Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Dolph Lundgren flexes box office muscle
|
Edition:
U.S.
Article
Comments (0)
Save
Email
Print
Reprints
Most Popular
Most Shared
Hong Kong film hopes to break new ground with 3-D porn
16 Aug 2010
Obama campaigning, ties Republicans to big business
2:36am EDT
Axl Rose's Twitter page hacked
12:51am EDT
Analysis: Running with the bulls: a rosy view of China in 2020
16 Aug 2010
Dolph Lundgren flexes box office muscle
1:39am EDT
RPT-UPDATE 1-Australian c.bank faces makeover after election
12:06am EDT
Europe Factors - Shares seen rising; data eyed
1:24am EDT
Fund managers make big bets on oil stocks
16 Aug 2010
Air strike kills al Qaeda cell leader in Afghan north
| Video
16 Aug 2010
GM IPO filing expected Tuesday
| Video
16 Aug 2010
Ex-governor says California must reform pensions
16 Aug 2010
Afghanistan says finds 1.8 billion barrel oilfield
15 Aug 2010
FOMC statement from August 10 meeting
| Video
10 Aug 2010
Hong Kong film hopes to break new ground with 3-D porn
16 Aug 2010
Iran says to push ahead with new enrichment plants
| Video
16 Aug 2010
Informal work networks new form of inequality: study
16 Aug 2010
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac bill sale calendar
16 Aug 2010
Analysis: Running with the bulls: a rosy view of China in 2020
16 Aug 2010
Mexican butterflies threatened by severe storms
16 Aug 2010
Uzbek militant killed in Pakistan: security agents
02 Oct 2009
Dolph Lundgren flexes box office muscle
Digg This
Tweet This
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Facebook
Related News
Stallone durable at box office with 'Expendables'
Sun, Aug 15 2010
Women rise to the top in "Mad Men"
Fri, Jul 30 2010
Related Topics
Fashion »
Entertainment »
Film »
Swedish actor Dolph Lundgren arrives for the German premiere of his new movie ''The Expendables'' in Berlin, August 6, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Thomas Peter
By Borys Kit
Tue Aug 17, 2010 1:39am EDT
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - After a 15-year hiatus from big Hollywood movies, Dolph Lundgren, the man who played Drago in "Rocky IV" and He-Man in "Masters of the Universe," returns to the spotlight as one of "The Expendables," the new box office champ in North America.
Lundgren, 52, has a master's degree in chemical engineering and speaks seven languages, but is still trying to shake his image -- especially in his home country -- as a "big, dumb, blond Swede."
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR MOVIE BEING NO. 1 AT THE BOX OFFICE?
Dolph Lundgren: It feels a bit unreal. It's interesting how it happened. I haven't been on the big screen in 15 years, so to me, it's a big deal. It was fun to do it with Sly.
DID YOU GO TO ANY THEATERS THIS WEEKEND TO SEE HOW IT'S PLAYING?
Lundgren: No. I heard from a friend of mine who went to one of the Hollywood theaters that it played well and the audience seemed to respond to my character, crazy Gunner. That's always fun.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?
Lundgren: I'm writing a fitness book for a Swedish publisher that will probably come out here as well. It's about how I train and my life in sports. I'm in L.A. for some photography for that. Then I'm writing a couple of scripts. There's one I'm trying to finish up called "Skin Trade"; it's about human trafficking. Hopefully, I'll try to get a more famous actor as the lead, and I'd direct it and play the co-lead. Hopefully, I can get a bigger budget.
DO YOU THINK THAT WITH "EXPENDABLES" BEING A HIT, WILL IT BE EASIER FOR YOU TO GET A BIGGER BUDGET?
Lundgren: I hope so. I've learned the ropes on these smaller movies, but it's tough on a 30-day schedule to make a decent feature. I need a better schedule. Also, I'm trying to do something in Sweden, about Sweden or set in Sweden. Maybe a period piece.
PERIOD?
