The Good Dinosaur’s Jeffrey Wright: ‘We’re Drawn to Myths’

Acclaimed actor Jeffrey Wright on The Good Dinosaur, The Hunger Games, Westworld and more.

So were, in many regards, just in the dark and dependent on him to guide us.

That was what I relied on in this process.

Well, I just dug deep into my inner Apatosaurus.

Thats what I was kind of referencing and bringing to the table as I worked on this.

Those are the elements that resonant throughout this story.

Its a really, I think, a wonderfully vivid experience of reflection about those things for the audience.

Its universal, compelling stuff in that way.

Did you get to interact with anybody else or were you alone for your recording sessions the whole time?

I was alone except with Peter Sohn and the multiple myriad characters running around in his head.

So he was playing all of the other roles that my character interacted with.

I loved dinosaurs as a kid.

My daughter loves dinosaurs.Jurassic Worldis the biggest movie of the year.

We have this endless fascination with these creatures.

Why do you think that is?

You know, were drawn to myths.

And thats where dinosaurs exist now in many respects.

They are mythic in scale.

They are mystic in their mystery.

I think were drawn to that.

I just think its the largeness of their presence that is somehow compelling to us.

I dont know if I can answer that question any better.

You are just finishing a very successful run withThe Hunger Games, with the last film also out now.

Any thoughts as you look back on that series, now that its winding down?

Thats just been really gratifying.

So its been really wonderful.

I hope I speak for a lot of fans when I say I miss Felix Leiter.

Id love to see you jump back into the James Bond series.

Would you be interested in returning to that role?

I was a huge Bond fan before I became a part of the franchise.

I was a huge Jack Lord fan as Felix.

If they call me, Ill be right there.

You are also involved withWestworld.

What can you tell us about that?

Your character is in charge of creating the robots, if Im not mistaken.

Were about three-quarters of the way through filming of the first season.

I can just say were having a ball working on this stuff.

Anything those Nolan boys do Im very excited about.

Well this is Jonah and his wife, Lisa Joy, leading the writing team here.

Theyre seriously creative, brilliant minds at work.

I can tell you that.

I cant tell you too much more.

The Good Dinosauris out in theaters this Wednesday (November 25).