They say there are no small roles, only small actors. Well, neither of those sentiments apply when you're talking about the character of Colossus in the highly anticipated upcoming film Deadpool and the 6-foot-10-inch actor who plays him, Andre Tricoteux.
If you're not familiar with the Marvel comics that Colossus originally appeared in, the name of this character should give you a clue about what makes him so super. As a giant member of the X-Men, Colossus, whose real identity is Piotr Rasputin, is able to transform his body tissue into an organic, steely substance that gives him superhuman strength.
We see Colossus briefly demonstrate that power in the trailer for Deadpool, whacking the title character into a sedan. But knowing how cocky and outspoken Deadpool is, he probably did or said something to deserve it.
Tricoteux recently spoke with T-Lounge about playing the classic comic book character in the upcoming Deadpool movie. Since Deadpool isn't slated to hit theaters until Feb. 12, 2016, and many of the film's details are still being kept under wraps, Tricoteux wasn't able to comment on some of our most burning questions about the film and the character's on-screen future, such as whether or not we get to see Colossus in his human form or if the actor has signed on to appear in any upcoming X-Men movies.
However, Tricoteux did fill us in on what we'll discover about Colossus in the upcoming Deadpool movie, how closely he resembles the character from the comics and what it was like to work with Ryan Reynolds.
How would you describe the Colossus we're going to see in Deadpool?
The Colossus you're going to see in Deadpool is very true to the original character in the comic book. [Director] Tim Miller had a really clear vision, and the Deadpool people had a really clear vision of what they wanted. They wanted Colossus to be very traditional to the original story.
Did you read the comics featuring Colossus before you signed on to play him? How familiar were you with the character?
I was pretty familiar with the character, but actually, one of my brothers is a comic fanatic, and Colossus was actually his favorite character, so he was kind of my go-to guy when I needed some quick information. But I was familiar with the character, and I definitely studied up on him when I knew I got the role.
Do you think we'll dive deeper into the character of Colossus in Deadpool than the X-Men movies that have previously featured the character on the big screen did?
Yeah, I think you're going to get to see more of who Colossus is. Like I said, we kept him really traditional to the comic book. So yes, I think people will get a better sense of who he is. But I think there's still a lot more to be told about him. Colossus has been around in the comics since the '70s, so I mean, I think you could do your own movie on him. Yeah, you're going to get to see a little bit more of who he is and kind of his outlook on the world.
Did you have to put on a Russian accent in the movie since Colossus is originally Russian in the comics?
Well, like I said, I can't give too much away. We kept it very traditional to the comic book. Actually, we kept it exactly like the comic book, so you could be able to derive your own conclusion from that.
In the trailer for the film, Colossus and Deadpool don't seem to get off to a very good start. Is that how their relationship begins in the movie?
Again, I can't get into it too much, but I will say that Colossus has some serious disagreements with several people in the movie.
What was it like working with Ryan Reynolds?
It was fantastic. Ryan's just an unbelievable talent, and he's just a genuine guy, and he's really, really gracious and helpful with his fellow actors. You know, he's just a smart, talented, like crazy-talented guy. It was really something to see him in this movie. He knocked this one out of the park. This is going to be a home run for him. You know, it was a very technically challenging movie to shoot. Plus, he was in the suit all day, so it was physically demanding. People are just going to be thrilled with this. He really epitomizes this Deadpool character, and I think people are just going to love it.
It looks like there's going to be a lot of comedy in Deadpool. Did you guys crack up a lot on set?
Yeah, there's some comedic genius in there. It was challenging sometimes to keep a straight face.
Yeah, I can imagine.
They were really great about giving the actors additional takes and stuff and letting people bring their own spin to things, so you got a lot of original stuff from people. I'm actually looking forward to seeing what version of a lot of the scenes actually make it into the movie, because I'm not sure I know which ones are going to fit.
Was there some improvisation of lines as well?
It wasn't like a total improv, but I would say there was definitely some creative leniency given for the actors. [Miller] had a really clear vision of how he wanted the story to go and how he wanted this movie to be, but he's a pretty generous director. He really lets his performers do their thing, so it was great. He gave you a lot of leash.
You said Reynolds really embodied the role of Deadpool on set. Did he stay in character even when he wasn't filming?
I guess to a degree. I think there's a lot of similarities between Ryan and Deadpool, so I think they just naturally blended into each other. Yeah, I guess, partially to answer your question.
Did you wear a motion capture suit during filming to be transformed into the Colossus we see on screen?
Yes, there was a lot of motion capture, because obviously when he is in his metallic form, he is, you know, gigantic. Yes, that was a big part of our movie.
What was it like to do the motion capture?
I mean, I've done quite a bit of it, so I'm used to it. There's definitely some technical challenges when you're doing those performances. But like I said, I've got quite a bit of experience doing that. I've done several movies utilizing motion capture and a lot of CG work and stuff. So there's some technical challenges to it, but yeah, I'm comfortable with it.
What is it like for you to be a part of a big, highly anticipated project like this that is kept so under wraps?
It's great. It's exciting. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to do this role. I'm just really thankful for the opportunity. I'm a fan, just like everybody else is, of these stories. It was a fantastic experience filming the movie. I love how they've been marketing it. I just really look forward to it being released and seeing the final product.
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