Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt have never worked together before, and theyve never starred in a Western.
Heres a short excerpt, where the two stars talk about the joys of Western filmmaking.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Were you fans of Western films before you signed onto the film?
Credit: Frank Ockenfels III
DENZEL WASHINGTON:I didnt really watch em growing up.
It was the end of the Western era in the movies.
They had, what was the Clint Eastwood show?Rawhide!
That was just kicking in.
I remember some of the TV shows.
CHRIS PRATT: I started watching Westerns when I was shooting in London about four or five years ago.
I really fell in love with Gary Cooper, and his stuff.
That sucked me into the Westerns.
Before, I never got engrossed in the story.
Id just dip in, and there were guys in horses in black and white.
EW:High Noonis such an unusual story.
PRATT:The idea you would tell a movie in real time.
But I likedThe Westerner.
WASHINGTON:The Westerner?Whos in that one?
PRATT: Thats Gary Cooper and…Im forgetting his name, hes so great.
[Washington and Pratt both simultaneously break into spot-on impressions of Hollywood icon Walter Brennan.]
PRATT:Thats my favorite one.
I have that poster hung up in my house because I really like that one.
WASHINGTON: Whats the Clint Eastwood one where he paints the whole town red?
EW:Paint Your Wagon?
PRATT: High Plains Drifter!
Had you seen the originalMagnificent Seven, orSeven Samurai, in preparation?
WASHINGTON:I didnt go back and look at the original.
I likedSeven Samurai, but I never looked atThe Magnificent Sevenin preparation for this.
PRATT: Which one are you?
I get that a lot.
WASHINGTON:Im the black guy.
There wasnt one in there!
Cant say that anymore!
[laughs] The opportunity to ride a horse?
You gotta cut to the chase now.
You dont get that many opportunities to do a Western.
I loved my horse.
PRATT: Your horse loved you, too.
WASHINGTON: I had a good horse!
PRATT: Youd show up on set, and you guys would take off and be hanging out together.
That horse listened to you.
My horse would just sit there.
but what I would do is, I wouldnt get on him when I first met him.
Id walk with him.
So Id get him used to walking with me.
Id stop, and then hed realize hes supposed to stop where I stop.
Id let him eat, not let him eat, reward him for things.
They can sense you.
They know if youre chicken.
Plus they gave me a nice old horse.
You dont want too young a horse.
