Max Cloud is an upcoming adventure movie aimed at video game fans, though it isn't actually a video game adaptation. The film follows a young gamer who discovers an easter egg which accidently opens a portal into a game where the main character and titular hero, Max Cloud, is played by Scott Adkins.
Adkins (Doctor Strange, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) is best known for being an action star and martial artist. His background includes a myriad of fighting styles, including capoeira, jiujitsu, karate, muy thai, krav maga, ninjutsu, and more.
Having worked with talent ranging from Jean Claude Van Damme to Tony Jaa, it's a step outside of his comfort zone to take a leading role in a comedy film. When chatting exclusively with Adkins, we asked him what it was about the character and the script that attracted him to the role in the first place.
"Well, it was something different that I had not done before, and I read it, and I liked the concept. Of course, it was something unique that I hadn't seen much of. Max is a bit of a douchebag and thinks he's the man, thinks he's cool, but he has a lot to learn. Obviously, he's an amazingly skilled, heroic figure, but it turns out he's just a bit of a dick. His arc throughout the movie is to become less of a dick but stay the hero. Also, let other people help him, which he had trouble with before. It was a good concept, and I was looking to do something different like that and try something more comedic. So yeah, this is what I was looking for at the time.
It's a comedy, and I'm trying to be funny, which is an elusive thing because you can crack yourself up all the time, and then one day someone says, 'you don't actually think you're funny, do you?' I don't really know; it's up to the audience. And of course, if you're doing a piece of theater, you get to come back to whether that joke's working or not because either they laugh or don't, but with a movie, you're relying on the people that are the creative force behind the film. The director will have to shepherd you through what's going to work and what isn't going to work. I mean, I'd never done it before, so to be honest, I told the director, 'Martin, listen, mate, I'm just going to go for it. I'm just going to have fun. And it's up to you in the editing room, mate.'"
Hear our entire chat with Scott on Literary Joe's Inner Child Podcast below. We've also included the poster, trailer, and synopsis for the upcoming Max Cloud movie.
*This interview has been edited for clarity.*
When teen gamer Sarah finds an “easter egg” and accidentally opens a portal into her favorite side-scroller, she becomes trapped in a notorious intergalactic prison, home to the galaxy’s most dangerous villains. To escape, she must finish the game with a little help from her not-so-savvy friend on the outside...or remain a 16-bit character forever.
Max Cloud will be available on Digital on December 18, 2020.