By: W. Andrew Powell, The GATE
Paul Bettany had one word of direction from director Ron Howard when he took on the role of the villainous Dryden Vos in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
“He came up to me before my first take and he just whispered in my ear, ‘oligarch’ and that was the end of our pre-shoot discussion.”
Bettany has worked with Howard numerous times before, which obviously may help the two when working together, and despite what Howard may have said elsewhere, Bettany claims that he was the one who asked the director for a role in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
“He’s going to lie and tell you a story that makes me sound great,” Bettany said, “but the truth of it is I heard he was doing this and I texted him, ‘Hey, Ron, have you ever wondered like I have why I’m not in the Star Wars franchise?’ and two weeks later I was on set.”
Bettany also admitted that after playing Vision in the Avengers films, and now playing Dryden Vos, he’s managed to earn another benefit of starring in such big films: “I have double bobble-head status,” the actor said. “That’s a big thing in my household.”
For Bettany the role in Solo: A Star Wars Story was lot of fun to play too. “I found the character so delicious,” Bettany said. “I think he’s really delicious. He’s somebody who really knows who he is, and there’s power in that. He’s really okay with who he is, and there’s power in that. And he’s really talented at hurting people, and really good at getting his way, and he has no moral foibles at all. Then the whole world is open to you and it’s all enjoyable.”
Watch the interview above or watch it on The GATE’s YouTube channel.
Solo: A Star Wars Story is out in theatres now.
