IGN Interview: Ioan Gruffudd and Jessica Alba -June 12, 2007The lovely Ms Alba, and that other guy, talk about their upcoming flick.
by IGN Staff, IGN AU
Australia, June 12, 2007 - IGN recently had the opportunity to speak with Ioan Gruffudd and Jessica Alba, who play half of the titular quartet in Fox's forthcoming superhero sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. The two actors spoke at length about reprising their roles as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic and Susan Storm/The Invisible Woman, respectively, for the Tim Story-directed follow-up to the 2005 blockbuster based on the Marvel comic book.
Please be advised that some MINOR SPOILERS appear throughout:
IGN: Are you getting burnt out with doing these fantastical kinds of films and would rather try to do something that's more dramatic and meaty?
Jessica Alba: Yeah, definitely. Not burnt out. That's not the way to put it. No, I love these movies. It's just completely different, you know? I try to change it up as much as possible. I did a physical comedy before I did Fantastic Four -- Good Luck Chuck -- that is coming out in August, and that was so very different to this movie or The Eye. So it's really just about changing it up and trying to get the best material for that genre that I could get.
IGN: Would you want to come back for a third Fantastic Four?
Alba: Absolutely. For sure.
IGN: Can you talk about how Sue and Reed's relationship has evolved since the last film? And in the comics, they end up having a baby. Have you heard any talk of putting the kid in the series?
Alba: Yeah, I hope so. That's where I hope the third one goes, that we have a kid. In this one, it's all about getting married and her struggling with whether she want to be in the public eye or does she want to have a family? She feels like she can't do both and she feels this pull because, obviously, she's a superhero and she has these abilities for a reason and obviously the world needs her. But on the flip side, she didn't ask for it and she doesn't want people taking her picture everywhere she goes. She doesn't want to live in a fishbowl and she doesn't want to be criticized for every move she makes. So she struggles with that. So it's interesting to play that and play into the relationship. She's very much in love with her guy and supportive of him, and he has insecurities and she lifts him up. It's really sweet what we got to do in this movie because normally, I think, we feel boxed in playing one-dimensional characters because of the movie's special effects and CGI, action sequences. And you lose a lot of character and you lose dynamic human behavior. But in this one we really got to be people in relationships trying to figure it out like anybody else.
IGN: What is the relationship between Sue and the Silver Surfer?
Alba: Sue is the only woman in this group of superheroes and where the boys jump right into action, Sue always thinks before. She tries to find the heart or the humanity in every situation, even with someone who's bad or destructive. So she's trying to break through to him. She's the only one trying to break through into who the Silver Surfer is and to what he's doing. The rest of them are all ready to fight and go to war right away. So it's kind of an interesting way to think about if women were making decisions on war and strategy. They would go about it differently.
IGN: Do you know have any special new powers in this film?
Alba: Well, my forcefields are more controlled and so I'm able to put (the team) underneath me. I put them beneath me and I can encapsulate people in this forcefield bubble.
IGN: What was the biggest physical challenge for you in making this film? And what scene held the biggest acting challenge for you?
Alba: Switching powers with Johnny because when you come into contact with the Silver Surfer, everyone else that he touches he switches powers with. When I did my bit with (Johnny), I was on wires and I catch on fire and I'm out of control. So that was fun, physically. Emotionally, there's a few scenes that are nice. When I'm trying to get through to the Silver Surfer. Then there are some scenes with Reed that are relationship scenes when I'm trying to figure out do I want to be a career woman or does she want a family? People have, to one degree or another, those conversations.
IGN: Johnny Storm meets a new love interest in this movie. Is Sue pushing him to finally settle down?
Alba: Oh, she doesn't care. Let him figure it out. He's really quite sweet in this movie.
IGN: How does this Fantastic Four differ from the last one in terms of the characters? Or does the story go right into the action?
