'm thrilled to talk to Jai Courtney, who is actually way different in person, way different talking to than you would think on screen. He is, you know, on screen he's a tough guy he's imposing presence um he's actually super funny um super uh relaxed and just unguarded and uh i had a blast talking to him i always have a blast talking to him i was thrilled that he came into the studio to chat with me for a whole long while to talk about his career his um you know how he got into the business his relationships talk about shy lobuff um suicide squad a whole lot more in this conversation so i know you guys are going to enjoy

enjoy it. What else can I tell you about? Oh, here's something. You guys know I like to do this. Ask for some of your questions on Twitter. Always keeping them coming in using the hashtag happy, sad, confused. Let's read off a couple questions and I'll answer them for you. Camilla wants to know who was your first happy, sad, confused picture. That was, in fact, the lovely, the talented Jessica Chastain was the very first happy, sad, confused photo way back when, when she was promoting zero dark 30. Fun fact, I did not do another happy second fused photo for about six, seven months. I just kind of forgot about it and disregarded it as an idea and then I returned to doing it

later that year and it's been crazy ever since. Let's see, what else do we have here? Ryan Keely, who was on an after-hours episode way back when, check it out, called Escalation with M. Night Shyamalan. asks me, why do I smell weird? I have hygienic issues.

I apologize, Ryan. Best memory with Daniel Radcliffe, Iron Man. I don't know if that's the actual Iron Man. It's Pauline M. I wants to know. Her favorite video is the one where we were roommates. That's an awesome video, if I do say so myself. I'm not complimenting myself.

I'm complimenting Dan Rad. That's a good memory. What's my favorite memory with Daniel Radcliffe? We had a really fun shoot last year for Halloween and a Halloween shop that was closed just for us and Dan dressed up as a werewolf man just for me. We've done a lot of crazy shoots. Oh, you know, it's a fun memory. He punched me in the face once.

That happened. Yeah, it was kind of scripted, but it hurt. He kind of hurt me. So I will be suing Daniel Radcliffe and become a multi-gagillionaire. Harry Potter money is so sweet. Harry Pitter Money is pretty sweet too. That's all for the questions and answers this week. keep them on coming into Twitter via hashtag happy said confused maybe I'll answer them next week

we can all dream right I'll probably answer it I don't get that many questions so just send it in in the meanwhile go check out Terminator genesis this week enjoy your July 4th and enjoy this conversation with it might be July 4th week but we can celebrate an Aussie right we're adults here enjoy Mr. Jai Courtney You could never be on my shit, loose. Well, we'll see. The interview has just started. It's good to see you, though.

You too, man. A lot to talk about. Is there? Is there? I don't know. What do you want to talk about today? We got a lot of time. That's up to you.

We have time to just dive in. Right on. Rock and roll. Okay. Let's see. Where should we start? You know, here's a place to start. I remember the first time I met you.

You probably don't remember. It wasn't meaningful for you. Yeah, it was. Where was it? One of these places. No. One of these buildings somewhere. No.

It was on the sea. set of diversions. Was it? Yeah. Oh, okay. You scared the shit out of me. You were really scary to me. Was that the intent?

Absolutely. Were you just, do you think you were just focused or is your, do you think you naturally intimidate people with your manly presence? Or is that just me, projecting? No, do you think I naturally intimidate people with my manly presence? Apparently, for me, you did. Why? I don't know.

What is it that's intimidating? You're fixed gaze. I mean, you know I'm like a big cuddly bear now. We have hugged, I feel. Many times. Sometimes on camera, sometimes off. It won't be the last. It's going to be lots.

You are, I guess you're just calm down. Calm down. This is being recorded. This is not just for us. I'm down. I don't care. I'm on my sleeve. You're in the middle of working.

I am. In both respects, doing the good work for Terminator. Yes. But also obviously suicide squatting is. Suicide squad is happening as we speak. Is part of your head on the set still? Pretty scattered, yeah. Yeah, kind of.