Lundgren: I kind of think I belong in the past -- onscreen, that is. I haven't done a period piece, and I think it will be fun. I think as a director, what is difficult if you do action movies is to make the transition to dramas. One way to do it, and guys more accomplished than me like (Mel) Gibson and (Kevin) Costner have done, is to do a period piece. You have enough guys getting killed, so it's easy enough to get financed, but you can make it upscale and a drama. They're usually about real events.
DO YOU FEEL YOU GET STEREOTYPED AS A DUMB BLOND?
Lundgren: Yes. Big, dumb, blond Swede. That's been the stigma I've had for 25 years, especially in Sweden. There, they are even more upset that I didn't do any Bergman movies and just went to Hollywood and started killing people. But it's turned a little bit now because I hosted this Eurovision song contest this year and I had to do a little singing and dancing and people saw me as who I am and realized that maybe I'm not so stupid after all.
WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON IMMIGRATION REFORM?
Lundgren: I live in Spain, but I have a house here. I'm not quite sure what the issues are. I can't afford to get kicked out, so I stick to the rules. If I get more work here, instead of work permits like I get now, I may get a green card.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IF YOU MOVED BACK HERE?
Lundgren: You have to be a citizen here first. But funny enough, I was asked to run for office in Sweden this year. But I didn't want do it. I spoke out about the environment, and the Green Party in Sweden came to me and asked. I didn't want to do it, but it was interesting.
WHY NOT DO IT?
Lundgren: I figure, if you're a celebrity, it's not good to work for one party. You can raise more awareness if people don't look at you as working for one party only. But it would be fun to get involved in public service in some way because I've never done that. As you get older, you go from caring about yourself to caring about your family to caring about your community.
ARE YOU BETTER AT MATH OR READING?
Lundgren: Probably reading now. I haven't practiced math in a long time. Math and physics used to be my strong suit. I like reading history, mostly nonfiction.
DID YOU READ A LOT OF BOOKS ON SET?
Lundgren: Not really. The schedule was so crazy. It was night shoots for three months in New Orleans. I may have been finishing up a book called "South Pole." I can't remember.
MAYBE YOUR TIME WAS SPENT ENGAGING IN CONTESTS OF CHAMPIONS?
Lundgren: (Laughs.) No. My character is an outcast, and I worked with Sly quite a bit but not a lot with the other guys. I had weird hours. I did have a couple of karate guys, and we were talking about fighting. I'm trying to get my 4th dan -- my 4th-degree black belt -- and we were preparing for that.
SO IT WASN'T A SCENE ON SET WHERE EVERYONE WAS SHOWING OFF HOW STRONG THEY WERE OR HOW MUCH THEY CAN BENCH PRESS?
Lundgren: It's not really my style. There were a lot of big guys around, so you do feel a little bit of a healthy competition to be in shape. I did work out quite a bit for the movie and tried to put on a little more muscle. I'm usually more lean. People were pretty quiet. We're older now.
YOU HAVE TWO GIRLS. ARE YOU TEACHING THEM TO BE KARATE OR WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMPIONS?
Lundgren: I help them with their homework. I want them to go to school and not be actresses or models. Well, they can be later, but not until they're 18. I'm the boss until they're 18. I feel it's really important to get an education. What's important in life are good manners and education. That helped me in my life, so I want to give that to them too. That's why I keep them away from Hollywood a little bit.
SO DO YOU NEED A WOMAN TO BE YOUR INTELLECTUAL EQUAL?
Lundgren: Not necessarily. I think it's more emotional. You want someone to support you and make you relaxed. That's the primary thinking. Intellectually equal? No. Maybe it's better if they're not.
Fashion
Entertainment
Film
Add a Comment
*We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language or appear to be spam and review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters.
© Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
Reuters
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Help
Journalism Handbook
Archive
Site Index
Video Index
Reader Feedback
Mobile
Newsletters
RSS
Podcasts
Widgets
Your View
Analyst Research
Thomson Reuters
Copyright
Disclaimer
Privacy
Professional Products
Professional Products Support
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Careers
Online Products
Acquisitions Monthly
Buyouts
Venture Capital Journal
International Financing Review
Project Finance International
PEhub.com
PE Week
FindLaw
Reuters on Facebook
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Tuesday, 17 August 2010 Iraq's main parties break off coalition talks
Russia expels Romanian diplomat for spying
US-TECH Summary
Rivals stop coalition talks in Iraq in sectarian row
Qaeda's north Africa wing calls for revenge against France
Russia's Medvedev asks tycoons for wildfire help
|
Russia says beating fires as weather switches
Intel to buy TI's cable modem unit
Eye on Afghanistan, Gates hopes to quit in 2011
Former Israeli soldier slammed for Facebook photos
|
Iraq parties break off coalition talks: spokeswoman
Drug hitmen kidnap Mexican mayor near U.S. border
|
Embattled French minister hit by new finance claim
Spanish judge probes complaint over Google's Street View
Al-Qaeda 'group leader' killed in Afghanistan: NATO
Netanyahu hopes for direct peace talks in near future
|
WTO rules against EU on hi-tech duties
U.S. citizen Berenson says sorry for Peru terrorism
|
Iran says to push ahead with new enrichment plants
Afghan private security firms given 4-month deadline
U.S. hails big win in technology trade case against EU
U.S. Defense chief Gates says wants to leave in 2011
Autopsy set for U.S. man accused of Craigslist murder
Fresh face Rooney Mara lands lead in "Dragon Tattoo"
BlackBerry to give India partial access: source
|
Obama and Hollywood: State of their Union
China US debt holdings lowest level in a year: Treasury
Vedanta fuels expansion with Cairn India stake
India inflation slows to single digits
Pakistani July foreign investment falls 18.5 pct
Doctors discover tumor in Michael Douglas' throat
|
China overshadows Japan economy as growth slows
Fresh face Rooney Mara lands lead in Dragon Tattoo
|
Edie Falco won't rule out Sopranos movie
|
Pakistani stocks end 2.9 pct lower on flood worries
Obama and Hollywood: State of their Union
|
Indonesian president aims for economy to be 'uncaged'
Kirin's net profit halved in first-half, cuts forecast
Samsung sets up fund to help S.Korean contractors
Eye on Afghanistan, Gates hopes to quit in 2011
British airports strike averted
World Bank pledges $900 million in flood aid to Pakistan
|
S.Korea Cresyn: paid no improper fees to Apple manager
China strikes a worry but no strategy change yet: execs
|
Iran sets timetable for third uranium plant
Court blocks California gay marriage
Mexico approves controversial Televisa mobile bid
Suspect ship seen before Japan tanker blast: report
|
Rivals stop coalition talks in Iraq in sectarian row
Darfur expels five aid workers
Asia suppliers respond to Apple kickback charges
Suicide bomber targets Iraqi army recruits, kills 39
|
Israel rejects 'preconditions' for direct peace talks
Only one dies in Colombia airliner crash miracle
|
Four Democrats urge U.S. to act on Internet traffic
Facebook scammers spreading fake 'Dislike' button
U.S. prosecutors ask 6 months prison for ex-IBM exec
WTO raps EU tariffs on technology goods
Facebook a growing stage for video viewing
Mudslides kill at least 15 in Sichuan
World Bank pledges £574 million in flood aid to Pakistan
Analysis: Petraeus media blitz seeks to calm fears
China launches global search for six panda keepers
Dell in billion-dollar deal to buy 3Par data storage firm
Missing haunt flood-hit Indian region
JetBlue Guy: Hollywood's most wanted
India gives mobile operator deadline on BlackBerry
|
Asian firms probe Apple kickback claims
|
Original "Dragon Tattoo" girl lands in Hollywood
Pentagon warning over China military build-up
Four Democrats urge U.S. to act on Internet traffic
|
