Lee Pace And Michael Rooker Discuss James Gunn And Their GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Roles
While 'Yondu' Michael Rooker explains that Guardians of the Galaxy has always felt "like a James Gunn movie," 'Ronan the Accuser' actor Lee Pace praises the director for allowing him to really "go there."
Also joining the ranks of the villains (or antiheros) in Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the first few actors to join the film, Michael Rooker, who's playing the Centaurian game hunter Yondu Udonta.
“It's felt like a James Gunn movie as soon as he called me about it! I went out and bagged a comic just to see what he was doing, and I was like 'Oh my God, he's doing this!'” he says of his longtime friend & frequent collaborator. “I was very happy because he's a big comic guy, even as a young child he really enjoyed reading them, so it was great to see him doing something that really got his creative energy going.” As for why the director chose him for the role, Rooker says “He loves to torture me and make me look strange. Directors always love to tell actors what to do, and he loves telling me what to do, and that's why he hired me!” Coincidentally, James Gunn was asked moments ago on his Spring.me if he already had The Walking Dead actor in mind when he wrote the Yondu character. “Yes, I wrote the role specifically for Rooker,” the director replied. What do you think?
UPDATE: It appears the Spring.me account that's mentioned above is not James Gunn's, but actually a faux. Therefore, disregard that last quote about Yondu being written for Michael Rooker.
UPDATE #2: Now you can disregard the above update as James Gunn has taken to his official Spring.me to confirm that he in fact “wrote the Yondu role specifically for Michael Rooker.”
“Guardians of the Galaxy,” the next epic adventure from Marvel Studios, is directed by James Gunn from his screenplay, with a story by Nicole Perlman and Gunn, and the film will introduce audiences to a whole new side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The all-star cast includes Chris Pratt as Peter Quill aka Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, Lee Pace as Ronan the Accuser, Michael Rooker as Yondu, Karen Gillan as Nebula, two-time Academy Award nominee Djimon Hounsou as Korath, Academy Award® winner Benicio del Toro as The Collector, Academy Award nominee John C. Reilly as Rhomann Dey, and six-time Academy Award nominee Glenn Close as Nova Prime, with Vin Diesal as Groot and Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon. Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” is scheduled for release August 1, 2014!