As seasoned actors, what do you look for in a role?
Bonnie: I go for the story. When Jake Kasdan first called and pitched the story of the movie, I was sold. I’m drawn to films like that.
J.K.: Yeah, me too. Who you’re working with is an important aspect and that’s something that sort of comes together over a long period. And it’s always about what’s on the page. If it’s not on the page, then it won’t be on the stage. So it has to start with a good script and a good story.
How different is your approach, J.K., when you’re doing more serious films like Whiplash over something like Spider-Man?
J.K.: Surprisingly, it’s not very different because regardless of how big or outlandish or comical it might be, even if it’s a comic book movie, I always need to be grounded in some kind of reality. I need to believe that this character is a real person. They’re coming from somewhere and have something to say and something that they need to express. Some films are more intense than others, but the approach is very much the same. Most importantly, it involves listening to everybody – the director, the other actors in the scene and collaborating with the whole crew.
See Also: EXCLUSIVE: Lucy Liu & Kiernan Shipka On Bringing The Boss Vibes in Red One
What went into playing ripped Santa?
J.K.: First of all, I had the additional motivation in this film of reading that great script and finding that I have a scene in the gym working out with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. That provided me with the incentive to just eat right, go to the gym as directed and work with my trainer. It was very traditional, you know, overall fitness, trying to maximise my questionable genetic gifts.
What was your experience of working with Dwayne Johnson?
J.K.: It was fantastic. He’s reinvented his persona or his career at least multiple times in his life. He’s a remarkable guy, not only very charismatic but intellectually curious. He was interesting and interested in what you have to say. That has obviously served him very well, becoming the big movie star that he is. Now even with the roles that he’s doing in films, he’s branching out into some more serious, less “The Rock” kind of roles. I look forward to hopefully working with him again and seeing how he continues to evolve.
See Also: EXCLUSIVE: Red One Star Dwayne Johnson Recalls Working With Priyanka Chopra
Bonnie: He’s witty and his enthusiasm is contagious. He was all for this movie, working with a friend of his that he’d known since childhood. So it’s great to be a part of the team.
J.K., Chris, Dwayne and yourself have done superhero movies. Did you nerd out together?
J.K.: (Laughs) We talked about spandex a lot. About spending all day in makeup. No, really very little. The conversations that I’m usually drawn to on set in between takes are about family. It’s about what’s important in your life. And that usually comes down to your family, your close friends. We’ve spent probably more time talking about mothers and wives and kids than anything else.
Growing up, were you sceptical or did you buy into the myth of Santa?
Bonnie: I totally believed it. There’s something bigger than ourselves that’s bringing us goodness in our lives or lessons. Oddly enough, JK’s the one who broke it to me (Laughs).
See Also: Dwayne Johnson & Chris Evans’ RED ONE to release on THIS Date
J.K.: (Laughs) She’ll be fine. I remember, I mean, I don’t remember because I have a terrible memory. But I completely bought into it. I have a brother who’s four years younger and I do remember the transitional stage when I went to my parents and went, “Okay, so, what’s this about?” And I realised the reality. But I wanted to maintain that illusion for my younger brother for as long as he could. I wanted him to have that naive kind of wonderful belief. So I still try to do that for everybody.
Red One is currently streaming on Prime Video.