Talking to Helen Mirren for Hitchcock, we couldn't help but ask about a future project she has coming up, Red 2, the action grandad spectacular that sees her reunite with Bruce Willis, John Malkovich and Mary-Louise Parker to kick some more butt in an old-school fashion.
The original Red made a stupendous amount of money - $200 million off a $58 million budget - so perhaps it should come as no surprise that three years later a follow-up is on its way, but with Ms. Mirren already unloading a gatling gun on a number of goons in the first Red, how will she top it this time around? The answer can be found in the following video clip.
As well as having a Matrix moment in Red 2, it turns out Mirren's character will also be part of a plane heist, nicking a private jet and proceeding to gobble down a heap of caviar in the process. Need proof? Check out this second clip for details.
Just in case you were wondering what the plot might be this time around, it turns out Willis’ Frank Moses learns that there’s another contract out on him; Interpol has declared him its most dangerous target and everyone is gunning for him, even Victoria (Mirren), though we’re pretty sure it won't last long.
Moses understandably decides to go on the run again, this time dragging girlfriend Sarah Ross (Mary-Louise Parker) with him from the start. He’ll need help from mad pal Marvin (Malkovich) and tangle with a few new problems, including Catherine Zeta-Jones’ sexy ex-girlfriend and Anthony Hopkins as a big bad threat.
Dean "Galaxy Quest" Parisot has taken over directing duties for this one, replacing the first film’s Robert Schwentke. But the script’s still by Erich and Jon Hoeber, moving ever further away from Warren Ellis and Cully Hammer’s graphic novel (but then, let’s face it, the first film used all of that material up in the first act or so).
**Hitchcock is out this Friday, February 8. Red 2, **meanwhile, arrives August 2.