What was the most rewarding scene for you to work on in Resident Evil 2, and why? Two scenes stood out. The first is the scene in the gunshop with Ada and Kendo. The tone in the room when filming was somber, sobering and gut-wrenching. In the game, it goes even beyond that. What an emotional exchange! And dramatic games like RE2 Remake should be loaded with these! Secondly, Leon's confrontation with Ada at the end was a memorable one to shoot. So much went into it. Lots of collaboration, lots of ideas bouncing around, mostly having to do with the subtext of their complicated relationship and how the scene should play out. It's powerful in the game.
So why do you think people who love video games have related to this game so much? RE has a deep and loyal fan-base. This game is at the forefront of “modern”, it's anxiety inducing, and fun to survive through = everything a RE game should be. It helps that we get to play as classic characters Leon and Claire. The fans have such an affinity for the original and this remake simply has the right mix of new and old, much like the RE 1 HD Remake had. The new aspects only improved upon an already solid foundation – just as it does here!
We’ve read that you like to play complex characters, can you elaborate on why? John McClane in Diehard is a perfect example here. In a (cheesily-awesome) decade of macho one-man army movies, Willis comes in and breaks that mold. He had to be the hero, but got his ass kicked in the process and laid his vulnerabilities on the table. A well-rounded, charismatic character in the perfect situation to exist in. As I mentioned in previous questions, I like characters that have depth. Most humans do and I strive for realism in my performances. I feel I am a very nuanced, yet very physical method actor, and I seek to play characters that are easy to sympathise with.
What else can we expect to see from you in 2019? In addition to a few new MoCap projects (!), I am also a 20-year builder/handyman and I am filming a humanitarian show right now that travels all over the world and helps communities in need with creative solutions. I am one of four builders on the show and I am honoured to be a part of this project – it has a farreaching impact on many lives. I'll share details as soon as I can!