We've been doing nights for like the best part of a couple months. It's wild. dude. How much more do you have to go? We're till the end of August, so we're only, yeah, we've got a while. So, oh, let's get that out of the way, because I know you could reveal too much on that, but can you give me a sense of sort of like,

there's been so much, like, photography of the set? Like, are you guys aware of sort of, like, the press about it during production? And has that bothered you guys? I mean, we were, we were, well, it's always funny. Often you're going to a movie, usually, like, franchise stuff where it's, like, super protected and, you know,

you're signing all sorts of, you know, agreements and things to not reveal details. We, I think, we guess, I guess they launched some images officially, like the week before we started because we knew we were going to get snapped up. And like, yeah, we can't say anything about it. But, you know, fans now and, like, bloggers and stuff have a pretty fair idea of what's going on. Was this an easy decision to put yourself on the mix for something like this? Because, you know, you only get in the superhero genre, you can't do, unless you're Ryan Reynolds, you can't be in, like, six different superhero movies or so.

right so was this been as many as he wants apparently this was funny actually i was on a road trip with uh with shy the buff down to new orleans filming to film a movie we did last year called man down yeah uh and we were like getting chummy because we were playing mates and uh he was telling me all about fury in his experience with david a who directed that and saying how his next project was going to be this thing called suicide squad and we launched into this discussion about comic book films and I can be quoted as saying I'll never do a comic book movie and I you know I love Aya's work and whatever but I was sitting there kind of been like you know genres like saturated there's so much of this shit at the moment and all this stuff and two weeks later I get a Skype call

with David Ayer and he's like thinking about you coming on board for this thing and I'm like anything again whatever you would have I love the genre I love I'm such a comic book kid whatever you want but I did feel that way. You know, genuinely, he's a director. I think's really prolific. And I think, you know, my attitude wasn't that strong about comic book things. You know, it was more just banter in the car. But I was, you know, genuinely curious about what he wanted to do with something like this. And, you know, I think the D.C. world, you know, where they're letting that property go is perhaps a little less glossy and kind of darker.

Sure. You know, they shoot on film, which might not mean much to some people. but it's becoming increasingly rare. Sure. And for kind of, you know, purists, one of which I'm not. But, you know, I can, like, jump on board with that kind of, you know, ejaculation about...

Choosing your words carefully. Exactly. There's such things. And it is the proper word for this subject. It kind of is, you know. Hasn't been fun to see what Jared's been doing. But there's so much curiosity with that character. Yeah.

The most beloved. No, look, and it's, look, I don't think any of us are naive to the, pressure he's perhaps under um it's not something i've talked about with him but he's uh i've seen him working and uh it's it's cool man is he full method is he daniel de lewis saying it um sort of i don't know i don't know if any i don't know what how you measure that these days right i haven't seen him since we started working out of character put it that way okay fair enough um congrats on terminator i saw it this is a really fun movie i really you know

and it's it's a movie that like those fan boys like i i was excited I was also like, okay, is it going to work? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it did work for me. It's a super fun summer movie. It's a blast to see Arnold doing his thing again. What was the first meeting with Arnold like? He is a force.

He is, yeah. He's totally larger than life. I guess kind of, I don't know. I mean, I never really have expectations when I'm meeting someone who's kind of iconic or, you know, a hero of mine. I think it's best to reserve those kind of opinions and judgment. but yeah he was great he has a lot of fun doing what he does

and he loves this world he loves playing this character you know he really impressed me I think it's easy to underestimate what's happening there from a performance perspective because you know perhaps you could

you could think the character is somewhat two dimensional but there's a lot of choices happening there that you might not necessarily assume and I think I found sort of new respect for him as an actor, really, in kind of, you know, what he has to do playing something that's bionic.

Right. You know? What percentage of the things that come out of his mouth between takes is semi-inappropriate? Because I feel like he's always on the edge. Oh, he's a jokester. I mean, like, yeah, he likes to kind of bullshit a bit. Right. But that's fun.

I mean, that was fitting. We all had a lot of laughs on this shoot. I mean, you mentioned, like, working with people on that level. Like, looking at the filmography in the last few years, it's kind of. of insane. It seems like almost like you're picking or projects are picking you based on just like the giant level of these are not just great actors, they're movie stars. And is that something that, I mean, you say not being phased by it or not, or at least not revealing that you're phased by it. Was that something from the start that you just innately came to you or you

realized this is the way I have to be. No, it's none of it's been calculated or anything. I mean, it's just, you know, I'd take each job as it comes and, you know, in an opportunity, opportunities like rolled along those are the things that factor in as kind of you know what's exciting about the project or who's doing it or whatever you're always looking at that stuff but um no it is kind of weird you know i have had this string of like you know either male actors who are kind of heroes for me and yeah um some great female actors directors you know it's just been it's been a cool little ride and uh yeah i don't know it's it's not something i've planned is uh amelia lovely in this film she's uh obviously also kind of well known for this game of thrones yeah of course you know i

