News culture “We created Jason Statham” The actor owes everything to Bruce Willis and this legendary sci-fi film
It’s a slightly crazy story that has emerged on the web. According to director Luc Besson, Bruce Willis had an important role in the way he chose his actors and the reason is probably not what one might imagine at first glance…
A sci-fi masterpiece
When the name of Luc Besson is mentioned, it is not uncommon for mocking grins to appear on faces. However, there was a time when the French director was extremely respected. In the 1980s and 1990s, the mere mention of his name was enough to bring crowds to their feet. The Big Blue, Nikita, Léon… each feature film had its say. It was then the turn of the excellent Fifth Element with Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich. Everyone remembers Korben Dallas and the enigmatic Leeloo (not to mention the exceptional Chris Tucker in the role of Ruby Rhod). This film, both artistically and in terms of pleasure, is a real treat! And yet, he was at the origin of a decision which possibly changed Besson’s career, or at least the trajectory that could have been his.
Bruce Almighty
Don’t think Jim Carrey is hiding in what follows, but actor Bruce Willis had an important role in the emergence of another action comedian: Jason Statham. Questioned by Screen Rant, Luc Besson clarified that his filming methods conflicted with those of Willis. The reason ? Besson had the habit of doing a take every four minutes where Hollywood actors (here Bruce Willis) had to be warned in advance several times to do their take and leave the set. For The Fifth Element, Luc Besson had no choice but to find an agreement with his actor. He therefore proposed a week of 4 working days (instead of 5) with the possibility, for Willis, of landing near Besson near the camera. The hero of Die Hard accepted, but Luc Besson did not have good memories of it. It was at this point that he and his team felt that they needed to “create their own movie stars” and it was from this decision that The Transporter starring Jason Statham was “born”. Sometimes it doesn’t matter…
