“Bad Santa” is ready to blast off. Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton is shooting for the box office stars in “The Astronaut Farmer” opening Feb. 23.

The film, directed by Michael Polish who co-wrote it with his brother Mark, is the story of Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton). Farmer is a former NASA trainee who had to abandon his space training because of a family situation. Not to be deterred, he builds a rocket ship in his barn hoping to launch himself into space and finally achieve his dream of being an astronaut. Thornton spoke with The Lantern about his childhood baseball dream, crazy college memories and his upcoming movie.

The Lantern: Why did you choose to do this movie, “The Astronaut Farmer”?

Billy Bob Thornton: I love the script. I love the Polish brothers as artists. They’ve written a script that I wanted to do, a “Field of Dreams,” “Hoosiers” type movie.

TL: When you were in school, how good were you in science? How much did you have to brush up on it for the movie?

BBT: I had to brush up quite a bit. I was horrible in science and terrible in math. The only things I was good at were history and drama… and bowling and billiards.

TL: The film explores a man pursuing his dream. What was your dream as a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

BBT: I wanted to pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals.

TL: Why the Cardinals?

BBT: I grew up in Arkansas and there were a lot of Cardinals fans. I wanted to play baseball and be in a rock ‘n’ roll band. I played ball for a long time and to this day I’m in a band. And then I became an actor later on, that dream didn’t start until later.

TL: Any crazy college experiences you want to share?

BBT: …I went to college for a year and a half. They didn’t exactly make me leave, but they asked me very kindly. I wouldn’t recommend how I approached college. I recommend studying hard to be successful. I didn’t study hard but luckily I was successful. I had a few crazy experiences… I remember when I pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon. I’m still known back there as the cheeseburger guy; it’s a long story.

TL: What would be your dream cast to work with in a film?

BBT: Me, Robert Duvall and Cate Blanchett doing a movie together. I think it would be fun to do a comedy with those two.

TL: Who influences the movies you choose?

BBT: In terms of projects I take, I usually just do what I want to do. I don’t listen to suits much or agents. This movie I was influenced by my kids. I wanted my kids to see at least some of the movies I make. On this one I thought “What a great thing for my boys to see their dad as an astronaut and my little girl to see a movie without any violence in it.”

TL: How many kids do you have?

BBT: That I know of… my boys are 12 and 13 and daughter is 2 and a half.

TL: What projects do you have in the works?

BBT: I have a movie coming out in September, “Mr. Woodcock.” It is essentially “Bad Santa” in gym shorts. I’ve also got a record coming out May 8 called “Beautiful Door.”

TL: Do you have any advice for college students?

BBT: I always tell people, it sounds kind of trite, but to do things your way – do things you know the best. From elementary school all the way to college, people should go into school where their strengths and interests lie. If you’re a screenwriter you should write about your life and things you know; whereas if science fiction is popular and you are writing science fiction because it’s something you think is going to sell, it probably won’t be your best work. So I always advise people to do what’s closest to your heart.

Jim Baird can be reached at [email protected].