‘Willow’ Star Christian Slater talks about his tribute to Val Kilmer and the ‘Mr. Robot Effect – Hollywood Reporter

Three decades ago, Christian Slater met Val Kilmer on the set of true romance, the crime thriller written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott. Slater played Clarence Worley, an Elvis Presley fanatic, while Kilmer portrayed the Mentor, an Elvis-like product of Clarence’s imagination. Slater and Kilmer, who first rose to prominence in the 1980s, went on to work together three times in the early 2000s, making their last connection with Jonathan Kasdan. willow (2022) series of sequels all the more appropriate.

With COVID-19 restrictions preventing Kilmer from reprising his beloved rogue swordsman, Madmartigan, from Ron Howard’s 1988 film, Kasdan knew he needed another joker-like character who could bring similar energy. So he created Allagash, a former knight and running mate of Madmartigan, and the first person he thought of for the role was Slater.

Slater, having loved the original film, immediately realized he would fill Madmartigan’s void as best he could, so he made a point of reaching out to Kilmer and letting him know he’d be paying his respects.

“[Val is] obviously in a very difficult situation, but I just expressed my love. And I certainly let him know that Madmartigan’s spirit was going to run throughout those eight episodes,” Slater said. The Hollywood Reporter of Kilmer, who has been open about his health issues. “So he was so much a part of that, even though he wasn’t physically able to be there.”

Slater’s career was revitalized when he was cast as the eponymous character in Sam Esmail’s psychological thriller series, Mister Robot, with Rami Malek. Similar to Kilmer’s role in true romanceSlater played the figment of Malek’s character imagination, earning himself a Golden Globe in 2016 (and a handshake of respect from Leonardo DiCaprio en route to the stage).

While Slater is grateful for the complex roles he has acquired since Mister Robothe greatly appreciates the friendships that remain.

“It was a very special time, and it was a very special show. The good thing is that we’re still friends. Rami, Sam, Carly [Chaikin] and I always get together and hang out,” Slater says. “We will spend the New Year together and do things like that. So, beautiful friendships and bonds were created as a result of this show.

In a recent conversation with THRSlater also explains how his willow character reminded him of another of his notable roles in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. He then looks at his roles in Not frosted and cat islandthe feature debuts of Jerry Seinfeld and Zoe Kravitz, respectively.

Well, Christian, I hope you’ll catch that reference, but Hi friend.

(Laughs.) Sure! We can also say “goodbye, my friend” at the end.

I start by Mister Robot because I think that’s part of why we’re talking today. For me, this role reminded everyone how dynamic you are as a performer. Do you feel like you’ve been surfing a second wave since?

Mister Robot helped extraordinarily to get new opportunities to play characters that I can sink my teeth into. Mister Robot was an extraordinarily special experience that I cherish. I loved this character, and I love Sam [Esmail] and Rummy [Malek]. It’s great to work with such creative and brilliant people. So being part of that was a lot of fun. But it was such a serious show, so it was good to do something like willow with different energy.

Yes, you were tasked with bringing some of that Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) energy to the willow series, and Allagash certainly does. He is even brought into a cage like Madmartigan was.

Yeah, I thought that was a nice tribute.

Overall was willow an easy sale?

Until a certain point. I was a big fan of the movie. I fell in love with Val Kilmer and his energy and what he brought to the film was just fantastic. Warwick [Davis] and I’m also friends. We have crossed paths a lot in our history. We made a production of spamlot at the Hollywood Bowl about five years ago and we had a blast together. So when I heard of a willow series, I thought, “Oh, that’s interesting. It’s unexpected. What a fun thing to update and reintroduce. And when Jon [Kasdan] started talking to me about the character and what he wanted to do, it was just a good choice.

He was also very open to ideas. There was a lot of freedom, and that’s how the movie felt too. It was as if things had been invented on the spot. Everyone seemed to be having a good time while being creative. So that was the kind of energy that Jon wanted to bring to the show, which is unusual with so many people making decisions. So I had some leeway with the character of Allagash.

Allagash further proves that you play so sleazy, slippery and deceptive. Do you have any theories as to why you’re so into misleading characters?

