Hollywood Film Director Speaks about the Remake of ‘The Magnificent Seven’

Once, Antoine Fuqua was stuck on the roof in order to see “Seven.”

Hollywood film director Antoine Fuqua (“Southpaw”) in an interview with Segodnya talked about the remake of “The Magnificent Seven” and working with [Denzel] Washington.

– Mr. Fuqua, were you nervous about remaking and modernizing the legendary “Magnificent Seven” filmed in 1960?

– Of course I was afraid that the new version wouldn’t be as good as the old one. This is really a movie legend that was seen and admired by our grandparents. Fortunately, when I read the script, it was good. If I may say so, I felt the DNA of “Seven Samurai” and it was great.

– So, you did not want to stray too far from this legacy?

– Of course not! I have a lot of history related to the 1960 “Magnificent Seven.” I don’t even know how many times I saw this movie. When I was a child, I saw it with my father and grandmother, who aren’t in this world anymore, and it was our movie! I remember how I stuck the antenna on the roof, trying to get the right picture (laughs). I would like my movie to convey the spirit of the old times, when movies were really anticipated and wanted.

– How did you select the actors?

– Oh, I remember what a great list of candidates we created with the production studio. As it turned out, we really wanted Tom Cruise, but he was busy. We also negotiated with Liam Neeson, because he was interested too and moreover, the guy himself is great! But it did not happen. I panicked, because I didn’t know where to find the right actors and then I saw Denzel Washington on the list. I said to myself, hey, who else would fit better here? Who has the weight, voice, and power on the screen? Denzel!

– Had you established a good relationship with Denzel before filming the movie?

– Yes, we have the overall trust factor with one another and Denzel knows I love westerns. I remember once, we were sitting and having lunch and he asked me: “I know you want to have me in “Seven.” Let’s get straight to the point, how do you see me in this movie?” I said that I saw him dressed all in black, on a black horse, running in open space. Then I turned on music à la Sergio Leone and said: “Imagine how great it will be together.” Denzel at first was silent, then replied, “Good, who else will be there?”

– And who did you see on horseback next to Denzel?

– I’ll tell you another story, about how Ethan Hawke got into the movie, because it is a separate thriller (laughs). I love Ethan, we are really good friends. So when one day he saw me on the red carpet, grabbed me and pressed to the wall, I was honestly surprised. I didn’t even get a chance to ask him anything, he just pounced on me and said: “I heard rumors that you’re going to shoot “The Magnificent Seven.” I had on my nice, favorite tuxedo; do you know how he crumpled it? And then Hawke screamed: “Do you hear me, I’m playing in this film. Do you get it?! I have no idea what character, but I’m on the team. Understood?” What could I do when a man like this insists? (Laughs). He has a strong grip, I thought, he will easily ride a horse, so I’ll take him.

– In the movie, actors have to not only ride horses, but shoot and jump a lot. This means that the actors needed to be in good physical condition or have doubles. How did you organize this process?

– Regarding weapons, for me it was important that the boys felt as if the weapon was a part of themselves. As their arm or leg, a part of their body. The same story with horses, they had to be their best friends! If all of this was taken care by doubles, it would have felt false to a viewer, like my father for example, and I do not need that. That is why all the guys went to a training camp a few weeks before shooting. But that wasn’t everything for their “extracurricular” work: from nine in the morning they were in the boxing hall, training there. Hawke has joked that it was a continuation of “Training Day” for him, in which he also played a character, and was sweating in the gym just the same as here. But what can I do, I don’t know any other way.

The remake of “Seven” has a super crew

On Sept. 22 the western “The Magnificent Seven” will already be rolling out on Ukrainian screens. This is a remake of the same movie filmed in 1960, which, in turn, is an adaptation of the philosophical drama “Seven Samurai” by Akira Kurosawa. The plot: Seven brave adventurers decide to confront the gang of robbers that has been terrorizing a small town for a long time. The creators promise a full set of classical westerns elements, with shooting, chases and tough American men in hats with cigars in their mouths.

In order to best convey the atmosphere of that time (mid-1800s), the filmmakers abandoned filming on movie sets and moved to nature, in north Louisiana. A complete city, with houses, a church, and even a lake was built for the movie. “We did not build the trees, but unfortunately our other scenery was constantly being destroyed; the hurricane season began and strong winds destroyed our city, and we had to rebuild it,” said Fuqua. Given this, the picture’s budget was $95 million.

The remake of “The Magnificent Seven” has an amazing team. Music for the film was written by Oscar-winning composer James Horner, author of the soundtrack to “Titanic,” “Avatar,” “The Mask of Zorro” and other high-profile movies. Fuqua already had experience working with him, thanks to the film “Southpaw.” Another Oscar-winning team member was the operator Mauro Fiore, who received a golden statuette for the film “Avatar.” He also filmed “The Island” and “Living Steel.”