Zsa Zsa Gabor refuses operation and goes home
AOL to launch 500 more local sites this year
|
Granny tweets as Oz voters embrace social media
Axl Rose's Twitter page hacked
|
Rooney Mara scores lead in adaptations of Larsson trilogy
Indonesia cuts Australia drug traffickers' sentences
China fireworks factory blast toll up to 19
U.S. prosecutors ask 6 months prison for ex-IBM exec
|
N.Korea flew drone over sensitive border: S.Korea
Australia's 'Ramadan lounge' Muslim tourist plans
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
JetBlue Guy: Hollywood's most wanted
Dolph Lundgren flexes box office muscle
Axl Rose's Twitter page hacked
Original "Dragon Tattoo" girl lands in Hollywood
World No. 2 economy 'still developing', says China
Seoul shares edge up 0.7 pct; Doosan E&C jumps
Zsa Zsa Gabor refuses operation and goes home
Katy Perry's "California Gurls" on safe ground
Protest at Taiwan's main oil refinery
How Rooney Mara became Girl With Dragon Tattoo
|
Pakistan c.bank buys 11.50 bln rupees of govt paper
"Trust" tries to whip you into submission
JetBlue Guy: Hollywood's most wanted
|
Rush concert a workout for air drummers
S.Korea spotted buying dlrs to check won-dealers
Dolph Lundgren flexes box office muscle
|
China says foreign direct investment up 20 percent
Fresh face Rooney Mara lands lead in Dragon Tattoo
|
PAKISTAN
Wall Street lukewarm to Hulu IPO plans
|
PREVIEW-Taiwan Q2 GDP growth seen slowing to 10.1 pct
Memorable homecoming for Aerosmith, J. Geils Band
|
South Korea, Bolivia to sign lithium deal
Katy Perry's California Gurls on safe ground
|
Axl Rose's Twitter page hacked
|
Seoul shares edge up 0.7 pct; Doosan E&C jumps
New victim in India-Pakistan 'cyberwar'
AOL to launch 500 more local sites this year
Afghanistan formally orders security firms to disband
Afghanistan orders ban on private security firms
|
Jazz photographer Herman Leonard dead at 87
Iran says won't send condemned woman to Brazil
Suicide blast kills 59 at Iraq army recruitment centre
Israeli in Facebook storm defends prisoner photos
|
Bombs kill eight civilians in Afghanistan
Bomber kills 57 Iraq army recruits; judges targeted
Israeli in Facebook storm defends prisoner photos
Microsoft's Kinect to hit EMEA stores Nov 10
Hezbollah gives Hariri evidence to Lebanon judiciary
|
Gaza's once vibrant tunnel trade caves in
|
Two Israeli soldiers wounded in attack from Gaza
Ex-Israeli soldier mystified over Facebook uproar
Suicide bomb and cafe blast claim lives in Caucasus
|
Iran tells West to stay out of woman's stoning case
Heat probably killed thousands in Moscow: scientist
|
Taiwan parliament passes historic China trade pact
10 killed in Afghan bomb attacks
Smoking in China 'as serious as SARS': WHO
Australian PM backs republic after queen's death
Israel has '8 days' to hit Iran nuclear site: Bolton
Japanese tango champs bid for new success
Canada probes who paid for Tamil refugees' travel
Coup, illness all part of writer Frederick Forsyth's research
Global minimum and maximum temperatures
UAE, Blackberry may soon resolve spat: diplomats
|
Sri Lanka vets go on strike over elephants
Pakistan wins more flood aid
Japanese tango duo look to hold on to world crown
How Rooney Mara became "Girl With Dragon Tattoo"
Wedbush initiates Google with underperform
|
S.Korean president defends unification tax
U.S. neighborhood bookstores thrive in digital age
|
More heavy rains in western China kill 51
Microsoft's Kinect to hit EMEA stores Nov 10
|
Pakistan July c/a deficit narrows to $635 mln
China's telcos gear up on 3G in growth push
|
China to let foreign banks into interbank bond market
Pakistani stocks up; rupee firms; o/n rates down
Asian markets mixed as recovery fears persist
Weak Japan must harness China's rise, say analysts
China Unicom to launch Apple iPhone 4 next month
Taiwan parliament debates China trade pact
Doctors discover tumor in Michael Douglas' throat
|
Ailing Zsa Zsa Gabor to spend final days at home
|
Coup, illness all part of writer Frederick Forsyth's research
|
Was James Bond just a neo-fascist gangster?
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights