The Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa premiere was a rain-drenched affair, despite all efforts to conjure the illusion of sun-soaked Africa. Surrounded by larger than life comedy penguins and a giant, cuddly (if a little square headed) Alex the lion, stars of the film Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and Jada Pinkett-Smith took time out to walk the green carpet and talk about the film.
Stiller was first to shed some light on his animal alter-ego: “Alex is from New York, I’m from New York, he’s a performer, which I can identify with. He’s a better dancer than I am though. Plus he’s got better hair than I do.”
Next up for Stiller is another sequel, this time with Night At The Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian. He is confident that, like Madagascar, that film could go on to see a third instalment, saying: “I’m really excited about the new Night At The Museum- we’ve got Ricky Gervais and Steve Coogan coming back - I like the British comedians. Perhaps we can set the next one here [in London].”
Much of the talk was about how the cast’s children enjoyed their animal antics- with Rock admitting that his daughters prefer High School Musical. Stiller is set to star in a new comedy The Marc Pease Experience, about a faded ex-high school musical star, but doesn’t see it as jumping on the HSM bandwagon: “No, it is its own little thing. It’s cute though.”
Rock was on good form, undeterred by the weather. Talking about his upcoming ventures, he told us a little bit about his new project, Good Hair: “It’s kinda like a Michael Moore movie on black people and the hair industry. I was filming in India where they get the hair to make the weaves.”
Empire also asked him about his plans to re-work 2007 British comedy Death At A Funeral: “We’re still working on the script. There’s gonna be some differences, but it’s a classic script so we don’t want to mess it up. I don’t want to do it a disservice.”
Rock admits that he is a huge fan of British comedy - especially the work of Ricky Gervais and Russell Brand, who is currently co-starring with Rock’s good friend Adam Sandler in Bedtime Stories. He said: “I would love to work with Russell Brand- but he never returns my calls! He’s too busy with the girls!”
Jada Pinkett Smith, who said she loved embracing her inner voluptuousness with her hippo character Gloria, might be staying behind the camera for her next few films. Following Madagascar 2, she makes her directorial debut with The Human Contract, and she told us that, “being in control is my thing.” She plans to do more directing and producing next year-which could even extend to directing husband Will: “We definitely will [work together] at some point soon. He planned on doing this movie (The Human Contract), but we decided we’d better stay married.”
Smith was also revelling in the excitement about her son Jayden’s announced revival of Karate Kid, telling us about his home practise for the role: “We’re so excited. He has been practising his karate on me, but I stopped that because he is so strong. I told him that’s enough, I’m done, Mommy’s finished! I used to wrestle with both my sons, but I had to stop with Jayden when he was nine, because he was just too strong!”
All three were hopeful for a third Madagascar film, Rock saying that “we could set it here (in the UK), or it could be in the Outback- we’re just trying to decide on a location.” Smith said she’d love to return as Gloria: “I’ll be there!” And Stiller added he would also be up to reprise his role as Alex: “Yes definitely- we’ve got to get those animals back home!”