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Chris Evans invests his character Johnny Storm,
a.k.a. The Human Torch, with all the dynamism you would
expect from the popular comic-book hero. “I consider
Chris to be like Johnny Depp,” says director Tim Story,
the director of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver
Surfer. “He is so talented and has such a lot of
energy, but he is clever, as well as funny, which means
that his performances are all honest. He thinks about
every aspect of his job—comedy, drama, everything.”
This
time, as the Fantastic Four confront the amazing Silver
Surfer, they have to use every ounce of their wit, as
well as their superpowers. Johnny has a chance to
display his true heroic colors, as well as his humor. Of
course, he is joined by Sue Storm (Invisible Woman,
portrayed by Jessica Alba), Reed Richards, the leader of
the group, a.k.a. Mr. Fantastic (Ioan Gruffudd) and Ben
Grimm (The Thing, played by Michael Chiklis). Together,
they set out to save the planet. The sequel to the 2005
blockbuster, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver
Surfer is from 20th Century Fox, and will open
globally next week. (Around these parts, the movie opens
on June 13.—Ed)
The
Fantastic Four movies are based on what legions of comic
fans describe as “The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine”
by Marvel legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
Evans is
only 25 and already has established a name for himself
as a versatile actor. Born in
Massachusetts, he began his acting career in the TV series
Opposite Sex and got enthusiastic notices for his
first film outing Not Another Teen Movie. His
film credits include The Perfect Score,
Cellular, The Orphan King, Fantastic Four
and Sunshine. His next film is The Nanny
Diaries.
Looking
handsome with cropped hair and dressed in a pinstriped
suit, Evans shares his enthusiasm for the Fantastic Four
movies.
Can you
talk about your character’s journey?
In the
first film, Johnny was very juvenile. He enjoyed the
spotlight and the attention. He was a kind of one-man
show. In this one, he is forced to take a bit of a back
seat. He gets an ailment when he comes into contact with
the Silver Surfer and ends up switching powers with
people around him. He is forced to be isolated and it
takes him out of his element. He learns to appreciate
and respect his role within the group rather than just
being a solo act.
You must
have been delighted about the success of the first film.
Yes, I
couldn’t even believe it, it was great. I think I
realized after making a few movies that it is not at all
easy making a successful movie; most movies are not
successful or that good, so if you make a good one that
actually makes money, you’ve won, you got lucky. So I
was very happy and it is great to be making a sequel.”
What was
the most exciting part of the film for you?
There is
a great scene between me and the Silver Surfer that is
definitely exciting. There are some great moments in the
final act that I do not want to give away. Johnny has
some really cool action in the finale. But as far as the
actual process is concerned, you have to remember that
being a superhero and flying around is a tedious
process; you are hanging from wires and it is not the
most comfortable process in the world. You have to wear
a harness underneath everything, the muscle suit and the
blue suit and it does not feel good. But I try not to
complain because the fact is, when they finally call me
to the set to be rigged up, I realize that the stunt man
has been sitting there in a suit for three or four hours
hanging while they were setting the shot up. So you just
have to bite your tongue. It is not too hard for me.”
Were you
a comic fan growing up and do you relate to your
character?
I was
not a big comic-book reader. I was outside climbing
trees as a kid. But there are some similarities between
Johnny and me. Johnny loves life. I don’t think Johnny
gets into a bad mood very often. I think even in
terrible situations, he is going to find something to
joke about and that is a great way to live. I think in
that sense we both like to smile, we both like to laugh.
Johnny is less concerned with how he is perceived, which
is beautiful in a way. I think he does what he does and
is unapologetic about it; he is authentic as a person. I
am a bit more overanalytical and self-conscious at times
than he is.”
What
changed in your career after the first Fantastic Four?
A lot of
subtle things changed. This movie has had such big
exposure worldwide that it has given me a little bit
more fame in foreign countries. I’m better known now and
that has enabled me to get some auditions that I
wouldn’t normally get and some good opportunities to
work in films that I wouldn’t have been considered for,
because nobody across the
Atlantic knew who I was. That is the major difference.
How
passionate are you about your career?
I love
it. The fun of being an actor is that you can play one
person, be another. That is part of the appeal of
acting; you can slip in and out of other peoples’ shoes
and be them for a while, because I think everyone at
some point probably gets sick of themselves.
Since
making the first film, have things changed for you in
terms of your acting skills and experience?
The best
school for acting is on the job. There is no better way
to be an actor than when you are working. So getting to
see the first film was such a good learning process for
me, seeing what kind of things work and what doesn’t
work, especially with the green screen. You realize what
is necessary to make it work, and I can see what needs
to be toned down or accentuated in my character. Getting
the opportunity to look at the first film was the
biggest opportunity to make an evolution in the
character. From what I have seen so far of this film, it
looks better and bigger and quite spectacular.
Did you
grow up wanting to act? Being a superhero is a dream for
most children, isn’t it?
I had a
very vivid imagination as a child—I think most actors
do. They are probably the kids who stayed in their
backyards and had gigantic fantasies and made up plays
and had imaginary animals and languages. I had a lot of
brothers and sisters and we had fantastic productions
and we would tie sheets around our necks and save
kittens that did not exist. We were always making up
stories and we spent a lot of our time in fantasyland.
So this is a childhood dream for me. This is a
fantastical reality and given the fact that making the
film, we are working with green screen and everything is
intangible, you have to tap into that part of the brain
that you lived in as a child. And it was great to play a
superhero. It was so rewarding to be in this film and it
is very different from any other kind of acting
experience I have had.
Who are
your role models?
My
father. It’s hard to see my parents as people. I see
them in a certain positive light, but I will always look
at my father as a rock. He has an unshakable persona.
Can you
say anything about your next film, The Nanny Diaries,
with Scarlett Johansson?
I play a
character named Harvard Hottie. I know that sounds
strange, but Scarlett’s character is studying
anthropology and she is looking at her experience in the
upper east side of New York and distancing herself from
her subjects, so she calls Laura Linney Mrs. X and Paul
Giamatti Mr. X. She does not want to attach names,
because she does not want to get emotionally attached to
anyone, but I have a real name in the end. |