haven't watched game of thrones catch up bro have you been watching are you all i have i have i have to like i haven't finished this season okay i'm aware that it's been spoiled for you already hasn't been spoiled it has not been spoiled do you feel the tension in the uh yeah but i feel power over you for a change i'm sort of at that point with the series where i'm like i mean i'm not scared because everyone's dying at some point right right what um are you a big just consumer of pop culture in all respects? I mean, are you watching TV? You're seeing a lot of movies. TV, I don't get a chance to do too much of. I'm more likely to lock into a series like that and just drill it online. Yeah. Um, yeah. What's the last, what's the last one you went

straight through on? Like, uh, TV stuff. I mean, uh, well, I'm doing Thrones at the moment. House of Cards. Great. I'm, I'm a season behind on that one. Yeah, right. You got to get it on man. Uh, what else has there been, really? I don't see. I get it. I don't do it. I don't do time. I'm doing Hannibal right now. Oh, I haven't. People are saying it's good. It's really good. Good acting. Amazing visuals. It's very well done.

I never did Walking Dead. I didn't stick with it. I probably won't happen. I also have this problem where like if I let something get too far away from me, I'll just never, I'll like never go there. Well, it's also like the sheer volume at a certain point becomes insane. Like, okay, I can. It's intimidating.

Right. Like I can do 20 or 30 episodes. But once you get into like 70 or 80, I need to be an invalid, right? I'm not, yeah, it's not going to happen, right? That's true. Okay, let's talk about, let's go deep. You ready? Yeah.

Let's talk about little jai. Okay. Is little jai with me right now? Right here. Always. The little boy? Yeah. I've never known a jai before.

So you're the first jai in my life. Congratulations. Thank you. Is it a more common name? Is it a more common name back home or is it? No, no. It's not. I don't, I don't know if I know any other jies.

I don't think I do. I've met. a couple. Okay. No, it's not a common name. So, any meaning behind it? Is it a... Yeah, my folks actually got it from the original Tarzan TV series from the 60s. No kidding. Yeah, apparently there was a little boy in the jungle that he like, you know, adopts called Jai. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. As, do you feel like a Jai? Would you, if you could change your name to anything, what would you change your name to? Do I feel like a little boy in the jungle? Well, no, but if you want to take it there, sure. I do feel like a Jai. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, yeah. What do you, I mean, do you feel like a Josh? Yeah, I guess I do.

that is your name right yes what if I said no Kevin I'd be like bullshit they have like six of me here it's like the Terminator they just keep replicating me

okay so going back when you were a kid when did he start acting started acting when I was in I guess like elementary school I was involved in these groups this ensemble program that the like department of education ran.

And it was super cool because it was outside of school. I wasn't much into, like I was a drama student and, you know, a pretty good one, but I wasn't into the school theater stuff so much. It was kind of something I did on my own separate. And these programs kind of ran, I was able to stay involved through like fifth and sixth grade and then up all the way through high school. And that gave me an introduction to theater and, you know, kind of harness that like show off, like, energy, passion for performance that I had going on. And then the natural progression

from that, you know, I met some people who had come through that and then studied at some of the great, like, theatre institutions we have in Oz. And so when I was kind of lost a year after high school and not knowing what the hell I wanted to do in my life, that seemed like a, you know, a really interesting path to choose. And it wasn't until I started studying that I really thought this could be a career and something I wanted to do. Was there, was there a plan A before acting came into the picture? No, and that's the thing. Like, it's, it really is one of those, it's,

I don't know whether these are like inspirational words or not, because I've been asked before, like, you know, what's the secret? How do you, like, do this? And it's like, I don't know, because if this doesn't work out, I'm fucked. Like, literally, I got nothing. I got nothing.

