Here's a side of Dolph Lundgren you probably didnāt know: Heās a war history buff. So, that makes War Pigs, the new World War II film he stars in with Mickey Rourke and Luke Goss, right up his alley. (Watch the film's exclusive trailer above!)
Lundgren spoke with Yahoo Movies about the action movie (in select theaters, VOD, and Digital HD on Sept. 18), involving a group of soldiers sent behind enemy lines to uncover a Nazi super-weapon. The 57-year-old blond, buff, and tan actor revealed a bawdy behind-the-scenes tale involving longtime pal and co-star Rourke, discussed another war movie heās hoping to direct, dished on filming the Coen brothers movie Hail Caesar! with Channing Tatum, and broke down his new approach to working out.
What drew you to War Pigs?
It was a World War II picture and I hadnāt done one of those ever. I liked the character a lot because he was interesting ā half-French half-German, living on the German border but fighting for the Allies.
How was it to work with Mickey Rourke again?
We were in the first Expendables. We didnāt have any scenes together but we were on the set together. I know him mostly from the '80s way back.
Any fun stories?
Oh god. Well, letās see. From the '80s I just remember we used to go out to the Roxbury [in Hollywood] back then together.
In this movie, heās this interesting, colorful, flamboyant colonel ā like George Patton on steroids. Heās bigger than Patton and has better hats, a better scarf. In a scene together we did on the first take ā I play this guy [Captain] Hans Picault. [Rourke]ās giving me and Luke Goss, who plays this American lieutenant, orders on how to go after this German gun. So after his normal dialogue, he says, āOh Hans, what was the name of that little French girl you used to bang down in Marseille?ā It wasnāt in the script. I say [in character, French accent], āOooh, Iām sorry, I canāt remember.ā At the end of the scene, I say, āI think her name is Marie Louise.ā [Laughs] Heās like, āOK, great. Dismissed.ā So, that was our first ad lib together. I donāt know if they used the word ābangā back in 1944 but I guess he did.
Did that make it into the film?
No. [Laughing]
You have 10 films set to come out within the next year, including the Coen brothersā Hail Caesar! Is this the busiest your acting career has been?
I do these smaller roles. I find something I want to do thatās a smaller picture and I donāt have to produce or carry the movie. Thatās why I have more entries on IMDb [right now]. Hail Caesar! is this really small role in a really big movie. Some of the other ones ā it doesnāt have to be all action. It can just be an interesting character, stretch a little bit.
Anything else about Hail Caesar!?
Itās a smaller walk-on part. The Coens called me and wanted me to play this Russian character, and I told them I thought Iād played too many Russians already. But I read the script and it was very funny, and I understood why they wanted me for that role. It was great to work with them. I have a scene with Channing Tatum, and he was great and fun to work with. Of course, my 13-year-old daughter was shocked and excited ā so I took a few selfies with him and sent them to her. It was really fun. He turned out to be a bit of a fan of my action movies. And the Coen brothers ā theyāre really special.
At this phase in your career, what is your focus?
Once youāve done three Expendables movies you canāt kill more people or fire bigger guns. Iāve done that, thanks to Mr. Stallone.
Iāve got a couple of projects. I have a romantic comedy, believe it or not, that Iām working on. I havenāt signed it yet but youāll find out [when it happens].
Iām also producing a crime drama set in L.A. Itās a hard R. The lead character is a stripper actually. I play a Euro-trash drug dealer who lives on top of Mulholland [Drive]. Itās called Without You Iām Nothing. And then I have another picture Iām working on ā itās a World War I thriller set in 1917 Europe. Itās something Iāve wanted to direct for many years and Iām trying to get the script now. I would just play a smaller role in that. I will direct it if it happens, itās called Nordic Light.
Your fans are passionate on Twitter, and loyal. When did you first notice it had gone to another level?
Theyāve always been there since the Rocky movies. In my case thereās not a lot of guys who have been around 30 years or so still working. You gather them over the years. Social media has helped a little bitā¦ Theyāre nice people. They seem to enjoy what I do. Itās almost embarrassing to read some of the stuff. I donāt read too much of it. Iām a Swedish Lutheran ā you have to suffer. Youāre sinners, donāt want to hear too many good things.
At 57, youāre still hitting the gym. Hard. How do you do it? Are there more aches and pains now?
Sure there are more aches and pains. You just have to take it a little bit easier. Itās hard to relax and take it easy but I have to force myself sometimes because recovery time is longer and Iām not getting ready for a fight anymore, so sometimes itās better to workout a little less. But I still get a good workout because Iāve done it for so long. I just try to be a little more careful and watch where I put my feet. Iāll do this for the rest of my life I guess. Iām doomed!
We gathered some fan questions, too. Boris Mazel wants to know if working on War Pigs gave you ideas for Nordic Light ā since theyāre both war movies.
Yeah, it did a little bit. It certainly made me excited because I like the history of war. World Wars I and II are both interesting periods and I think itās very important to get all the equipment right and all the uniforms. Iām really looking forward to Nordic Light. Iāve done a lot of research, so hopefully weāll get that going.
Mark Russell is wondering if War Pigs has anything to do with the Black Sabbath song of the same name. Ā
It might have. But I donāt know that because I didnāt write the script. [Laughs]
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