We’re getting FUBARed with fun and action this week on #BTLRadioShow thanks to our very special guest, the incomparable and hilarious SIMON PHILLIPS, and his role in the new Netflix action comedy series FUBAR starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in his first television series. And as if Simon and FUBAR aren’t enough for you, how about my prerecorded exclusive interview with director RIC ROMAN WAUGH talking about his new film starring Gerard Butler, KANDAHAR!
It is always a good time when SIMON PHILLIPS and I start chattering, so kicking things off and having him back live on #BTLRadioShow this week was a real treat. And as you’ll hear, what a time we had talking about FUBAR and soooo much more! Simon is always working, be it acting, writing, or producing so for him to make time for our show means a lot. Simon isn’t shy to admit that the big selling point for him coming on board to FUBAR was the chance to work with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He’s already done several films with some of the other major action stars of the 70s and 80s – Bruce Willis and Mel Gibson, just to name a couple – which meant doing something with Arnold was an absolute must. And when you see Simon in Episode One of FUBAR, I think you’ll agree. Listen as we bounce back and forth among Simon’s various projects and films, always coming back to the fun of FUBAR. A key thing about FUBAR is that Simon’s role and his one-on-one interaction with Arnold really set the tone for what’s to come in the entire eight-episode series. But beyond FUBAR, we dive into some of Simon’s projects, his approach to acting and selection of roles, upcoming films already set to release in 2023, and how about his dream to now round out his co-starring with action heroes by getting involved in Ric Roman Waugh’s upcoming “Cliffhanger 2” with Stallone. A lot of laughs and a lot of insight in this conversation with Simon.
A little something on FUBAR: When a father and daughter discover they both secretly work for the CIA, an already dicey undercover mission turns into a dysfunctional family affair. In addition to Schwarzenegger, FUBAR stars Monica Barbaro, Milan Carter, Fortune Feimster, Travis Van Winkle, Jay Baruchel, Gabriel Luna, Barbara Eve Harris, Andy Buckley, Fabiana Udenio, Aparna Brielle.
FUBAR releases on Netflix on May 25, 2023.
And speaking of RIC ROMAN WAUGH and action, we’ve got plenty of it with Ric’s latest film, KANDAHAR, starring Gerard Butler. I’ve known Ric for the past 40-odd years since early in his career when he followed in his father’s footsteps as a stuntman, working his way up the ladder, honing his skills and moving into writing and directing, incorporating not only his expertise and skill with designing and executing action sequences but in becoming a gifted storyteller who finds the humanity within the shades of grey of characters and life. With each film, Ric has consistently upped the ante, striving for excellence and authenticity in story, character, action, and direction. And now, collaborating with Gerard Butler for the third time after “Angel Has Fallen” and “Greenland”, he delivers KANDAHAR – an action-packed geo-political thrill ride filled with multiple levels of intrigue, plenty of character ambiguity and issues of loyalty, and the struggles of a man who hasn’t quite ever been able to put family first but thanks to the unexpected bonding with a complete stranger in a war-torn foreign country with different religious and political beliefs discovers what’s really important in life and within himself. The result is masterful.
Starring Gerard Butler along with Ali Fazal, Navid Negahban, Travis Fimmel, Tom Rhys Harris, and Bahador Foladi, just to name a few, with script by Mitchell LaFortune and under Ric’s directorial eye, KANDAHAR is the story of undercover CIA operative Tom Harris (Gerard Butler) who is stuck deep in hostile territory in Afghanistan. After his mission is exposed, alongside his Afghan translator Mo (Navid Negahban), the two must make their way to an extraction point in Kandahar, some 400 miles away, all the while avoiding multiple enemy forces and foreign agents with ever-changing alliances, all of whom are out to extinguish Harris.
As usual for Ric and I, we went deep into the “making of” KANDAHAR, covering MacGregor’s amazing cinematography, new fusion technology which delivers an incredible nighttime visual experience, action and explosions (one of the three most “explosive” films ever made – and yes, all explosions are real and not CGI), the importance of a skilled stunt team, use of helicopters and the dangers of night-flying in the region, shooting in Saudi Arabia (the first film since “Lawrence of Arabia”), the amazing cast, Colby Parker Jr.’s editing, an ever-changing fluid script with constant input from the DIA so the story is timely, use of color, breathing life into the desert, finding the humanity within the people, and so much more. Plus, you’ll hear a proud father talking about having his sons with him on set, stepping in to learn the craft, just as Ric and his brother Scott did with their dad. And how about some tidbits on “Cliffhanger 2”????
KANDAHAR opens in theatres only on May 26, 2023.
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