Like, and that's funny because, as kind of stupid as that sounds, I think there is something in my attitude you know if I look at it I never gave myself an option right you know and that's like not I don't mean that to sound like follow your dreams you should

yeah but it just I just honestly had no it was like no this is this will work out because it must down the other path this is like a rid the saddest story ever where I'm like so what have you been up to the last 10 15 years nothing does that I guess I got nothing almost the last four years

did um did people did people that you can't up with? Were they able to make a living too? Were you the anomaly in that group? Or were you, I mean, how much, when you look back, how much of it is luck, how much of it is a perseverance, how much of it is being in the right place and the right time? It's all of it. And you don't, you can't control when it's sort of, you need to draw on which thing, you know? And it's like, I mean, you have to be talented and hardworking and committed. And, you know, I think what still inspires me about, you know, peers of mine, friends I have that I studied with

or whatever that are, you know, it's like you have to have that drive to keep auditioning, you know, keep, you know, for us, the common thing is to kind of perhaps get some work back home and then start making trips out to the States and get reps in L.A. And, you know, it's a very, it's a real kind of formula. But no, look, I mean, look, even without having perhaps, you know, the level of exposure that I might at the moment, you know, a lot of my good friends that I came through drama school with are able to support themselves and are working quite regularly. And And that's really all we hope for, you know,

is that you can make a living out of doing what you love. And I think, you know, as you, as jobs start to stack up, your ambitions grow. And, you know, we might all want it all to begin with. But I also think there's a healthy amount of stuff that can come your way. And, you know, I wouldn't change anything. Maybe it's easy for me to say being in the position I'm in. But, you know, I don't know that like coming out of the gates and becoming a huge

star on the first job would have been a smart thing for the kind of person I am. Sure. And I don't feel like I'm that yet. You know, I don't know if that's something I want yet. Right. And when did you start to get into the mix or come to the States on a regular basis or start to get? It was after, I had about a year out of drama school.

I got a job on a show called Spartacus on the Stars Network back in 2009. And on that, I kind of, I made some relationships with people who had been doing that a bit. I had no idea what that all meant how you go to America and I knew I wanted to do it but I didn't really have a clue how to get to that step you know and I kind of got schooled

through them about who you speak to what you do, how you know and just started doing it man and then it was like a couple of years before I got a job again but yeah after about two years of knockbacks and that's like that's

that's tough times you know pilot season for anyone who knows what that means is like that's a that's a grind and if you can scrape the money together to get on a plane again and come back and do that several times a year you know then you just got to hope that at some point in one of those trips you bag a gig is there an audition that you think of back in those early days where you were like okay this is the one that's going to turn it I think I've got it you didn't end up getting it but it's like this is going to change the career and it didn't come

this is going to sound like bullshit but it's the one I got yeah you know and it was funny because it had come at a time when I really wasn't feeling like being in LA anymore. I remember coming back for that trip, I nearly didn't get on the plane because I just was like, I just, you know, early on I had this kind of,

I was like getting behind myself a lot and it was like, yeah, it's going to happen. Like, you know, one of these things and had that energy and that kind of nerves and excitement and the drive was really strong. And then, you know, you do a couple of those where it's like three months and you're just like,

you start getting down a little bit. Nothing's happened, yeah, and it does. It just starts to get to you. And on that particular trip, I remember thinking, like, man, I don't know if I want to, like, just, I just want to hang back in Australia where things are slightly easier. And I don't have to think about the rejection. And you're surrounded in L.A. by, it's the constant reminder. Yeah. And, you know, when you don't live there, you know, I didn't really have a community at that point.

So going out there was all about just going to those auditions and those meetings. And, you know, it doesn't mean it's busy when you get there. Sometimes you go out for three months and you have six appointments. And you're kind of driving around in, like, the shitty rental that you got from priceless renter car. And, uh, living the dream. Live in the dream, man, you know, eating at Chipotle and like, and getting in your own head probably way too much, like you've way too much like questioning what the hell it is that you're doing wrong.

Um, but, uh, but I do remember going to the audition for Jack Reacher, loving the script, like, like, loving it. And thinking like, I think we could do this, you know, I remember kind of trying to weigh it up. You sort of get schooled on why you didn't get things and, you know, I used to get frustrated about why I would go for an audition and then they'd like offer it to Channing Tatum and you're like they were always going to get like there's going to be motion what was the point of me to you know what I mean let's break the spirit of 30 young men right now so you know you get frustrated with those things that were just logical in the industry but I remember if that kind of calculating

you know what they don't need a movie star in this role and like it was a good little turn and I knew I could kind of nail it so yeah funnily enough that it you know it went my way and And getting to work with someone like Tom, who from my perspective, you know, in talking to him over the years, I mean, this is a movie star and like a, like, just like a crazy, like amazing human being in that like he's present with you a hundred and ninety percent. And I mean, that that must set like a good standard for you when you're in your first kind of big Hollywood movie. Yeah, that was sick. And you're seeing this guy that like knows everybody's name on set. Could do everyone's job on set, you know, better than they could. And knows everything that's going on is. incredibly passionate about what he's doing about the film. He's not there to just make Tom's experience better. You know what I mean?

