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IN the 3D supernatural
action-adventure R.I.P.D., JEFF BRIDGES and RYAN REYNOLDS star as two cops dispatched
by the otherworldly Rest In Peace Department to protect and serve the living
from an increasingly destructive array of creatures who refuse to move
peacefully into the afterlife.
It is through Boston police
detective Nick Walker’s (Reynolds) eyes that the audience is drawn into this
divine order of law enforcement. A
hard-charging detective who knows how to work the system, Nick pays the
ultimate price when he is killed in the line of duty during a routine drug
bust. Facing final judgment and unsure
of what fate holds in store, Nick is given an offer he can’t refuse: Either
take his thug-busting talents and pay a penance of 100 years of service in the R.I.P.D.
or face an uncertain judgment in the
afterlife. Propelled by the desire to
find his murderer and reunite with his wife—and convinced he can sidestep the
department’s strict rules—Nick opts for an assignment with the R.I.P.D. and
begins an eternal education.
Early in the project’s
genesis, Reynolds joined the film to portray the slain detective who has a big
surprise awaiting him in the afterlife.
Enthusiastic about the role and keen to take a more active part in the
development, Reynolds also signed on as an executive producer.
“The script has been through
all sorts of iterations, and finally landed on this current version,” he
shares. “I love the comic and our script
takes its essence, as well as its basic plotlines and devices, and uses
that. There’s a bit of tragedy and a
love story wrapped up in this incredibly funny, charming movie, which is a hard
thing to pull off.”
With Reynolds on board for
one of the two lead roles, Robert Schwentke, who most recently directed the
blockbuster Red—the eponymous action-comedy based on the comic book—would sign
on for R.I.P.D. The filmmaker’s passion for the source
material, as well as his vision for the action-adventure, made a real
impression on Neal H. Moritz (Fast & Furious series, I Am Legend), Mike
Richardson (Hellboy, Hellboy II: The Golden Army) and Michael Fottrell (Fast
& Furious series, Live Free or Die Hard).
Moritz, who had seen
Schwentke’s first feature film, the 2002 thriller Tattoo, was keen to work with
the German-born director. “I met with
Robert on numerous occasions for other movies, but I could never convince him
to do one. When R.I.P.D. came
up, I had a feeling we would get him and I was glad to get his call,” recounts
the producer. “He is visually an amazing
director. What I appreciate more than
anything, though, is that he knows how to get to the heart of a movie. He gives us incredible visuals and action, as
well as a terrific relationship between these two characters.”
Richardson agrees with his
fellow producer on their choice, noting: “I really liked Red, so when Robert’s
name first came up, we were excited to talk with him about the project. I have to say that his vision of the movie
clicked right away for me
The core scenes in the
movie—the true character comedy, what sets the movie apart—remain close to what
was written from the very beginning.
This period turned out to be
most rewarding for the team as the direction of the film was solidified—especially
when the filmmakers discovered they had a fan in Oscar®-winning actor Jeff
Bridges, who would come aboard in the role of grizzled Sheriff Roycephus “Roy”
Pulsifer. After serving several tours
of duty for multiple infractions in the department, Roy has a weary
“been-there, seen-that” attitude. Save
his lone-gun style and persnickety ways, this R.I.P.D lawman is the best of the
best and knows every trick in the cosmic universe.
The performer found a big fan
in producer Moritz, who commends: “Jeff is one of my favorite actors of all
time. When I learned that we were going
to work together, it was one of the highlights of my filmmaking career. R.I.P.D.
was almost made a number of
times, and there were a number of actors who almost played this role. But when we were on the set watching him
perform, I thought, ‘Who else did we ever think could play Roy?’ He came in and infused this character with
such wit, sarcasm and lovability.”
Fresh off his
Oscar®-nominated tour de force in True Grit, Bridges wasn’t initially looking
to inhabit another cowboy role on the big screen. However, Roy’s subtle comedic panache—one
reminiscent of Bridges’ turn as The Dude in the cult classic The Big
Lebowski—piqued his curiosity. Bridges
and his representatives had been aware of the R.I.P.D. script
and had been tracking its progress until he felt it was the right time to
approach the team. He recounts: “I threw
my name into the hat and I’m lucky I got the gig. I’ve had a really good time.”
Producer Richardson was
pleased to see that the two worlds in which he worked had such an interesting
crossover. He recalls the inspiration:
“Jeff actually drew pictures of Jim’s character while he was sitting on the
set. I loved it and asked Jim to create
an original ‘Frank’ piece of art and gave that artwork to Jeff on set. Jeff returned the favor by signing one of his
‘Frank’ pieces for Jim.”
Even in the afterlife, Roy
still has his demons; he carries several hundred years of grudges and baggage
from his past, especially toward the coyotes that picked his bones clean after
he was shot. Despite his musings of
Zen-like detachment and trying to let go, Roy hasn’t dealt well with his own
history…even though he believes he’s made peace.
The constant friction between
the two mismatched cops drives the comedy throughout R.I.P.D. But even as Roy schools Nick in the rules of
engagement or waxes poetic on life, love and the pursuit of Deados
(laws-of-nature-defying souls that refuse to move on), the old coot offers up the
rare insight that resonates with the rookie.
“Occasionally, Roy produces a real nugget of wisdom, but usually it’s
pretty tried and true,” laughs Reynolds.
“He’s got 200 years of experience working in this world, and he knows
there’s no way to reach out to loved ones left behind. With Roy’s guidance, Nick discovers that he’s
haunting his wife and not connecting with her.”
Once Bridges and Reynolds
began rehearsals in Boston, their congenial off-screen friendship could not
help but influence their on-screen rapport.
Says Bridges: “Ryan is a lovely cat.
He just hits all of those targets and makes it come together, and that’s
a special talent. We jam on so many
levels. Acting is all about creating
that illusion, but if you do have a cool relationship outside of shooting the
movie, you can bring that into the work.
Ryan and I had a good time together off the set just hanging out.”
Starring alongside Bridges
and Reynolds are KEVIN BACON, MARY-LOUISE PARKER,STEPHANIE SZOSTAK, JAMES HONG,
MARISA MILLER, ROBERT KNEPPER, MIKE
O’MALLEY and DEVIN RATRAY.
“RIPD” opens August 21, 2013
in theaters nationwide is released and distributed by United International
Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corporation.
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