1993sHard Targetwas John Woos first American film, and Jean-Claude Van Dammes biggest hit up until that point.
He will have a small role in MarvelsDoctor Strange, and the follow-upBoyka: Undisputedand several other new movies.
Den of Geek:When you got to walk through the doves, was that a monumental moment?
Scott Adkins:Ha!
Yeah, Im a huge John Woo fan.
I always have been.
I met the guy when I was 16 in the U.K.
He came over to do a double bill screening ofThe KillerandBullet in the Head.
Hes one of the best action directors to ever walk the planet.
So it was a little nod.
Its all right until one of the pigeons sh*ts on you.
Honestly, it was a really difficult decision for me to take the film on.
I turned it down at first because I am associated with Van Damme.
Im so well suited to play this part because of what the character was.
He was a fighter and all this.
I just thought to myself, Just do it.
Theres no rhyme or reason to it.
I want to work with Roel.
But it was a tough decision at the time.
Ive talked to Roel before too.
I agree, hes good.
He does wonders on a low scale budget, very experienced with the cameras.
Hes his own DP.
He controls the drones and puts his cameras on these zip lines and stuff.
Very, very, very technically proficient and so organized.
So organized in terms of what needs to be shot that day.
It was impressive actually.
It was very impressive.
You have a montage of several different Thai fights.
Did you do those all in a row?
We did them all on the day, yeah.
All on the day, just cranking it out, getting smashed up by Thai fighters.
It looks exhausting to do all at once.
Well, it is.
Thats why not many people can do it.
Thats why Im one of the only ones stupid enough to do this.
I tell you, making action films is hard.
Its brutal, man.
It takes it out of you.
Im not complaining but it is difficult.
Was this the best of both worlds?
You have some ring fighting and fighting out in the jungle?
Yeah, its the best of both worlds.
Its not easy fighting in the jungle.
You get stabbed by things.
Its easier in the ring.
And you have ATVs, youre fighting in the water so what was the hardest part aboutHard Target 2?
The schedule was insane.
I had a lot of fun, very experienced Thai crew.
In your fight with Rhona, were you very sympatico because youve both done those sort of fight scenes?
She did everything herself.
She worked very hard and she hit me black and blue with those sticks.
It was all good fun.
She didnt complain once and she got on with it, yeah.
She likes that stuff.
I wouldve preferred a bit more with her stunt double so that I couldve gone a bit harder.
Rhonas a very pretty later.
You dont want to risk doing anything.
You wouldnt want to hit her by accident, thats for sure.
You kick her in the stomach, not the face.
Yeah, well, that was the stunt double.
That was the only time that she used the stunt double.
Fans are going to be very excited to see you fight Jeeja Yanin at the end.
What was it like choreographing and working with her?
She was gracious enough to come along.
I thought she should have been in the film more but she was great to work with.
I dont often like doing fights with girls because you dont want to hurt them.
Yeah, you would be, wouldnt you?
Its funny actually because the newBoykamovie, I kill someone in the ring.
Id shot that beforeHard Target.
Then they offered meHard Target 2and Im killing someone in the ring.
Sometimes it just happens that way.
It must be the worst thing a professional fighter could imagine.
Oh God, yeah.
Listen, it happens in real life.
Its a terrible, terrible thing but in any extreme sport, these things are going to happen.
I guess these guys know the dangers.
Even being an action film performer, it could happen I suppose.
Crazy things have happened on film sets.
Can you cry on cue when its needed?
Its not the easiest thing for me, Ill be honest.
Im a pretty happy guy in life.
I havent got that much to cry about.
Im better at punching people in the face.
I always try my best but its not the easiest thing to do.
Some people are very emotionally available.
Some people will just cry over pizza.
That isnt the case with me.
Im a real man, you see, a real man.
No, Im only joking of course.
How did you like working with the elephants?
Ill tell you his.
Sat back down and then they went, Three, two, one, action!
I had to just jump into this elephants sh*t and piss.
Now that is dedication.
Thats earning your money right there.
Did you have to train for the bikes?
