- Title: USA: Graphic novel "The Losers" premieres on the big screen
- Date: 21st April 2010
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (APRIL 20, 2010) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) ROBERT DEAN MORGAN ON RED CARPET WITH PAN RIGHT TO ZOE SALDANA (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS ZOE SALDANA, SAYING: "I think that I feel very grateful as an artist to just be working, and the more you stay away from titles and categories like, you know, the more you're going to be able to utilize your freedom, in terms of being just an artist, and being grateful that you're working, and you're getting to sort of live off of your art." ACTOR CHRIS EVANS TALKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR CHRIS EVANS, SAYING: "It was a group of alpha males, and it made for a lot of interesting jokes, but I think that kind of prowess, and that energy, it translated on screen." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS ZOE SALDANA, SAYING: "I like to think that one is a comedy, and one is an action film, actually, I really hope they both do well, and they smash everything else, except for 'clash,' I really hope that 'Clash' is like third, you know, because Sam is in it."
- Embargoed: 6th May 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA3YDU3ORZV0Z70ACTPTKBR4B0V
- Story Text: Stars of action-packed thrill ride "The Losers" walked the red carpet Tuesday (April 20) for the debut of the popular graphic novel turned big-budget picture. Co-stars Zoe Saldana, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Chris Evans were all on hand for the premiere, which was held at the famed Grauman's Chinese theater in Hollywood.
The film tells the story of an elite U.S. Special Forces unit that has been betrayed and left for dead in the Bolivian jungle. The unit returns to civilization under the cloak of being presumed deceased and begins to track down the man who framed them.
On the set of "The Losers," Saldana earned her fair share of black-and-blue marks as Aisha, a mysterious operative who joins the elite team, giving her the chance to shed her own "good girl" image of herself.
"Coming from a person that was known as a wallflower, or like a geek, or kind of invisible at times, because I thought that intelligence was sexy, when I was in high school it feels really good that I'm getting to explore, and know what it feels like to feel cool, and, so yes, it felt great," says Saldana.
Life for Saldana has changed a lot since she played a tall, blue alien in the top-grossing film of all time, "Avatar," and is competing against herself at the box office this week -- her other film, dark comedy "Death at a Funeral" opened on April 16. These days, Saldana is enjoying her time at the top.
"I think that I feel very grateful as an artist to just be working, and the more you stay away from titles and categories like, you know, the more you're going to be able to utilize your freedom, in terms of being just an artist, and being grateful that you're working, and you're getting to sort of live off of your art," says Saldana.
Her character, Aisha, is a seductress who puts the smackdown on unit leader Clay, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. In addition to throwing kicks and punches at their enemies, the two hurl whatever else is handy -- a liquor bottle, a TV, each other -- across the room in one major brawl.
Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan has had much fun starring in action flicks like "The Losers" and 2009's "The Watchmen," and despite how much pain he withstands on set, he looks forward to similar roles.
"When I read the script, I'm not thinking 'this is going to hurt,' it's only afterwards, while I'm shooting, where I go, 'oh my God, this hurts.' But you've got to take those opportunities, and I'm going to," says Morgan. "This won't be the last action movie I do, I'll tell you that right now."
Actor Chris Evans said that the jocular mood on set came through in the action scenes.
"It was a group of alpha males, and it made for a lot of interesting jokes, but I think that kind of prowess, and that energy, it translated on screen," says Evans.
As for Saldana, which film of hers does she hope wins at the box office this weekend?
"I really hope they both do well, and they smash everything else," says Saldana. "Except for 'Clash,' I really hope that 'Clash' is like third, you know, because Sam is in it," she adds, offering support to her "Avatar" co-star Sam Worthington's latest film, "Clash of the Titans."
"The Losers" opens in the United States on April 23. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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