by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor

Kite, the new action film based on the Anime by Yasuomi Umetsu, is about to be released on DVD and Blu-ray this month, and our ComicsOnline team has a brand new EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with the star of the film: Mr. Samuel L. Jackson! Jackson plays Karl Aker, a corrupt cop who helps to look after Sawa, the daughter of his former partner (and assassin in training).

We hope you enjoy this interview, which was conducted at San Diego Comic-Con 2014.

ComicsOnline: So what drew you to this role?

Samuel L. Jackson: Well I’ve always liked the story and manga/anime. I’ve watched it for years. Initially, I heard David was doing it, and said to tell him that I’d really like to be a part of it. Once I commit to a project, I always see it through. I’m glad I did. I’m always happy to be a part of a story that I want to tell. We didn’t tell it quite as hard as I wanted to tell it, but now it has been told, so here we are.

CO: The original anime (Kite) is classified as a Hentai…

SLJ: Yeah I know, I didn’t want to say that out loud. But why not tell the truth? (Laughs)

CO: How much of the more sexual elements were adjusted?

SLJ: I have no idea. I have no idea what David wanted to do and what we ended up doing. Me, I’m always of the mind that- look: you knew what you were choosing when you chose it. I knew what I was stepping into, because I am very familiar with the story. I’m willing to do what the story is about. So why aren’t we doing that? I don’t have the answer as to why we aren’t doing that, I only have the answers to what we did. But I was willing to do that. I like dark.

CO: Recently Callan (McAullife) said that he was in awe of you, and felt that he learned a lot from you on set. So, what exactly did you teach your co-stars?

SLJ: I have no idea. I show up on time, I know my lines. I hit my marks. I try and treat everybody on the set with respect. From the person that is locking up a location to the guys working the cameras and setting the lights. It’s a collaborative effort. I always think that the more we can work together and the better we get along the better the product will be.

CO: For this character, what did you choose to pull from the anime versus your own distinctive flare?

SLJ: I wanted to keep the steel that is his personality. The toughness and the deviousness of him. I tried to keep those things. I tried to make them real human traits that aren’t props. They are things that you can look at him and see that he is that guy. He uses subterfuge and lies to get things done.

CO: You are definitely known for playing bad-ass characters, and this seems like another bad-ass role. Is there something different that you got to do with this character specifically in terms of action?

SLJ: Not in terms of action. I didn’t do that much. I shoot people. I focus more on my relationship with her and how to keep that honest. And whatever honesty that type of person can have. Trying to keep her comfortable. Indy (India Eisley) is a sensitive kid and she was under a lot of pressure to get this done. It was really important that I was supportive and relate to her and give her as much help as I could. It wasn’t an easy shoot. I work on big budget films a lot, so things are a lot easier when you are running in that particular way. You want things to work a certain way. My manager says that my biggest problem is that when I get on set I expect everyone to be as prepared as I am. Sometimes I can be a little impatient with that. It was important that I help her get through this, because even though we work at a rapid pace we had to get it done.

CO: How long was the actual shooting of the film?

SLJ: It was about six-seven weeks.

CO: How was it filming in Johannesburg?

SLJ: I like Johannesburg. I felt safer there this time than I have felt before. It was a good place to shoot. We found great locations. The local people were very helpful. The extras were great. You know, audiences are very savvy. They get familiar with different locations that people try to pass off as other places. Oh yeah, look, it’s Toronto. Oh look, another movie shot in New Orleans. Shooting in Johannesburg will give them something new to look at. The topography is very different.

CO: In terms of the dystopian future, can you talk about how your character fits into the bigger world?

SLJ: No. Not really. (Laughs)

CO: Fair enough. (Laughs)

SLJ: It’s another movie man! It’s another bleak scenario of where the world’s gonna be. Because the air is dirty. There’s not enough water. We’re running out of money. People’s morals are going to hell.

CO: Do you enjoy filming the stories that take place in bleaker futures?

SLJ: I enjoy telling the stories that are placed in front of me. I’m not sure that all of the futures are bleak, but it seems to be the most cinematic and interesting future that people predict for us. I haven’t seen the movie yet where the future is all sunny and bright and rosy and they’ve figured out all the problems. I would like to be a part of that.

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Thank you again to Mr. Jackson for the interview. Kite is now available to own on Blu-ray and DVD.

Get your copy by clicking the link below.

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