With the first volume of Kick-Ass coming to a close yesterday, CBR News sat down with the British actor who will bring Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr.'s superhero to life on the big screen!
So, how does it feel to be Kick-Ass?
It's fun, man. It was quite a shock, because it was a real battle. I was just in the right place at the right time, and I got the job and everything. But yeah, it was quite exciting. It was kind of like a boy's dream. I get to dress up like a superhero and do an action movie. So, yeah, it's really good fun. And I'm enjoying it.
Have you been doing a lot of stunt training and working out? Or are you naturally agile and athletic? Did you play a lot of sports growing up?
I did do a lot of activities when I was younger. And I did a lot of dance, as well. So it's easier for me to learn the choreography. But we haven't done lots. Chloë Moretz, who plays Hit Girl, has done about two months worth of crazy, hardcore training, but she has a lot of flips, and leaps and jumps. My character just gets the shit beat out of him, but we did a couple of weeks of choreography.
What's your favorite part about playing a character like Kick-Ass?
I think it's great that I can play David Lizewski. He's an American, kind of quirky, original, normal guy but it's kind of nice that I can go from a vulnerable, naïve guy into putting on a mask. You've got all this confidence, but you've also got this kind of split personality. And it's just really good fun that you can play around with. I'm really enjoying that.
How did it feel to put on the costume the first time?
Yeah, it was great. It was back in London with the costume designer. I had no idea that it would be like a wet-suit. It's got to be a sort of suit that he's bought on eBay and put together himself. And it was just perfect. I liked it because I knew my character wouldn't have a Batman suit with all the weapons and stuff – or a six-pack and stuff. It's cool and kind of different. That's what the character is about. He's really unique and different.
Are you having any difficulty playing an American teenager seeing as you're British? Have you been working on your accent?
Yes, completely. That's a whole other thing. I have a dialect coach, and she'll keep on top of it – hopefully. I hope she doesn't let it slip. But there are a lot of things that I am kind of worried about. There's the accent, there's this awkward young boy that I'm going to play. I don't know. I'm sure there are many things that people can pick out and have a go at me for, but at the end of the day, that's entertainment. You have fun doing what you do, so...
It looks like you're having lots of fun, and you are pretty impressive during the fight scenes.
It's really cool. Getting beat up and then running around, but I really do enjoy it. It's good fun.
How hands-on a director is Matthew Vaughan?
He's excellent. He and Jane and Mark have worked on it for ages, so he really knows what he wants from every character. And it's very visual, as well. He just keeps on it and he really keeps you on your toes, as well. You don't want a director praising you all the time and saying, "Yeah. Yeah. That was really good." He keeps pushing you, so you improve, which, I think, is brilliant. He's really interesting.
But I get intimidated sometimes. You can push a joke with him, but then you feel you may have pushed it too far. And then he'll shout at you. And then you're like, "Ah, [frick], I better get back to work now." And the whole thing moves so fast, it's [frick]ing brilliant. A scene like this, as well, will probably take about five days. But we all work hardcore six days a week.
Are you signed on for Kick-Ass 2? Or do you think there is going to be one?
There could be. There are sort of rumors about what they're going to do with it. I have heard sort of plotlines and stuff, but that's it. I've probably said too much.
For the full interview follow the link below where Johnson talks more about the comic book, his favourite scenes and what it was like auditioning for the role!