xXx 2: State of the Union (2005)

xXx 2 - The Next Level

Interview with Simon Kinberg

Die schreiberische Gilde hat's schwer in Hollywood. Sie werden nicht wirklich gut behandelt, müssen so manchen Film aus der Misere ziehen und selten kommt mal einer gross raus. Einer, der allerdings auf einem sehr guten Weg ist, in Hollywood gross Karriere zu schlagen, ist Simon Kinberg. Er wurde ans Set von xXx 2 gerufen, schrieb Mr. And Mrs. Smith und hat seine Finger in den Scripts für The Fantastic Four oder im neusten Teil der X-men.

Grund genug für OutNow.CH, sich ans Telefon zu hängen und dem sympathischen Engländer, der inzwischen in Hollywood lebt, ein paar Fragen zu stellen.

» Deutsche Übersetzung

OutNow.CH (ON): Hi Simon. Very nice to meet you, thank you for your time.

Simon Kinberg (SK): Hey, nice to meet you too. It's no problem. Just ask whatever you want.

ON: You graduated at the Columbia University Film program. Can you tell us shortly more about this program?

SK: It's the best program for writers in the USA. It's not for directing, like the one in New York, for example. This is really about story telling and focuses on screenwriting.

ON: How did you career start? How did you become a writer? Did Hollywood knock on your door one day?

SK: *g*, well... I guess, you have to knock on their door... I was pretty lucky. I graduated at the Filmschool and my professor liked the script that I wrote. He told me to send it to Hollywood and, lucky me, they bought it. It was the final year of the School and the final project was the story about Mr. and Mrs. Smith and the guys in Hollywood took it. It was really pure luck.

ON: Hollywood seems to be a system, that doesn't value writing. How much power does a writer really have there?

SK: That's true. The Studios do not understand the process of writing. So the writers are very disposable. It depends on how good the relationship is. If the director of a movie thinks, you're okay, if he trusts you, then it's gonna work. Then, they want you. It's a lot about relationships. With xXx 2, it was Rob Cohen who wanted me to work with the movie. When he left the project, the studio wanted to replace me. But the actors and producers said that they want to continue with my script.

ON: What's a good story? What does a writer need to have?

SK: That's a good question. I think every movie needs a good story, a combination of personal experience and emotional feelings. If you feel the emotion of a heart that's broken and you can put it in the context of a bigger story, it's perfect. Not as a main storyline, but as a good part of the movie. So it's all about the combination.

ON: What was the challenge in writing xXx 2?

SK: A lot. The biggest thing for a writer is to write a sequel of a franchise that has been really successful. Its always a challenge to convince the studio to make a sequel different than the original. And XXX 2 is totally different. It has a different story, a different genre. It's a political thriller with big massive action. Its good for the franchise and really a lot of fun.

ON: How many times did you see the movie and are you satisfied with it?

SK: I'm very satisfied. It's politically interesting and has a lot of explosions. It's a good mixture. I saw two versions of the movie so far. The editors-edition and the directors cut. They're both incredibly well. I really liked it. It has good characters. Normally the action is bigger than the characters. In xXx 2, it's the other way around.

ON: Who's the better actor for a xXx-movie? Ice Cube or Vin Diesel?

SK: That's a tough one... I think Ice Cube was better for the sequel. It's much rawer and more real than the first one. Vin Diesel was perfect for the first. That was smoother than the sequel. They needed different types of characters, as the movies are different. The sequel is much more raw and realistic. It's good fun.

ON: Will there be a third part of this film? If yes, what should it be like?

SK: It's really up to the studio. I know they are already talking about a third part. But its just talking, you know. I think it should be like the sequel. Raw and down to earth, you know. And as the main part, I would like to see a woman, for example. Like Jennifer Garner. Or a martial arts version with Jet Li. That would be cool...

ON: Are you afraid of becoming the man to call for a sequel?

SK: Very much. I should not be the man to write xXx 3. But it's lots of fun to write a sequel. The characters are already there and you don't have to introduce them to the audience. It's a different experience. You have more emotions attached to the original. Its kind of your kid, you know. A sequel is mostly with more action and explosions. And it's like you're babysitting someone others kid...

ON: I read you worked or are still working on The Fantastic Four, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and X-men 3. What was your job there? Could you develop the stories all by yourself or was it more like correcting stories?

SK: Well, the story about the Smiths is mine all of it. *g*... I developed the story for five years and we just finished photography. I had a lot of freedom. Sure, you get notes and ideas from all around. Actors or people on the set. They come to you and talk. And sometimes they bring really good ideas. But I'm very proud of this movie. It will be a blast.
When I came to The Fantastic Four it was a month before they started filming. A script was already there. The Action was there but the characters needed improvement. So that's basically what I did. I pimped up the characters.
With X-Men 3 it was again something different. The first two films were very successful, so the pressure is quite on the writer to deliver good stories and new characters. I brought some ideas and they liked it. I am the first writer there. So we'll see what happens with this project.

ON: What can you tell us about Mr. and Mrs. Smith? What are your expectations?

