Taylor Kitsch was supposed to have his breakout last summer, leading three different films: John Carter (a hugely expensive film that lost a lot of money and a lot of Disney higher-ups their jobs), Battleship (a new Hasbro brand narrative foray… it sunk.) and Savages (Oliver Stone’s latest u-turn). For many, he’d already had his breakout on TV’s “Friday Night Lights.” Kitsch returns to cinemas with Lone Survivor, the new war film from the creator of “FNL,” Peter Berg.
We caught Lone Survivor at its premiere at the AFI Festival in Hollywood. Star and producer Mark Wahlberg, seated next to Marcus Luttrell, the lone survivor of the depicted Afghanistan firefight, said in the Q&A that, “to talk about how hard we trained is bullshit. None of it matters. Not compared to what Marcus and others did.”
So when we phoned Kitsch to talk about Lone Survivor, we too avoided the topic of actors preparing for true war films (though it should be noted that as Mike Murphy, Kitsch is a standout in a very good cast).
Instead, Kitsch and I talked about taking Lone Survivor around to show NFL teams, whether he was slowed by last year’s expectations, continuing to work with Peter Berg, and an upcoming HBO film with Mark Ruffalo. Kitsch is very laid back. He affectionately refers to the new movie simply as Lone. Also, luckily, he didn’t ruin my fantasy football playoff matchup when I tried to lead him into picks.
Lone Survivor opens wide December 27.
CraveOnline: Do you mind if I start this interview with something soft? Something that’s bothering me?
Taylor Kitsch: We can talk about whatever you want.
You played, Tim Riggins, a running back on “Friday Night Lights…”
He was a fullback.
Right. But you carried the ball sometimes. Anyway, I’m having a little trouble setting my line-up for fantasy football, and it’s the playoffs…
[Laughs] I’m the last guy to ask about the NFL. If you wanna talk hockey, I can talk a lot about that.
Honestly, I’m just starting to get into the NFL. We’ve been screening Lone for the (Dallas) Cowboys, Denver (Broncos) and Washington (Redskins) and, man, this experience has been so different from anything else I’ve worked on.
Okay. Let’s talk about that. How are the players and coaches reacting to Lone Survivor and why’d you screen for athletes before critics or film festivals?
At the end of the day it’s a film about courage and brotherhood. The SEALs are called “team guys” for a reason. They exemplify that spirit of sacrifice, or next man up. It’s great to be a part of a film that inspires and shows what these guys are doing. As far as screening for teams, they’ve really responded to it and I’ve become friends with a lot of those players. They get it. Well, a lot of people will get it.
And you’ve screened the film for veterans and veteran families, too. Have you been at any of those screenings? How did they feel?
That’s why we made this movie: to honor them. It was obviously very emotional. You get really nervous. You want to be realistic but also make something to be proud of.
I’d met Dan Murphy, Mike’s dad before, but I hadn’t met his whole family. We had the premiere last week in New York and it was important to meet all of them. I’m just grateful how they’ve reacted to it. When they congratulated us, [sighs] man, it’s a huge sigh of relief.
They can be proud and we can be proud.
After Friday Night Lights and Battleship, this is your third time working with Peter Berg, how has each experience been different?
It’s been great each time. It’s evolved. Trust builds.
It’s great to develop shorthand with a friend. He’s got my back on the risks I take and I’ve got his. I keep going back to Peter because we trust each other. I love working with Peter and hope we can do five, six, seven movies. As long as he keeps asking, I’ll keep signing up.
Lone Survivor is your first film since last summer, which was set up to be “The Summer of Kitsch.” It didn’t exactly go how you hoped I’m sure, but I wanted to ask, how has the last year been for you?
I have no regrets. To be blunt, the last year has been amazing. I’m incredibly proud on every level. After John Carter I came to Lone. I just finished The Normal Heart, which is a story really worth telling.
I’ve said from day one that I’ll always keep taking risks and I’m not gonna stay down and play it safe, so I’m just in a great state right now. It’s not like me to get down.
And there are fans of John Carter and Battleship.
There sure are. Are you?
I haven’t seen either of them, honestly.
You’re not the only one.
