Interviews With Taylor Kitsch (aka Gambit) & X-Men Origins Producer Lauren Shuler Donner

MediaBlvd Magazine had a chance to sit down and talk with Friday Night Lights star Taylor Kitsch and the subject of him playing Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Here’s the excerpt in which he talks about his role and the movie:

MediaBlvd> Did you get a chance to do anything else during your break since last season?

Taylor> Yeah, I went to Australia and did Wolverine. It’s kind of like X-Men 4. It’s the story of Wolverine and his origin.

MediaBlvd> Who did you play in that?

Taylor> I played a character called Gambit. He’s just another comic book character that has kinetic energy. It’s a fun role. You’ll have fun watching it.

MediaBlvd> How familiar were you with Gambit before you got the part?

Taylor> I knew of him, but I didn’t know the following he had, and I’m sure I’m still going to be exposed to that. I love the character, I love the powers, and I love what they did with him. I didn’t know that much, but in my experience, it was a blessing to go in and create my take on him. I’m excited for it, to say the least.

MediaBlvd> Is it fun to play a superhero?

Taylor> Absolutely! It’s a great ride. I had so much fun in Australia.

MediaBlvd> Was it very different to do that, compared to the show?

Taylor> I think anything I do is going to be different from Friday Night Lights because it is such a rarity. You take what you will from each gig. I’ve learned so much from Friday Night Lights, and from a guy like Hugh Jackman.

MediaBlvd> Is there any common ground between Tim Riggins and Gambit?

Taylor> I think so. Both have a lack of parenthood in their lives.

MediaBlvd> How would you compare Friday Night Lights fans to X-Men fans?

Taylor> I haven’t bombarded yet, for the X-Men stuff. I’ve been told enough about them that I’m excited for it. I feel the project went incredibly well, and I’m excited to see the result. I’d say Hugh Jackman is a huge influence on my life, as a person and as an actor, and it was an amazing experience.

“He’s just another comic book character with kinetic powers…”? Wow. Really? Way to show your enthusiasm. As with most of you I will be going into this Wolvie movie with a LOT of caution and interviews like this don’t really help much…

On a related note, ComingSoon.net/Superhero Hype! had a chance to talk to X-Men Origins: Wolverine producer Lauren Shuler Donner in which she teased the possibility of a Dead Pool movie spin-off:

CS/SHH!: And Ryan Reynolds is playing Deadpool.
Schuler Donner: Yes. Ryan Reynolds is playing Deadpool… he plays Wade Wilson.

CS/SHH!: Is that in hopes of a “Deadpool” spin-off film?
Schuler Donner: I hope so. I really hope so. He’s so good at it.

I am a huge Dead Pool fan, and I actually think that Ryan Reynolds is very good casting for the Merc With a Mouth, however, an actor can only be as good as the movie he’s in. So we will have to see how the X-Men Origins: Wolverine version of Dead Pool turns out to be and whether or not this version of Wade Wilson deserves his own spin-off on May 21, 2009 when the movie hits theaters.