After launching with the original Kingsman film back in 2015, director Matthew Vaughn's spy franchise continues with this holiday season's The King's Man. A prequel depicting the origins of the titular espionage organization, The King's Man takes audiences back to World War I, but still delivers all the elaborate action viewers have some to expect from the property. Gemma Arterton and Harris Dickinson are among a talented ensemble cast that also includes Ralph Fiennes, Djimon Hounsou, Rhys Ifans, and more.
As The King's Man makes its long-awaited premiere in theaters, Arterton and Dickinson talked with Screen Rant about their roles in the film, training for the action sequences, and more.
Screen Rant: Congratulations on this film. It's fantastic. Just backing it up all the way to the start of the Kingsman franchise, were you a fan before joining? And what was the most enticing thing to you about joining the franchise?
Gemma Arterton: I'd heard about the films, but I hadn't watched them before I'd read the script. And so, I didn't really know what to expect. And read the script and was like, "What is this? This is crazy." I loved it, though. I thought it was kind of the most mad, dense, intense, fun script I'd ever read.
Then I watched the previous two films, the earlier films, and I got it. I was like, "Ah, right. I see." It's kind of these elaborate and incredible action sequences. These really memorable characters. This kind of spy world. The Saville Row aspect of it. But, yeah. So, I was in. I was so excited to join up. And it was also nice for us that we were honoring the original films, but doing our own thing as well, and have license to create our own characters.
Harris Dickinson: Similar to Gemma, I hadn't really seen them. They weren't necessarily on my radar. I know a lot of my family loves them, and I know that a lot of people find them wildly entertaining. I think Matthew's really taken risks within this kind of film. And I think that was, for me, exciting to do. I'm always game to work with exciting filmmakers and exciting artists. Working with people like Gemma, and Ralph, and Djimon.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I would've played... I would've had no lines in this. I would've had a walk-in part in and left, and played a tree, or bench post, or whatever. And it's the fact that I got to do this and be welcomed in, was just an honor. So, yeah. I was just excited. Whatever.
Gemma, how do you describe Polly? Because I saw this description of rock and roll Mary Poppins, which was my favorite quote ever. But just to take it a little further, what's your favorite qualities about her?
Gemma Arterton: Yeah. I came up with that. So, I remember when I read it, I was like, "She is rock roll Mary Poppins," in that she's got a twinkle in her eye. She's got secrets and things that she's very good at that she doesn't have to go and shouting about. And she's fun. She's warm. She's lovable. She's very caring. And in her own way, she's got everyone's back. She's very dependable. But she's also the smartest person in the room. She's an incredibly brainy mathematician that can crack code, and is a great strategist. And so, there's many things. And she's just really, really cool, and I loved playing her.
Djimon and Rhys were talking to me about their amazing dance fight sequence that they did, and how it was their toughest thing that they had to train for. For you, what was the hardest thing for you to overcome, in terms of training?
Gemma Arterton: I mean, mine wasn't as extensive as the guys, but I still had a little bit. And I think the gun slinging, I did learn to do that. It's just a little subtle thing that I do every now and then, but it's actually quite hard, especially for me. I'm quite a klutz person. And so, I practiced a lot just to try and sell it.
And also, the rifle that I used in the show is a legit rifle from the time. Made for a man, so it was very, very long. It's too long for my arms. So, I did struggle to hold it actually. And I said, "Next time, can you make one for a lady? A lady's arms?" But, yeah. It was still fun doing all of that stuff. And we got to work with some amazing people that taught us how to look good with all of that stuff. So, thank you to them.
Harris Dickinson: All of that choreography and the physical training, trying to condition my body and that. But like Gemma said, we had really amazing people. I think, mentally, the choreography is so difficult. It's like a dance. It's very well planned. You have to go over it and over it. And if you don't do it correctly, you're ruining so many other elements. So, it becomes very intricate and very focused in those moments.
But also, I was lucky. I got to do a lot of stuff. I got to ride a motorbike. I had to do my CBT license to ride a motorbike. There was a scene where I pulled up at Sandhurst Academy and there were 400 cadets. And I had to zoom past them, and the bike broke down. And I just looked like an absolute idiot because it started smoking. And I had to sort of run away from it, like a numpty. It was not cool at all. But, yeah.
The King's Man is now playing in theaters.