(Laughs.) It’s hard to say why this is the case. Maybe it’s the eyebrows. Maybe it’s the way I communicate. I’ve also been around sneaky, deceitful human beings all my life, so I’ve drawn energy from that. There has always been an element of unpredictability. You never know what I’ll do next, which is a fun way to go through life. It’s unpredictable. So you’re not quite sure if you can fully trust this guy or know his real agenda.

Have you contacted Val Kilmer about your willow role?

I did, yeah. He is obviously in a very difficult situation, but I just expressed my love. And I certainly let him know that Madmartigan’s spirit was going to run throughout those eight episodes. It was just amazing to be on set and to have the vibe and the feeling of how appreciated and loved he is as an actor. So he was so much a part of that, even though he wasn’t physically able to be there.

Was the true romance bathroom set where you first met?

I think so. It was probably the first time we met. He was amazing. He was a great Elvis and just a very interesting guy. We’ve worked together a few more times since, and he always brings a very interesting, offbeat, and unpredictable energy to what he does. So Allagash would be the kind of guy Madmartigan would have hung out with. These two guys are said to have clashed and argued over many things throughout their friendship and loyalty.

Since you both became stars at different times in the 80s, has there ever been a competition between the two of you?

Not really. He’s a bit older than me, so I don’t think we’ve ever really been in the same category. I never felt like there was a lot of competition.

Did Allagash give you flashbacks to Will Scarlet in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves?

Without a doubt. From what I remember, Will Scarlet composed a song as Robin Hood [Kevin Costner] crossed the small river there, and Allagash also likes to invent songs on the spot. So when I arrived I was surprised to learn that Allagash was a songwriter, but we were able to work that into the story, which amused me. Sometimes they didn’t expect it, but sometimes I just delivered the lines that were written, like a song. (Laughs.) So it surprised them, and I’m glad they kept a lot of that stuff.

In case it wasn’t obvious above, I’m desperately missing Mister Robot, so much so that I regularly listen to counterfeit scores of the latest episodes. They never released the score of the second half of the last season [Volume 8].

Truly?! It’s interesting. I wonder why.

I guess the composer, Mac Quayle, just hasn’t been able to pull it off yet. He turns a lot of plates from what I can tell.

He was so amazing.

Do you miss the series too?

To some extent, yes. I really feel like there was a beginning, a middle and an end. It was a very special moment, and it was a very special show. I loved this whole experience and I look back on it with great emotion. What’s good is that we’re still friends. Rummy, Sam, Carly [Chaikin] and I still get together and hang out. We’ll spend the New Year together and do things like that. Thus, beautiful friendships and links were created as a result of this program.

Yeah, I was gonna ask if Carly is wedding That was the last time you saw everyone, so that’s nice to hear.

This wedding was a blast! We had a really good time there. (Laughs.)

You blocked out seasons two through four so that Sam Esmail would direct each episode. So what was the last scene you and Rami filmed together?

It’s a good question. It could very well have been all those scenes with Krista (Gloria Reuben) in her home office. It could have been that from what I remember. I don’t remember exactly what scene it was, but it was in this general vicinity.

You have some interesting stuff coming up, including the directorial debuts of Jerry Seinfeld and Zoe Kravitz.

Yeah, [Seinfeld’s] pop tart movie, Not frosted, is potentially hilarious. When we were reading the script, we were all on a Zoom chat, and it was just amazing to see these hilarious comedians popping up on the little Zoom squares. So it has a brilliant cast, and it’s definitely a fun adventure. Seinfeld is just awesome. It was his first gig as a feature film director, and he did an amazing, amazing job. I’m part of the Milkman Mafia; it was my role. So, you need to be on the lookout for dairy; they are not preparing anything good.

Duplicity!

Again, duplicity! (Laughs.) Another deceitful character. I’m typecast, it seems. And cat island, the film by Zoe Kravitz, I don’t know if it will be the final title. I hope so, because why not? It was also a great experience. We were in Yucatán for seven weeks and we all stayed at the same hotel, Hacienda Temozón. It was this 200 year old rustic hotel that was kind of a mine. I don’t know what it was exactly, but it was a great experience. channing [Tatum] was awesome, and it’s a crazy, crazy story. All the characters are crazy, so we had a blast on this one.

Well, Christian Slater, as you suggested, goodbye, my friend.

(Laughs.) Goodbye my friend!

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willow is now available on Disney+. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.