After a couple of technical difficulties, we were finally able to get this interview under way between me, Jamaal
Finkley, and the
Merry Men as they are called in their new movie
Robin Hood. In this interview you will see what they all have in common, and they show an appreciation for
Glee.
Concomitant to the legend of Robin Hood is the story of his Merry Men, here a band of fellows disil- lusioned with life under the newly anointed
King John. Fellow yeomen in Richards war, they accom- pany
Robin back to
England after the death of
Richard allows them to escape the conflicts.
irrepressible sense of humor. Its been a great benefit to me and to
Ridley, and no doubt the movie, that weve had guys like this playing these roles.
Crowe notes that each of the men brings a talent to their parts that mirrors their on-screen characters.
Scotts an incredible singer, he commends.
Kevin has the coordination of a ballet dancer, yet the physi- cality of an ice hockey player; he is 6 feet 7 and 235 pounds. He also has a great singing voice. Then theres
Alan, who has never acted. Hes a folk singer from
Newfoundland, and he knows how to play the lute. I said to Ridley, If youre going to have a guy playing the troubadour, lets have a guy who knows how to play the lute. That way, if you dont like a particular tune, you can change it then and there. He also has a wonderful singing voice. Thats a key element with the Merry Men.
Portraying the troupe are
Kevin Durand as
Robins right hand and muscle,
Little John;
Scott Grimes as the youngest of the gang,
Will Scarlet; and acting newcomer
Alan Doyle as minstrel
Allan ADayle. Says Crowe:
The core thing with these guys is that they are all athletes, and they all have a physical side to what they do in the film. Added to that, they are all intelligent, so they can learn new skills quickly. They also have an the news of Sir
Robert Loxleys (played by DOUGLAS HODGE) sudden death to
Sir Walter. A beekeeper and reluctant servant of the crown,
Tuck all too readily becomes part of Robins band of usurpers.
Canadian-born KEVIN DURAND (Little John) has developed a versatile background, beginning in comedy and
Broadway, then transitioning into television andf ilm,illustratinghis ability to captivate a wide
range of audiences. In 2009,
Durand was
nominated for a
Saturn Award
for his recurring character,
Martin Keamy, on the popular series
Lost. Durand was also a series regular on
Touching Evil and the
James Cameron hit series
Dark Angel.
Recently, Durand was seen in
Legion, with
Dennis
Quaid and
Paul Bettany, and the box-office smash
X-Men Origins: Wolverine, alongside
Hugh Jackman.
Before his film career, Durand was voted one of Canadas funniest new comedians. In addition, he originated the role of Injun Joe in
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer on Broadway.
Durand is best known for his roles in
James Mangolds
3:10 to Yuma, with
Russell Crowe and
Christian Bale; Joe Carnahans
Smokin Aces, oppo- site
Ben Affleck and
Jeremy Piven; and
Walt Beckers
Wild Hogs, with
John Travolta,
Tim Allen and
Martin Lawrence.
Durands other credits include
The Butterfly Effect, opposite
Ashton Kutcher; Jay Roachs
Mystery, Alaska, with Russell Crowe;
Columbia Pictures Winged Creatures, opposite
Forest Whitaker and
Dakota Fanning; and
Vertigo Entertainments
The Echo.
He currently resides in
Los Angeles.
SCOTT GRIMES (Will Scarlet) is familiar to tele- vision audiences as Dr.
Archie Morris, the stringent chief resi- dent on the hit drama ER.
Once a recurring actor,
Grimes joined the cast in the 12th season as a series regular. He is also well known for his role as Sgt.
Donald Malarkey in the critically acclaimed
Band of Brothers, the
World War II miniseries. His voice is recognizable to animation fans from his series regular gig as
Steve Smith on FOXs
American Dad.
Born in
Lowell, Massachusetts, Grimes launched
his entertainment career in
1980 as a child in the
Tony Award-winning
Broadway musical Nine. He performed with
Bob Hope,
The Carpenters and
Merv Griffin, to name a few, and his music has been heard on the
Golden Globe Award-winning show
Party of Five.
Before he became an actor, Grimes considered a career as a professional hockey player, and he continues to play in celebrity charity events.
Even as a young child in the small Newfoundland f ishingvillageofPettyHar- bour,
ALAN DOYLE (Allan ADayle) was holding up a
sign
that said
Look at Me.
Petty Harbour is a small
f ishingvillage,locateddeep amidst the rugged shoreline of Canadas most isolated prov- ince. Known worldwide for its stunning beauty and unique
dialect, Newfoundland is a place that holds tight to its traditional culture. When
Doyle was a boy, his home village was small and close-knit, with only one small winding road connecting it to the world.
The Atlantic Ocean was the towns front yard and playground.
R A BlackTree
Media Production Thank you for watching!
- published: 03 May 2010
- views: 62030