SK: My expectations are very high, because I spent so much time developing the story and the characters. It's a wonderful script. A little strange, like nothing out there. I hope the audience will like it.

ON: Nicole Kidman dropped out of the cast and was replaced by Angelina Jolie. Were you disappointed?

SK: No, not at all. I think Angelina is the better choice. Nicole is a wonderful actress, but can you imagine her in physical action? There are scenes in the movie, where Mrs. Smith has to go on a fist fight against Brad Pitt and I could not imagine Nicole doing this. There is also a sexual chemistry between the main-characters you can feel on the set. And furthermore, I thought Nicole Kidman is too cold for that part. It just has to fit, you know. If you take Ice Cube in xXx 2, it's a perfect match. It's much rawer and intense. So much different from the first movie. He was the perfect choice.

ON: The Fantastic Four is one of the most expected movies this year. Tell us about he story?

SK: The story is basically about 4 normal people that become The Fantastic Four and the fifth member to become their nemesis, Dr. Doom. It's an evolution of the characters from "normal" people to superheroes. The movie is very character driven. They really spent time in developing the characters. It deals with great emotional responses and has of course action that's not like anything else on the market. A lot better than the things you see in the trailer. It's pretty amazing. In xXx 2 we have action sequences, you've never seen before. Its something the audience likes: challenging action in a realistic universe. It's shocking enough.

ON: I read, that the movie was too close to The Incredibles by Pixar. So certain changes had to be done. Is it true?

SK: Well, you definitely did your homework *g*... First of all, The Incredibles is a fantastic movie. But it takes the liberty to deal with many of Marvels Superheroes. You see X-Men, The Fantastic Four and others. We saw the movie before we started shooting our film. And yes, we had to make some changes, small details. In a scene, for example, a character shakes a cat out of the tree. It was the same scene in both movies. So we cut this one out of our movie. But then, they are two totally different movies. The tone, the characters, there's a lot of difference. So it's no danger there.

ON: Everyone is waiting for X-men 3. What's the story in this third instalment of the series? What can you tell us about "Phoenix"?

SK: *g*, unfortunately I can not tell you too much. We're not supposed to talk about this. But I can tell you, that "Pheonix" is a part of the story.

ON: Is it the main part?

SK: Hehe, I really can't tell you. If I told you, I had to shoot you afterwards... But there will be new characters in the movie.

ON: Who?

SK: Hahaha you're tough... I'm really sorry, I can't tell you this. I can't tell you the names. But two of them are going to have major parts in the film. It will be much cooler and darker than the first two. It's like the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban-movie was for the franchise. It's more for grown ups.

ON: What are your next projects?

SK: Well, X-Men 3 is a full time job. For the next several months, I'll be working on this. After that, I'm going to be a dad. My wife's pregnant and we're expecting a baby. So I guess, I'm going to spend a lot of my time then with my family and I'm going to take a few months off.

ON: Usually we do some pop-ups at the end of the interview. Ready?
Argonauts

SK: Project I worked on at Dreamworks. Unfortunately they went into a different direction, so I left.

ON: Internet

SK: A place I spend too much time in. It's a dangerous thing for writers. But I'm doing all my research in the net and check all the sites with comments on the movies I'm working on.

ON: Script Doctor

SK: A great gig to get. A great chance to step a foot in the door. But the studios treat us very bad, like I said before. I try to stay in contact with the original writer when I take over a project. It's tough, but it's a way to earn some money...

ON: Hollywood

SK: Best and worst place in the world

ON: X-Men

SK: Favourite Comic. Mystical Characters. Best Movie adaptation I've seen.

ON: Le Samourai

SK: Old French movie. Probably the best movie of all time. For me... It's incredibly cool. It's a story of an assassin who has one night to escape the town. It's just great.

ON: Elektra

SK: Fantastic Comic. Good, strong character. It could have been a great movie. Jennifer Garner is very good in it. I only worked on the script for a week or so. I think the movie didn't turn out that good. The studio made an error by making the film lighter. It was supposed to be a dark and mysterious story.

ON: The lost years of Merlin

SK: Fantastic books. I adapted the first book. It has some Harry Potter-elements but I think its even closer to Excalibur or even Gladiator. Its more for grown ups.

ON: Switzerland

SK: Never been there. I hear it's a beautiful place with very sweet people. I know a couple of Swiss people and they're very sweet.

ON: Favourite Actor/Actress

SK: Pooh, I couldn't really tell. Maybe Steve McQueen, Alain Delon or guys like Brad Pitt in Fight Club. Actresses could be women like Rita Hayworth or Nicole Kidman who I think is very strong. But at the end it depends on the part they play.

ON: xXx

SK: Very cool and exciting franchise. It's an opportunity to create a spy-genre for a new generation. The kids want to see it for the action, the grown ups for the story. Its like a dirtier James Bond and way cooler. You know, you Europeans have 007. Who do we have? We had to create something that fits the American culture. You know, with cars, attitude and violence. *g*... And fun...

ON: OutNow.CH

SK: Interesting questions, nice guys.

ON: Thank you for your time, Simon. That was it already.

SK: No problem. Have fun with the movies.

18.04.2005 / muri