LOS ANGELES — In his last few films, Jason Statham has been hanging out with Expendables hulks and Fast and Furious hunks.
For a change, Statham’s sidekick in his latest movie is decidedly more waiflike — as in 10-year-old newcomer Izabela Vidovic who plays his daughter in Homefront.
That doesn’t mean firefights and fisticuffs are missing in action. After all, Expendables’ buddy Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay.
Homefront, Statham portrays retired DEA agent Phil Broker. He’s a single parent with a dangerous undercover past who moves with his daughter to a Louisiana bayou backwater town.
Unfortunately for the dad and his daughter, trouble seems to find them in the form of a meth-freak mother (Kate Bosworth) of a school bully, her dealer brother (James Franco) and his sleazy girlfriend (Winona Ryder).
Things get complicated when Broker’s former identity is discovered, leading to a face off with a bunch of vengeful bikers looking for payback.
As usual, Statham exercises his action abilities battling the bad guys. But he also shows a softer side opposite Vidovic.
“She taught me everything I know, but she’s so bossy,” joked Statham with Vidovic, Franco, and Bosworth promoting Homefront at a Beverly Hills hotel.
More seriously, the British actor added: “No, we had a great time, and there is something quite sweet about presenting (the relationship) when you have good chemistry.”
Statham appreciated the Homefront dynamic, especially since it was Stallone who suggested he take a look at his Homefront script, which was originally intended to be the final chapter of the Rambo series.
During The Expendables 2 filming in Bulgaria, the two friends were talking about projects they wished they had made when Stallone mentioned Homefront. That’s when Statham read the script, “and it struck a chord.”
Months later it was all systems go. Stallone never made it to the central Louisiana Homefront set, but he was there in spirit.
“I had this ever present voice in my head of Sly saying, ‘Hey Jason, make sure you do this properly,’” Statham said smiling at his half-hearted Stallone impersonation. “He’s always putting the fear of God in me.”
It helped that the 46-year-old Statham was surrounded by a strong supporting cast who were out of their comfort zones playing against-type addicts.
“One of the reasons I did the film was that I was interested in working with Jason,” suggested Franco. “I also liked it because the guy I play is a villain that I could have a lot of fun with by making him more unusual.”
Bosworth confirmed that Statham was the point person during the shoot, but he turned out to be an inclusive sort of headliner, too.
“He’s impressive,” she said. “There is an inherent athletic approach to what he does, and he’s a real leader. And there’s a joy to him that’s very important and appealing.”
It was even better for his co-stars that Statham showed them the ropes when it came time for fight sequences. Franco, especially, was relieved to be facing off with a veteran of action flicks.
“I think Jason did all of his own stunts, but I didn’t,” Franco said. “My (character) gets really beaten up, but I was happy to let my stunt guy do it.”
The occasional sequence where Franco found himself opposite Statham in a scuffle was OK, too; “He made me feel very safe.”
For his part, Statham admitted that it was comforting to be surrounded by accomplished actors immersing themselves in well-rounded parts.
“Sly (Stallone) always fills a whole story with great roles, and he does it very, very well,” Statham said.
The former British Olympic diver has enjoyed some decent non-Stallone roles, as well. Statham made his movie debut in Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998 and Ritchie’s Snatch in 2000.
He carved out a niche as the tough-guy loner starting with 2002’s The Transporter, which led to a second Transporter in 2005 and a third in 2008. He also sandwiched in 2006’s Crank and Crank 2 in 2009, followed by the 2011 remake of The Mechanic.
The actor found an ensemble home with The Expendables series, including the third film which follows the exploits of the Stallone-led soldiers of fortune.
Set for release next August, The Expendables 3 flick features Stallone, Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture and Arnold Schwarzenegger along with additions Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Wesley Snipes and Antonio Banderas.
On another franchise front, Statham is back with the Fast & Furious group co-starring in Fast & Furious 7 out next summer. It’s currently filming in and around Atlanta, Ga., and will showcase a showdown battle between Statham and Dwayne Johnson formerly known as The Rock.
Was he concerned about the match up? He shrugged it off like he doesn’t have a fear in the world.
“A lot of people put the frighteners in me,” corrected Statham. “But I try to keep it under my hat.”
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