Bullet Train director David Leitch is up for a Brad Pitt-starring Deadpool spin-off

One of most entertaining and unusual action films of the year would not have been possible without Fight Club. Probably. Because while filming the cult classic, David Leitch, then a stuntman, and Brad Pitt, then a Hollywood star, met and fell in love. Since then, Leitch has dated Stunt Coordinator and Second Unit Director (including The First Avenger: Civil War) to become a full-time director – and with films like Deadpool 2 proved that humor, action and emotionality can go hand in hand.

His latest film, Bullet Train, now answers the question of what happens when you several assassins on a Japanese bullet train locks up – and combines Brad Pitt’s comedy talent with David Leitch’s feeling for maximum stylishly staged action. We caught up with the director and his wife and producer Kelly McCormick in Berlin to about emotional Deadpool momentsworking with some of the biggest action stars of our time and Marvel projects that Leitch could envision despite the MCU constraint.

Action movies are a very emotional experience for the bullet train director

Moviepilot: Do you think your experience as a stuntman and coordinator influences how you make films?

David Leitch: Absolutely. Action scenes are so ingrained in my DNA that I can’t separate them from the rest of the film. A few other filmmakers are rather happy when they’re through with the part and can finally deal with the dramatic scenes. You hire someone like me as a second unit director to shoot the action scene for the director. Many don’t understand that the best melodrama actually happens in action scenes. You throw a character into a life-or-death scene, and through their reaction to it, you can tell it in a way you can’t with pure dialogue.

There is always a certain coolness in your films. Has that always been important to you or did it just happen at some point?

David Leitch: For some of our films, like Atomic Blonde or now Bullet Train, we have a rule that we also post in the office: “Cool overrides everything” [“Cool sein ist wichtiger als alles andere”] It was really important to us that the pictures look cool and there are cool moments because that just fits the narrative and the tone of voice that we wanted the films to have. It was the same with the fights. I picked camera angles because they looked cool or because you saw the actor in a completely different way. We deliberately wanted to do something stylized.

Kelly McCormick: Part of the coolness is of course the soundtrack. The way the music carries you away feel all feelings at once while also adding to the rest of the look. That has almost something profound for me.

Absolutely. When I saw Deadpool 2 I cried, laughed and screamed – and it definitely had something to do with the music.

Kelly McCormick: Now he’s about to start crying.

David Leitch: I just really tears in the eyes. That’s exactly what we want. It makes me so glad you said that now. We make these big, commercial movies and people always ask about the action scenes. We also do really touching things. The scene with Firefist (Julian Dennison) and Deadpool is so emotional to me. Just thinking about how he saves that kid gives me goosebumps. Also in Bullet Train. When Lemon and Tangerine find each other, people cry. Of course also because of the strong performance of Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

From Keanu Reeves to Ryan Reynolds to Brad Pitt, every action star is different when it comes to filming

You have done many different action projects. John Wick with Keanu Reeves, Deadpool 2 with Ryan Reynolds, Atomic Blonde with Charlize Theron, now Bullet Train with Brad Pitt. What sets the four apart as action stars?

David Leitch: They definitely have different approaches. Keanu completely immerses himself in training and dives into the physicality of his character. I think that’s why he’s been so successful with the John Wick franchise. He just likes to do jiu-jitsu for three or four months and learn all the choreographies. Ryan loves the script phase. Reworking the character, finding the humor in everything but also the emotional. Charlize is a mix of both.

And then Brad comes in and creates these iconic characters, knowing exactly what this guy needs to be like to support the theme of the film. Some directors might be intimidated by the special working process of an actorbut I just see it as an additional creative enrichment.

Kelly McCormick: I think some directors just have a different approach. You just really believe that collaboration is the best way to make a film. David doesn’t impose his vision on anyone, so everything is constantly growing and changing. That makes film production very excitingbut sometimes difficult for me as a producer.

David Leitch: I understand that this is very nerve wracking for you.

Kelly McCormick: I’m used to it. But some people then think to themselves: “We planned it all differently, didn’t we?” For Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, for example, we completely changed the second act. There is this part that takes place in Chernobyl. That should actually be the end. Four weeks before filming begins, David says: “Honestly, who wants a movie to end in Chernobyl? We’re going to Hawaii!” Many filmmakers don’t change anything four weeks before shooting starts, they stick to the plan.

David Leitch is open to new Marvel projects – whether Ghost Rider or a Deadpool spinoff

Could you imagine making another Marvel superhero movie in the future?

David Leitch: We can definitely imagine doing another superhero film, but it just has to be the right project. Deadpool 2 was an incredible experience. But it’s important to me that we could make the film on our own terms.

Kelly McCormick: The great thing about Deadpool was that there was that freedom. they get few, like Taika [Waititi]. That’s more of an exception.

David Leitch: These films are subject to certain rules and must be made into a specific form to fit into the overall universe. That’s part of what makes her good, but…

Kelly McCormick: Of what character has [Ryan] Gosling recently gushed?

David Leitch: Ghost Riders! We’re shooting next The Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling and even the preparation is just a lot of fun with him. Who knows what’s next.

Kelly McCormick: We could do a Vanisher film.

David Leitch: Yes with Brad’s character from Deadpool 2. We could do a spin-off and he wouldn’t even have to be on set because you wouldn’t see him anyway. I’ll pitch him that. We pay him his full fee, but he doesn’t really have to do anything except record a few scenes. That’s a fantastic idea.

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Which Marvel movie would you like to see by David Leitch?