Frankie Taggart -
As Karl Urban sits down in Beverly Hills to discuss his starring role in Marvel’s latest superhero juggernaut “Thor Ragnarok,” there is a Harvey Weinstein-shaped elephant in the room. Across Hollywood, filmmakers and their actors are being pressed for their reaction to the growing scandal engulfing the 65-year-old movie mogul, who has been accused of the harassment and sexual abuse of numerous women — many vulnerable young actresses — going back decades.
While some industry players have been conspicuous by their silence, Urban doesn’t have to be asked twice, describing the allegations as “repulsive.”
“My heart and support goes out to all of those women who were victims of this predator,” the 45-year-old New Zealand native says.
“It’s utterly shocking, devastating and disgusting, and I hope that this serves to send a strong clear signal to other would-be predators out there that kind of behaviour is not tolerated.
“I sincerely hope that he gets everything that he deserves. And he will.”
Urban, a TV actor in New Zealand whose break in the movies came in the 2002 horror movie “Ghost Ship,” can speak with the confidence of a Hollywood veteran these days.
Since 2002 he has starred in two of Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” films, taken on iconic comic book character Judge Dredd and reimagined “Star Trek” medic Leonard “Bones” McCoy to critical acclaim.
But Marvel’s third “Thor” film — which hits US theatres on November 3 — sees his star ascend another level as part of a cinematic universe which has no fewer than four entries in the top 20 highest grossing movies of all time.
“Thor Ragnarok” sees him in a star-studded cast that reads more like the acting categories at Oscars night — among them Anthony Hopkins, Cate Blanchett, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum and Mark Ruffalo.
Early reaction to preview screenings of Taiki Waititi’s first foray into Hollywood since earning almost universal applause for “What We Do in the Shadows” and “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” has been effusive.
Critics have focused on the high count of genuinely funny jokes in a movie occupying a genre that is not always recognised for its sense of humour or self-awareness.
“I loved the tone of it. It didn’t take itself too seriously. For me personally, it was refreshing to see Chris Hemsworth able to spread his wings and let his natural charisma and humour come forward,” said Urban, who grew with Waititi in Wellington.
“I believe this is a wonderful new direction, not new for him, but for the franchise in general.”
Before “Star Trek,” Urban was probably best known for his starring role as another comic book character — 2,000 AD’s iconic futuristic law enforcer Judge Dredd.
Despite rave reviews and a subsequent cult following, “Dredd” (2012) was a box office flop, with Urban criticising the movie’s marketing in an interview with AFP last year.
Speculation has been mounting over the possibility of Urban returning to the role, however, with British entertainment company and rights-holder Rebellion developing a limited-run TV series.
“I’ve had many meetings and discussions with them and I’ve been very frank,” Urban confirmed.
“My position is, if you write a character that has a function and a purpose and I get the ability to contribute to the overall story, then I would be very interested in reprising that role.” — AFP
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