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Comics

interview

comic book movies

silver surfer


Fantastic Four 2: Doug Jones


Doug Jones talks sequels, Fantastic Four and Hellboy.



You probably wouldn't recognize Doug Jones on the street, even though you've seen all his movies. Usually covered up by elaborate makeup, Jones has brought to life costumed characters like Abe Sapien from Hellboy, The Faun from Pan's Labyrinth and the upcoming Silver Surfer. Accepting the Saturn Award for Best International Film on behalf of Pan's Labyrinth, Jones exposed his real self to the public and previewed his upcoming slate of characters.

 

CraveOnline: How gratifying is it to represent the film for this award? 

Doug Jones: Absolutely gratifying beyond belief. I knew at the beginning we were making a true piece of art with this film and to see all of the awards happen, and the Saturns are near and dear to Guillermo's heart and mine as well. They represent the geek fan base that has supported us all these years. Without you all, we don't have a career so this is a very special night for the film and for me personally to represent it.

CraveOnline: How does it feel to speak with Laurence Fishburne's voice?

Doug Jones: You know what? This is a painful issue for me. For any actor, it would be. No actor wants to see a portion of their performance taken away, myself included. Especially when I really like the sound of the Surfer that I gave. A lot of people involved with the film told me that they got goosebumps and chills when I would talk as the Silver Surfer, so I am sorry to see that go. Now, that being said, I also want to say Laurence Fishburne is a fantastic actor.

CraveOnline: You could do worse, right?

Doug Jones: You could do worse and I'm very honored to be billed alongside of him. That's great. I also think 20th Century Fox knows how to market a film much better than I do, and if this is what it took to get people in seats, God bless 'em and good luck. I have to back away at this point and let them do what they need to do. And I'm going to go start working on Hellboy 2 where I reprise Abe Sapien, including the voice this time, and I'll also be doing two other characters in the film, The Chamberlain and The Angel of Death. So these are going to be good, yummy things for me to delve my attention into now.

CraveOnline: When do you start that?

Doug Jones: I leave in one week and we start filming at the beginning of June so I have a couple weeks of rehearsal. I've got some intense rehearsal actually. I have to learn some fighting skills now.

CraveOnline: What's up for Abe Sapien?

Doug Jones: I am very excited about what's up for Abe. Abe is on a more equal playing level of Hellboy this time. He's got way more storyline, he has his hands on the bad guys and he might have a love interest. So there's a lot to look forward to.

CraveOnline: So you're happy with that character?

Doug Jones: I'm very happy with the script and what happens for Abe Sapien this time. It's Guillermo Del Toro's signature thing where he touches on a piece of your childhood, your adolescence and Abe Sapien is a very old, intelligent character. He's been around for a long, long time but his love life is something that's never been tapped into before so just like a 13-year-old boy with his first crush, this is how you're going to see Abe this time, at least a portion of him. Will that affect his decision making powers? Does it make us stupid when we're in love for the first time? It did me, so let's see what happens to Abe.

CraveOnline: Is he in love with another amphibian character?

Doug Jones: Let me say this. Abe Sapien, when he falls in love for the first time, would it be with someone who's human? Totally. I'm just going to leave that question back to you.

CraveOnline: If they ask you back for more Surfer, would you be conflicted about it?

Doug Jones: We'll have a look at that when it happens. The studio does have options for part two and three for me. I did sign a three picture deal going in so we'll always investigate what's up for the next movie.

CraveOnline: You may be used to the costumes, but is fighting in them just awful?

Doug Jones: There's physical barriers with any part like that where you're covered with makeup and when you're in a rubbery suit that wants to spring back to one position, the position it was made in, it's like a Boflex where you have use a certain muscle group to get through that and make him look organic. But I have to make that a part of my being and my physicality and again, acting is a full body experience and that's a part of it when you're doing a costumed character.

CraveOnline: Are you happy to be the guy in costume?

Doug Jones: Always. I mean , yes. I'm happy to have a job always but I'm really happy to be working for Guillermo Del Toro any time. Don't you love that man? I just adore him.

CraveOnline: Do you have anything lined up for after Hellboy 2?

Doug Jones: I have a couple possibilities after Hellboy 2. There's the possibility of doing more Silver Surfer movies. There's a possibility of a movie called Knock Knock which is an independent film where I get to play a guy with a face like this, middle aged guy going through a midlife crisis and reinventing himself as a goth kid. So that could be an interesting little storyline.

CraveOnline: No makeup except goth paint?

Doug Jones: Just me as me. Also coming up, DVD release June 5th, coming up soon is The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari which is a remake of a classic horror film from 1919 which was silent. We remade it as a talky and I got to play the iconic killer of the film, Cesare. The somnambulant sleepwalker.

CraveOnline: That's another iconic character. Is it different from iconic comic book characters?

Doug Jones: Yeah, it is because a horror film character that was already created on film many years ago and then reprising that in modern day now, for me is very intimidating. It's always intimidating doing like a beloved comic book character or a horror film character like this because of the fan base that loved the first, the original source material. So I'm hoping that we pulled it off in an artistic way that pays homage to the original film as well as gives you a piece of entertainment that's different, answers more questions than the first film did.

CraveOnline: Since we never heard him speak before, how did you approach the voice?

Doug Jones: Well, Cesare speaks once in the film. I'm the closest thing to maintaining the silent film character out of the entire cast. I just kind of gave him a sound like he's been asleep for a long time because he has, and what do you sound like when you wake up in the morning? Kind of froggy. So that's kind of what I gave Cesare.

CraveOnline: At the end of Silver Surfer, is there perhaps a cliffhanger, perhaps involving Galactus?

Doug Jones: There's a lot of perhapses that I perhaps can't tell you.

CraveOnline: Have they saved dates with you so that you're clear to come back?

Doug Jones: No, nothing on the calendar yet that I'm aware of. I have the contract with options for a second and a third film for myself.

CraveOnline: Would those be spin-offs starring the Surfer?

Doug Jones: That would be the hope, wouldn't it? I'm hoping for it.

CraveOnline: Do you find that the comic book community knows who you are from appearances like this?

Doug Jones: It's very humbling, number one. The fact that you want to talk to me right now is humbling as can be. But when someone stops me and says, "Oh my gosh, are you Doug Jones" and I have no idea how they would know that, because I'm often made up beyond belief. But with the advent of DVD, you have all these bonus features and interviews and behind the scenes looks and you can see this face getting made up and it's really broadened out the fan base. For me personally, it's been great. It's been really lovely and I do love being approached on the street or at the conventions and being able to actually reach out and touch the people who have supported me personally for all these 20 years I've been in the business.

CraveOnline: Will you be going to Comic-Con this year?

Doug Jones: We are hoping. Rumor has it that we're going to try to get back from Hellboy 2 for a weekend, visit to Comic-Con, do a little something something for you. I hope we can get back in time and make that come true.



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