Chatting Up Alan Tudyk and Mads Mikkelsen in ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY #RogueOneEvent #RogueOne
Did you know that ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY opens in theaters nationwide in this week?!?! I had the fortunate opportunity to travel to San Francisco for the press junket on Rogue One, which included talking with the stars of the movie.
I previously shared with you our interview with Felicity Jones (Jyn Erso) and Diego Luna (Cassian Andor). This week, I will bring you exclusive talks with Alan Tudyk (K-2SO), Mads Mikkelsen (Galen Erso), Ben Mendelsohn (Orson Krenniz), Donnie Yen (Chirrut Imwe), Riz Ahmed (Bodhi Rook) and ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY director Gareth Edwards.
This week starts with one of my favorites – talking with Alan Tudyk (K-2SO) and Mads Mikkelsen (Galen Erso).
They both entered the room eager and ready to chat about their respective roles in the movie.
We started by asking them about their characters in the movie? Mads jumped right in and answered:
My character is called Galen Erso. I am a scientist, working closely together with, Krennic (Mendelsohn) in the film. I’m also the father of our hero.
Alan Tudyk elaborated on his character, K-2SO:
K2-SO is a droid who was formerly of the Empire, and he’s been reprogrammed by Cassian’s (Luna) character, and has been working with him prior to every introduction (of) Jyn. He… so he’s a soldier in the Alliance. He’s been reprogrammed (and) the reprogram has caused him to be… free with his own personality, which invites some brutal honesty in moments where honesty isn’t really required. He can be funny in that way… and sarcastic, and… passive-aggressive, and all those fun things that sort of sidekicks. He wouldn’t see himself as a sidekick.
Alan noted that he did get to ad-lib parts of K-2SO’s character in the movie. When then asked them how they each respectively discovered the moment they were cast in a movie for the Star Wars Franchise.
Alan: I got a call that Gareth wanted to talk to me and we Skyped. I knew it was for a droid in Star Wars, but I didn’t think he was calling me to talk about ME being in it. He just wanted to talk about droids and motion capture and I had done a motion capture robot in I, Robot. So I was like, that makes sense – I’d be the go-to actor to just discuss how it’s done, how to do it.
It was a really frank conversation between the two of us, because I didn’t think of myself as in the running, just sort of a someone he’s gathering information from. So, I was like, ‘Yeah, you don’t wanna do it this way. Here are the traps that you’re going to find yourself in. Don’t do this; don’t do that.’ Give your actor a lot of takes. Don’t just give ‘em short shrift because you can fix it in post – you’re gonna screw yourself. You need to get it on set while the other actors are there, or else you’re going to be struggling to make up the performance in post, and then you’re screwed.’
And then… he asked me to audition. I auditioned, I put an audition on tape (I) recorded it at home with my wife, it was real.
Mads: I got a phone call, and they asked me, ‘Where are you?’ ‘Well where am I supposed to be? On the set.’ No, I got a phone call with Gareth. Gareth called me and pitched the story for me and asked me if I wanted to be on board, and I didn’t see a necessity of seeing a script, because it was Star Wars, so I said ‘Yes’ right away. And—if I hadn’t, if I’d turned it down, I’m sure my kids would’ve killed me.
Here is a little insider scoop – Alan Tudyk actually caught on fire during filming. Here is how it happened:
I caught on fire! We were in the trenches, literally. There was a battle going on, and they had explosions, and I’m wearing my skintight pajamas. There are pots of just… explosions, and people are ducking down, and suddenly my back gets hot. I think, ‘Oh, ow—ow—ow I’m on fire’ and it was like a spark hit it and then just spread out. It was very flammable. I didn’t realize it. But, I wore fire retardant, uh, undershirts after that.
For most Star Wars fans, young and old, we all have a favorite character that we love or identify with. We asked each who their respective favorite was:
Mads: I think it’s Han Solo, for me. For the simple reason that he’s not really on anybody’s side (but) his own side. Obviously Harrison Ford playing him charmingly, it’s just something you can relate to, so you’re not the good, or the bad, but you’re that guy who’s just there for the fun ride, and then he’ll leave you in a second if there’s no money in that, right? It just recognizable in a wonderful way. I like him a lot.
Alan: I like several characters. I like Obi Wan Kenobi. He was just great, you know, he was the one who could say, ‘These are not the droids you’re looking for!’ He had the force. He was magic. He was wise. I liked him. I like Guinness, man. That guy’s amazing.
The connection and comradery between these two was nothing short of amazing. I could have literally listened to them talk all day.
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY takes us to a time before the Death Star was built! Lucasfilm’s ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, takes place before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope, and tells the story of unlikely heroes who have united to steal plans to the dreaded Death Star.
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY arrives in theaters everywhere on December 16th In RealD 3D and IMAX 3D!
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Interview Photo Credit: Louise Bishop
Disclosure: I was provided with an all-expense paid trip as part of a press Junket with Disney to cover this and all Rogue One: A Star War Story media.
I have been in celebrity love with Mads for years. Its hard to believe more people don’t know about him Not only is he HOT he is an excellent actor. I look forward to his movies and am trying to find some foreign films of his I canwatch.
Looks like a good movie.
We are going this weekend to see it
My son in law and grandson LOVE Star Wars and all it entails. I kind of think the robots are cute. 😉
I think I would have been interested talking about the bots and how they work and what makes them so interesting. I would have loved to have been there.
I think I would have been interested talking about the bots and how they work and what makes them so interesting. I would have loved to have been there.
This movie was beyond awesome!
Love anything to do with star wars , a big fan here !
All the kids can’t wait to see this. We will hopefully get to during the holidays.
What a fun and exciting event to attend! We definitely can’t wait to see this one! 🙂
The character Galen Erso seems like a very interesting character and the movie seems terrific.
Star Wars is so hugely successful. A very cool experience for you!
This looks like a great movie. I know that many people are waiting to see it!
I would love to see this, and I am sure it must have been an awesome time being able to be there and interview this man, so exciting!
Always interesting to hear what the actors think about the characters they are playing.
I guess this movie was pretty popular. My daughter has been to a couple of these things.
Star Wars has been a favorite of mine since I was 12 & saw the first one back in the 70s
I LOVED the original trilogy as a kid and have enjoyed passing that along to the kids with the continuing series. This looks like it’ll be a good one. 🙂
I’ve heard a lot of great things about this movie. Hope to see it soon.
WOW! Am I glad that Mr.Tudyk did not get hurt when he was accidentally on fire!! I still get chills when I think about other actors losing their lives while making a movie! Like Vic Morrow and those 2 little children OR Brandon Lee!! Such tragedies!!
I love Star Wars. Looking forward to seeing this movie
(Chatting Up Alan Tudyk and Mads Mikkelsen in ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY #RogueOneEvent #RogueOne) My three sons all went to go and see this new great movie yesterday. They all really liked it too.
Star Wars has been a favorite of mine since I was 12 & saw the first one back in the 70s. This looks like another good one.
I have no idea who any of these people are. Haven’t seen the movie.
I want to see this movie so bad, in a huge lover of Star Wars
interesting
This would be fun to see with my nephew who certainly collects and enjoy anything to do with Star Wars.
What an awesome opportunity! Shared on Facebook for all to see. 🙂
Star Wars stories just keeps getting more and more interesting! I’ve followed the stories and movies for years! I got into Sci – Fi because of the 1960 Star Trek series. I am a fan of Alan Tudyk’s!
He starred in another SCI – FI series called Firefly and then the movie Serenity. I would have loved to haves talked to him about those shows too.
We plan on seeing ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY
Two very handsome men. You are super lucky!
Not my type of movie. I prefer horror movies.
I am a huge Mads fan. Ever since Hannibal was released I fell in love with him. I found some other movies not released in the US and was able to watch a couple of his films and I loved them. He knocked it out of the park as Hannibal.
They’ve got some great actors in this movie
My nephew would really love to see this movie!
THis looks great. cannot wait to see how it ties into the rest of the series
Thanks for the awsome review
Definitely looks like a great movie! My kids are big fans of Star Wars.
I’m not into that genre. I really don’t watch movies.
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What a fun interview and experience! Can’t wait to see this movie!!
The character, K-2SO does sound fascinating. This would be super to see.
I’m super psyched to see this! Can’t wait!
What a duo of stars!
I can’t wait to see this movie! I’m a huge Star Wars fan.
Awesome review. Looking forward to Rogue One. I have to get serious about this one!
This is going to be such a great movie. With a fantastic cast!
I am so looking forward to seeing Rogue One. I love how they are branching off with the series!