He's there. He really is. I mean, I think he makes a certain kind of movie, but he knows what that product is, and he knows what people expect from him, and he's so good at it. And that was really inspiring. And it was cool just from like being a young male to see a guy who like,

you know, like really does do a lot of his own stunts and like throws these cars around. And I got to get involved with that you know we shot this chase you know I'm I've been like acting for you know right all of kind of you know two months on this thing and we're in the middle of Pittsburgh at night like smashing cars into each other flying across a bridge at 60 miles an hour and that's like an insane right and I'm looking across and it's Tom Cruise and Chevelle and I'm like what the fuck is going on dude so it was awesome so going back for a second because you mentioned Spartacus and this has to be

both on the professional and personal respect like a very important time for you because uh you know For those I don't know, Andy Woodfield was a friend and tragically, you know, can I just say, be here now, the documentary that he made, he had a crew follow him the last year of his life, just picked up the audience award at the LA Film Festival yesterday. Oh, that's awesome. Yeah. I have to check that out. Yeah, we finally, like, it got done.

It was like a long journey and I was involved in the fundraising campaign a couple of years ago now to get that thing finished and it's awesome to see all the people that worked on it really hard get a reward for that, you know? That's a shift for anybody, like, just personally speaking of, like, a peer or someone that you know and not, you know, a grandfather or whatever that goes through that kind of experience and, you know, their life is shortened way too prematurely. Was that, I mean, I don't want to minimize it by saying, was that a big moment, obviously it was, but talk to me when you look at the perspective of getting to know him and seeing

what he went through and going through that journey with him to respect, what do you think of when you think of that? um i don't know i mean look i learn a lot from him about who i was and like wanted to be i think and how to like this will sound kind of weird but he really taught me how to like process like circumstances i think and that was the biggest inspiration like before he got sick um you know i kind of was just i fell in love with this this guy who had like such enthusiasm what he dud, but also, you know, um, learn how to like take negative circumstances and turn them into something that would strengthen you.

Right. And I think that attitude is so essential in this, uh, in this, you know, circus that we're all a part of. Um, so that was kind of the main thing. I didn't really realize it at the time that that was the impact it was having on me, but, right. But I think that's it. Um, you know, on top of that, it's on a kind of, you know, really simple level.

I mean, it's just about kind of, man, life's short, you know, and like, and, like, you know, Like, fucking do what you love. Like, don't waste this time. You get one. So, like, make it count. On a professional basis, like, with all these opportunities you've been having the last few years, is it, is your process changing for the reasons for doing things? Are you instinctual? Do you have, like, one person that you look to?

What's the, what's the change? Yeah, it changes and evolves. You know, I think I'm becoming a little more confident in my own approach. I think when you're younger and less experienced, certainly for me, and I just, and I just, you're, still go through it with with particular jobs you know you question whether what it is your offering is like worth anything to the people around you and you know there's that kind of inadequacy like complex initially and that kind of anxiety around like oh shit what if i get there and they realize they've cast the wrong person right um and i think now slowly i'm starting to learn that

i can actually back my own instincts into these scenarios and right you know i don't think i'm the greatest actor on earth at all. I, you know, I have so much growth. But, you know, it's nice to reach a place perhaps that's just maturity where, you know, you don't feel the pressure to necessarily act like anyone else does, you know, or approach a role like anyone else does. It's just about what works for you. And I've had the joy of seeing, like, really different processes with, you know, people I'll work with. Right. And how that affects them and sort of what they give up and sacrifice and some of those are tools that, you know, I might kind of try out and, like, throw in the kit.