Actually, Im not very good at riding a motorbike.
I havent got a license.
My dad is really into motorbikes.
Its something I need to do more of.
I dont trust myself with a motorbike at home.
Ill end up killing myself.
I know what Im like, reckless.
How about the speedboats?
I did all that myself actually.
I think it was just easier to keep me in it.
It was me alone with my walkie talkie, coordinating with the first assistant AD and the director.
Youve got to coordinate everything with the helicopter and the speedboats.
Well, yes, because you cant see what were standing on.
There was all these branches in there.
It was slippery, slimy so to keep your footing was really, really difficult.
I also threw myself down the river there with all the stones and everything.
In fact, it was my idea to do it.
It wasnt even in the script.
I just went, Ill throw myself down there.
The directors like, Okay, great.
We cant do that.
Weve got to keep you safe.
But in Thailand it was like, Oh great, lets do it.
Come on, one more time.
Any injuries on this one?
No, I was okay.
Some bangs and bruises but nothing serious.
It will happen at some point.
In fact, the last film I did, I had my gum split.
My tooth came through my gum when I was hit in the face, but its all good.
Its all part of it.
Was that onSavage DogorEliminators?
I wont say which one but it was on one of them.
I know you cant talk aboutDoctor Strangebut did Marvel or Scott Derickson know your work from your films likeUndisputedandNinja?
Which previous Marvel film could you have been in?
And they just eliminated the character?
Yeah, thats what happened.
What can we expect fromBoyka?
Actually, I think its not going to come out until the first quarter of next year now.
Thats what Im hearing.
I dont have anything concrete.
I know people cant wait for it.
I know theyre champing at the bit.
I can only apologize to the fans.
What did the new director, Todor Chapkanov, bring toBoykacoming in after Isaac Florentine?
Isaac was around and his stamp is all over it.
People dont need to worry about that.
Its a collaboration between the people that really understand and enjoy this great character that we have in Boyka.
Im very proud of the movie.
The fights, the action and the story is on par withUndisputed III.
Were in great shape.
Did any of those fights push you in a new way?
Yeah, theres moves in there that Ive never done before.
Theres some moves in there that Ive never seen done before.
We definitely raised the bar in every aspect.
I think people are going to be very, very happy when they see it.
Savage Doghas Marko Zaror and Cung Le.
Do you get to fight with all of them?
I do, yeah.
I do, absolutely.
Amazing working with Cung Le.
But actually Cung is great.
Hes an amazing fighter but hes an amazing screen fighter as well.
Obviously hes made films in Hong Kong so he knows what hes doing.
Obviously Markos brilliant and hes such a nice guy.
I love working with Marko.
He plays a great bad guy but hes so nice and gentle in real life.
Its unbelievable because he looks so powerful and mean on screen.
I had a great time working with Jesse Johnson.
Brilliant director, brilliant guy.
Cant wait to work with him again.
I think he brings out great performances in his actors.
Hes really good and really proficient on the action as well.
We tried our best.
Hopefully its as good as I think it will be.
Had you and Marko been looking to collaborate again?
We stayed in contact.
Its great to work with him again.
Thats a WWE film.
Im really happy with the way that turned out.
Ive got some great fight stuff in there as well.
Im happy with what Ive seen.
I think it could be a good one.
Are you the lead?
Yes, Im the lead, me and Wade Barrett.
Weve got James Cosmo in it as well.
We shot it in London with James Nunn who directedGreen Street 3.
Hes a really good up and coming director and great cinematographer, Luke Bryant.
The film looks much more expensive than it is and Im looking forward to it.
IsEliminatorsmore like that or back to your traditional moves?
The thing aboutGreen Streetwas we wanted to keep it more real because its a film about football hooligans.
Hes a great choreographer that really understands camera moves as well.
It was great to have someone sit behind the monitor that I could trust.
So the fights are really good in this, really good.
Its more real thanUndisputedorNinjabut youll see when you see it.
Hard Target 2hits DVD, Blu-ray, VOD and Digital HD September 6.
