Actors Chris Evans and Columbus Short recently took a few moments to discuss their upcoming film “The Losers,” which will be in theaters Friday.
Based on Andy Diggle’s comic book series, “The Losers,” directed by Sylvain White, tells the tale of members of a CIA Black Ops team who are seeking revenge after being betrayed and left to die.
“Sylvain did an excellent job of translating what was on the page of the graphic novel to screen, and I think it’s one of the closest translations I’ve seen from graphic novel to film,” Short said.
Having had previous roles in the “Fantastic Four” films, Chris Evans is no stranger to comic book- or graphic novel-based films.
“Comic books translate to film incredibly well,” Evans said. “They make for a great blueprint, you know, with all these people involved, the actors, the director, the visual effects provider, everyone involved in trying to make a movie come to life. It’s nice having this kind of foundation to reference.”
Short, who has had his share of roles in films such as “Stomp the Yard” and “Armored,” described a career progression that led him to and prepared him for his role in “The Losers.”
“‘Stomp the Yard’ was a coming-of-age story. ‘Armored’ was a suspense thriller, a little more on the heavy side,” Short said. “Every movie I have done has sort of culminated to this one.”
Short described “The Losers” as an action piece consisting of comedy, drama and intensity.
“All of the tools that I’ve picked up along the way in my career so far have kind of made it appropriate for me to be ready to do a movie like this,” Short said.
Evans and Short said filming involved a new set of challenges. Rigorous military and weapons training constituted much of the preparation for the film.
The film was shot in Puerto Rico, and both actors said the setting was the most difficult thing to deal with.
“I’m Irish, from Boston, and I’m not built for warm weather,” Evans said.
Evans said getting up and working in army boots and fatigues in what felt like 100-degree weather was not his cup of tea.
“You know, I’m going to be honest,” Short said. “It’s one of the most exotic locations that I’ve shot in, and it’s hard to shoot a movie in a place where you want to be on vacation at.”
Short laughed as he described the difficulty of mentally going back and forth between what he was there for and what he wanted to be there for.
Through all the hard work and every challenge, both actors professed a belief that the film will definitely stand out.
“‘The Losers,’ the graphic novel is fantastic — period,” Short said.
Short said that it all starts with the great job done in the process of creating the graphic novel and that alone will set the film apart from others.
“The translation of the graphic novel to screen and bringing the characters to life will be refreshing for people,” Evans said.
Starring alongside Evans and Short are Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Idris Elba, Oscar Jaenada and Jason Patric.