Ioan Gruffudd: It's more right into the action but combined with the characters having been established in the first movie. I think the first movie was more of an origin movie. We were establishing who these people were, how they became the Fantastic Four and to a more general, wider audience rather than pandering to the fans. So this time around I think we are all, as actors, sitting more comfortably in our characters, and the relationships are much more grounded and much more believable because we are all more grounded individually and collectively as a group of actors. And we've got a lot more to do. At the beginning of the movie, as much as there is a lot of action, there is a lot of character interaction and we're enjoying that and celebrating that. And from a personal standpoint, I'm really pleased now to see Mr. Fantastic really stepping up to the forefront and being the leader, being the more confident, masculine, manly leader compared to the first movie, where he was slightly more nerdish and more of a science guy and what have you. So this time - there's elements of that still - but he's much more of a leader this time.
IGN: How was it walking up the aisle with Jessica Alba? It's every man's dream.
Gruffudd: It's a funny one because I know Jessica as my fellow actor, who is lovely and adorable and incredibly funny. The image we all have from magazines is her being scantily clad and looking fantastic, but she's just a very funny girl and just fun to be around. But every time we would shoot that scene, I was just thinking about my own wedding because I'm getting married myself now this September.
IGN: Was there ever any concern about FF2 being used a springboard for another character, the Silver Surfer?
Gruffudd: Yes, of course, the one-sheet was the Silver Surfer and that's how we're selling the movie. But by now, having seen quite a bit of the movie, it is us and he is the bad guy. I don't think there's any danger of us being overtaken by him. I'm very confident about that fact. Our characters are obviously very strong and prominent in the movie. He's just there to sell it and get people in to watch it, I think.
IGN: Is it Fox's plan to do a spin-off with the Silver Surfer and have you guys appear in it?
Gruffudd: I have no idea. Obviously, there's great potential to it. … It would be very possible for them because you don't really need actors because it's a CGI character. But look at him. He looks fantastic. There's definitely potential there.
IGN: But there's no obligation that you have to do it?
Gruffudd: Not in his movie. We're all obligated to do the next movie, and we're all hoping that we do a next movie.
IGN: What's your biggest fight scene in FF2?
Gruffudd: The action sequence that I am involved in mainly is the last act, really, with the Fantasticar. That was shot entirely on green screen, and the car itself was on a gimble that was able to be manipulated and moved at quite fast speeds. It was like having a fun fair ride. So that was fun. Just trying to conjure up images of cool driving sequences in movies from the past, like Bullitt or Top Gun. It was just great having that wind blowing in your hair and imaging Dr. Doom flying up. It was great fun.
IGN: Since you've seen most of the film, how does this sequel compare with the original film?
Gruffudd: I was excited when I first read the script last summer because it was just a classier project from the word go. And from a personal standpoint, the character had evolved greatly and I've become this hero rather than just the nerdy guy.
IGN: Have they decided if Reed and Sue will have a baby like in the comics?
Gruffudd: They haven't actually but I think that would be the natural evolution. I suppose that would be the way to go. There haven't been any discussions or anything shot anyway of that nature.
IGN: Was this a tougher shoot than the first film?
Gruffudd: It was a tougher shoot physically, but it was easier mentally and physically to go through it because I'd prepared for it. The first time we just did it on pure adrenaline and I was exhausted, but this time I paced myself and got enough rest and knew what I was getting into. So it was easier in that sense.
IGN: Is it hard to deliver those rather cheesy superhero lines?
Gruffudd: Yes, you do a take and you do the classic look down and then look off-camera to the other actor and say these cool
like, 'Leave it to me.' Inevitably, the camera moves over and you crack up. But you've got to - got to - believe it. If you underplay it or comment on whilst you're doing it, it's a disaster. Why do we go to the movies? It is to see that. We understand that genre and superhero acting. If you read the comic books that's what it is. All those cool, superhero lines. I love it as an actor. You've got to admit, it's what you sort of dreamed of as a kid.
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