Spoiler alert: Co-director John Francis Daley discusses how he recruited a former co-star to feature in his new fantasy movie with IndieWire.
[Editor’s note: The following story contains spoilers for “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.”]
In a good “Dungeons & Dragons” game, the party encounter is always centered around interesting NPCs (that’s you, “non-playable character”). There is an unexpected one-scene cameo by Mr. Jackson Maine: Bradley Cooper in the new film “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” but none of the enemies or allies our heroes encounter leave as an immediate impression as Marlomen, the ex-boyfriend of the barbarian Holga (Michelle Rodriguez).
The scene is a welcome surprise for a number of reasons, beginning with the fact that Marlomen is a small Halfling, scarcely reaching the torn Holga’s belly button (the man clearly has a type; since the two are separated). He had sex with a different female barbarian). He also plainly bears a resemblance to the Hobbits from “Lord of the Rings,” and his residence in a hut makes one think of the Shire.
Nonetheless, Cooper’s acting as a sensitive, kind person who finds himself in the dark is surprisingly moving. But it would be amusing to see Leonard Bernstein go through an even more drastic change for a new movie in the future. even as he explains to everyone, is understanding with the former. They had problems that led to the breakdown of their relationship.
Cooper was the ideal option for this brief but crucial role, according to the movie’s co-directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. Daly recently told IndieWire, “We always knew we wanted Marlomen to be larger than life. I believe that only Bradley could convey the real theatrics and vulnerability that this amazing actor possesses to the role.
Daly and Cooper’s first collaborative project was the movie “Honor Among Thieves,” but they originally met in 2005 while filming the Fox sitcom “Kitchen Confidential.”
At the time, Cooper was best known for his work as a backup actor on ABC’s “Alias,” but he was cast in the new show as a stand-in for Anthony Bourdain (his character was actually named Jack Bourdain). The show was based on the nonfiction book that the real Bourdain wrote in 2000 about the world of fine dining. Daley was only 19 when he joined the series as Jack’s commissar, just a few years after his breakout performance as a geeky ’80s youngster in the beloved “Freaks and Geeks” and his ultimate transition to screenplay with 2011’s “Horrible Bosses.” Cook’s Gym.
John Francis Daley and Bradley Cooper with the rest of the cast of ‘Kitchen Confidential’
20th Century Fox through the Everett Collection
Only four episodes of the short-lived failure “Kitchen Confidential” were shown before Fox cancelled it; the remaining 13 episodes of the season are available on DVD. Once the show ended and their careers diverged, though, Daly and Cooper stayed in touch and remained friendly. Daley joined forces with Goldstein to form a screenwriting partnership, and the two eventually made their directorial debut with the 2015 film “Vacation.” Following a succession of Oscar-nominated performances, Cooper made his directorial debut in 2018 with his adored and unforgettable “A Star Is Born” adaptation. Cooper rose to fame after starring in 2009’s “The Hangover.” Did.
I was a big supporter of where his career went, Daly added. And I thought it was fantastic that he got behind the camera and was directing himself.
Cooper was to receive a taste of the project before Daley and Goldstein called about the part. According to Daly, they shot “basically” the entire movie, save for the Marlomen sequence, and showed Cooper a rough cut with unfinished visual effects.
That was still a work in progress, and showing an actor something you haven’t quite finished is always nerve-wracking, according to Daly. He is a filmmaker himself, therefore he will be aware of the nature of the ongoing project.
Cooper was willing to attend and spoke “highly” of what he had observed. The 6 foot 1 actor was reduced in size after just one day of filming for his scene and some fancy visual effects.
What was so cool, according to Daly, was being able to pull it down. Watch her in this extremely exposed position, which is something you typically wouldn’t see in most of the movies she appears in.
“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” a Paramount Pictures production, is currently playing in theaters.