Right. And other stuff, it's like, man, I just, I'm never going to be prepared to do something like that that way because it's not constructive for me. Having worked on some of these larger scale films, I mean, Interminator is ginormous. It's, I mean, the effects are obviously crazy and there's probably an effect in at least half the scenes you're in. Yeah. um are you getting better at that skill set in its own right that's just like something you have to

kind of i guess yeah gain experience it's funny yeah it is those sorts of thing those technical aspects are really um especially in big action films are uh you know it could be quite demanding and yeah that's a funny thing you know it's like it's not always easy and it's a different kind of acting you know but it's still real you know i had this conversation recently about a talking about a smaller movie that like may or may not happen but someone was asking to see some some tape you know

and it was in an email and they they'd said you know we'd just like to see some more acting and it was funny because it dawned to me I was like we so often confuse that word with drama right you know but I don't want any robots in the tape I want real acting yeah and it's like well fuck you man I was looking at a green screen dude

a tennis ball on a sea stand you know what I mean and it's like that's acting That would drive you insane You know And I think we all The thing is We all want to escape acting altogether

That's the beauty of this stuff And and you know Create the reality for ourselves So we can believe it And therefore hope the audience do as well So yeah I mean look Some of that stuff is the most challenging

You'll ever do You know Even if it's not weeping on screen And like digging into your You know In a struggle Yeah Selling a moment is real

When 70% of what's around you Is not real Yeah It's tough Terminator diehard these are franchises I grew up with that I geeked out on still geek out on were they big for you it sounds like kind of sort of yeah it is kind of sort of you know I think the romantic tale to tell is that you know I was just such a huge fan and I can't believe I'm here it's not quite like that you know T2 was a massive film for me right you know and I saw the

diehard movies back in the day you know I definitely wasn't a comic book kid but you know found myself there as we sort of talked about but um what were the movies what were the what were the first like were they Australian actors Australian filmmakers was it was it yeah but you know I was never like a film buff as a kid yeah you know I watched movies for like entertainment like if I it's funny because Terminator is legit one of the films that if I think about being a youngster what I had like rolling back to back was was T2 but like the other film I can just remember watching was a league of their own and Gina Davis and Madonna.

Dude, I don't, my sister must have loved that thing and she was older so she drove the remote, you know? And like, so yeah, I grew up on Terminator 2 and a league of their own. Cut your arm and suddenly league of their own and T2 to come out. That's it. It's good. It really sums it up.

It's a beautiful movie. Penny Marshall. I mean, come on. It's true. Well, and getting to know you through these interviews over the last few years and talking to you now, Um, there, I do feel like, I mean, do you have an itch to do something lighter to do like, to like, yeah, definitely, sure. I mean, it's got to be like, it's got to be something that I think is cool on some level. Yeah. You know, I don't think I'm at that age where it's about like, want to make a film my kids can enjoy. There's too much like dark adult territory. I haven't explored to like, you know, get my own rocks off. Right. You need to do Darren Aronovsky before you do how to train your dragon six. Yes. That's what I'm getting at precisely. Um, but yeah, no, of course. man you know and I and I obviously want to I mean the the kind of action theme that is happening

and we talk about a lot is is something that I love but you know as a someone that wants to be a versatile performer yeah you know I'm just as hungry to get out of that at the same time what's the I'm curious uh I love Shia just like in terms of someone again from my perspective he's totally present totally there totally unpredictable and acting as well um Kate Kate Myers and that first guest on the Happy Second Feud's podcast, which you're on right now. Really? So he's got it all started. So I love that cast.

Can you tell me a little bit about what Man Down? Yeah, I mean, it's sort of, it's a bit tough to like really break down simply. But it's a film that deals with PTSD. You know, we play Marines and it's kind of, it's got a bit of a scattered timeline, which makes the tone really interesting of the film. But deals with some really, I think, important. issues, you know, with what's happening with our vets and how, you know, mental health care is, is being dealt with.

And Shia is going to, like, blow people away with his performance. He gets a, he gets a bum rap because he's an eccentric guy, obviously, he's got, like, well, he gets misread. He does, right? I'm always defending Shia. I mean, he's made clearly some mistakes with some things, but he's so talented and so committed. He's a real artist, man, you know, and that's the thing.

I mean, look, he's not going to defend it all day because it's not. He's not, it's not really there to, he's not really there. So he's not making sure you're interpreting it the right way. And that's, that is what art is. You know, it's open for you to receive it the way you want. And, yeah, he's definitely an interesting personality. But, like, I was, I was guilty of it. You know, when I heard he was doing the movie, I was like, what's the deal?

Like, is he going to be a total freak show? Right. Covered in feces all day. What's going to happen? I mean, the dude blew me away. And not only is he a really good friend of mine, but I completely respect him as a performer. and yeah I mean fucking he's an inspiration

well and also going back to back to one of the first things we were talking about that conversation you had with him he's somebody that's had to wrestle with that in a full long way and it's been very open about it and for all of us to enjoy sadly the kind of like you know conundrum of like

okay being movie star being an actor making compromises it's a funny thing because it's not I think we all have an attitude based on wherever we are and how we think it works and you know it's like you have to be careful with your words because for him to say something like, you know, he regrets doing something

like that or whatever, it kind of diminishes the opportunity he was given. And I think people who would really love to get that opportunity, it's easy for them to say like, oh, yeah, cool, man. Like, you know, and I think you have to know how to put the brakes on in a sense, but, you know, that's a real thing, you know, and it's like we don't always know when we're making a decision that's going to affect us 10 years down the line. And it's challenging to navigate as an actor because you start off being prepared to take on anything because it's just about getting a foothold and getting work and maybe it's money, whatever it is you're chasing. But, you know, when you don't have a job, you'll pretty much find a reason why that one works for you, you know, on any level, you know. I mean, you've talked to you 100 actors that were in your position, for instance, for diehard.

Yeah. They all would have taken it. Yeah. And maybe it didn't turn out to be the greatest diehard. movie of all time. That's right. But you can't fault the logic of, okay, I'm going to work with Bruce Willis in a diehard movie at the stage of my career. I mean, the other thing that strikes me in both talking to you and someone like Shai is like someone that is really open and honest, I think, unless you're, maybe you're fucking like Daniel Day Lewising

this. Yeah. This is really like impressive. But like, is that something that there's no other way to be. Like, I mean, it's too much effort to kind of like. It is for me, I think. You know, I, um, yeah, I can't imagine. the exhausting demands that trying to like put a glazed smile on your face and just sort of the idea of that like makes me want to fucking quit my house out like if that was really the expectation and look fortunately i've never had someone guide me in a way where that's there's been importance placed upon that right um i think it's dangerous sometimes especially when you're young and impressionable you can be led to believe you need to act certain ways and look man it's it's

It's simple as far as I'm concerned. You know, it's your upbringing your perception of, like, human behavior and what's appropriate and what's not. And it doesn't mean, you know, I don't say things every day that embarrass my mom publicly. And I just have to apologize for that. Do you hear from her? Yeah, of course. What's the last time she... Oh, she got really upset with me for telling a story on Queen Latifah once about...

I didn't go for every time. But I told some story about stealing... cigarettes from the shops when I was a youngster and she was like you know because from a parental perspective that reflects badly on her well yeah it's like you know their friends see that stuff it's like oh cool thanks like I'm the parent that raised the cigarette stealing some does she listen to podcast I don't think you've said anything that's that's incriminated we could go on have ever been arrested uh maybe oh yeah yeah we got we we hit a vein I've never spent a night in jail Oh, you broke out.

Kudos. I have a funny story about that, actually. It's not mine. I just know a guy that did. He got locked up for a DUI and there was some bungle. This is in Australia, buddy in mine. And there was some reason he was left unattended and uncuffed and he just took it upon himself to walk out of the police station. And it landed him in prison for like 45 days.

He didn't tell anyone. He didn't call anyone. He called his boss to say he wasn't going to be coming into work. Oh, for the one of the prison sessions. Yeah, and then got, like, legal aid and, like, cop some, like, you know, minimal term. This man was Russell Crow. Yeah, exactly. Potentially show me.

So, coming full circle, Terminator, you're proud of this one. You're happy. I am, yeah. No, I'm thrilled. I mean, and ready for the fans, for all that goes with it. Yeah, I guess, you know, I don't really spend much time thinking about that. It's just, you know, look, man, I'm living in this really pleasant balance. with things at the moment where, you know, the creative experiences are super fulfilling

and the trade-offs aren't that kind of sacrificial, you know, I'm still pretty anonymous and it hasn't, none of this stuff has affected my life in a negative way. You know, fan support, that stuff's not too hard to navigate, I don't think. I'm not huge into social media and stuff, so I try and limit my, you know, engagement somewhat and I think that's probably more for my own health than anything else. You haven't been heckled on the street yet for... Not really. It's usually positive.

Yeah. And that's fine. You know, that's part of what we do. And I think you have to accept that stuff. I don't know what's going to come of this job. I've been around long enough now to expect kind of nothing and everything. And, you know, maybe it changes things really dramatically. Maybe it doesn't and it's just another summer movie.

But, you know, I think it's a special project and we worked, you know, incredibly hard on it. And I think it has a bright future. So if I'm a part of that, then I'm proud to be. Do you know what the plan is for the next? one they talked about this as being another trilogy yeah do you know specifically storyline no i know like a couple of little things like moments that might happen um but it's so dense that like you go anywhere you kind of can and there you know there are people that do know exactly where it's going right um you know i just hope i live i'm not going to spoil the i'm not going uh i had a blast

with it man it's it's a it's a super fun summer movie and uh it's good to see you i'm so you You didn't cry, so you kind of failed me in that. You didn't get me there. You told me you were going to get me there. I'm just not that good, I guess. Yeah, you tried to go deep. We tried to for a second. I thought we, no, we weren't even close, were we?

Next time. Next time. There's always next time. It's good to see you, buddy. You too, man. Thanks a lot. Jeez. Cool.

Before you run, I have one last, a request question for you. Am I going to see you at Comic Con? Maybe, yes, hopefully. Okay, so I'm doing a bit with everybody. Do you know the comedian Rob Cordy, watch, whatever? He's playing a guy that I called a spoiler assassin. So, you know how, like, when I talk to you and everybody,

you always, when I ask about suicide squad, you're like, I would tell you, but there's a guy that would kill me. Sure. This guy is actually the sniper. He's a spoiler assassin. So, yeah, so we're getting testimonials from people talking about him as if he's real. Okay. Would you be game to, like, kind of basically, what I would ask is, like,

I would tee it up where I would ask you about suicide squad. Yeah. And you could be like, look, I don't have to tell you, but there's something that would kill me, and I would, basically you revealed that there was an actual person. Yeah, sure. Is that cool? Okay, let's do it. All right.

See how I go. Yeah, you know. Improb is scary. I know, I know. The first sweat of the interview. Super psyched for your role in Suicide Squad. Can you tell me about it, man? I'm not really prepared to go there.

Just a little tease about what's happening in Super Suicide Squad maybe? Yeah, there's something you, I don't know if you understand, man, but there's, like, stuff happens to people that talk about that. I know. I always hear people like joking about that. But, like, I just, like, maybe, like, one character detail about Captain Boomerang? What's he like? Listen, man, like, scary shit has happened to friends of mine, and I'm not going to go there. So, if we could just move on, that'd be great.

You seem afraid of something. Are you, what's wrong? Is this, like, is this live or is this edited? We don't need to use it. I'm just worried about you. You seem like you're sweating. There's a dude, right? That comes after you when you reveal this shit.

And I had a buddy of mine red dot on his chest as he was uttering these words. He was talking about Jurassic World last summer And, you know, leaning into what was happening And fucking laser popped up on his chest He stopped, laser went out I know of people that have been clipped, man People drop off, you know what I'm saying? Wow. And the last thing, his character's name is Cyrus Rooney.

Can you maybe... It's Cyrus Rooney. Okay. So maybe something like, that guy's the creepiest, scariest guy, I don't want to know anything about that kind of thing. So what do you know about Cyrus Rooney? at this point. I don't out of those words, man. I appreciate it if you wouldn't either. That's Cyrus Rooney. You don't want to even say anything. Can you stop saying Cyrus Rooney?

Cyrus Rooney is, he's just a human being. It's not going to hurt you. He's not a human being. There's nothing human about Cyrus Rooney. Are we done here? Can we go? Sure. Sorry, I didn't mean to make it uncomfortable. Oh, you have. Good luck. Cheers. That's the show, guys. I'm Josh Harrow. This has been Happy Say I Confused. Hope you've enjoyed the show. Hit me up on Twitter.

Joshua Horowitz. Go over to Wolfpop.com. Check out all the amazing shows over there. And most importantly, check back in next week for another edition of Happy, Sad. Confused? Wolf Pop is part of mid-roll media, executive produced by Adam Sacks, Matt Gourley, and Paul Shear. Hey, Michael.

Hey, Tom. You want to tell him? Or you want me to tell him? No, no, no. I got this. People out there. People. Lean in.

Get close. Get close. Listen. Here's the deal. We have big news. We got monumental news. We got snack. Thank you. After a brief hiatus, my good friend, Michael Ian Black, and I are coming back.

My good friend, Tom Kavanaugh and I, are coming back to do what we do best. What we were put on this earth to do. To pick a snack. To eat a snack. And to rate a snack. Mentifically? Emotionally. Spiritually.

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