Brad Peyton is an American director with an amazing ability to destroy things in films with the help of Dwayne Johnson. Peyton has become most known for his disaster film, San Andreas, but that was not his first project with The Rock. He had previously worked with him on Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. Now he will be teaming up with Dwayne Johnson for their third collaborative film, Rampage, which premieres in theaters on April 13, 2018.
Screen Rant got a chance to talk with director Brad Peyton on press day, where we discussed what went into creating Georgie, what were his immediate thoughts when he received the script for Rampage, and whether or not he can see himself getting a chance to work with Dwayne Johnson again.
SR: First of all, this movies so much fun. It's a great way to kick off the blockbuster movie season.
Brad Peyton: Cool.
SR: What went into creating Georgie and how did you come about with that emotional connection? Because it's is such a big part of that.
Brad Peyton: I mean, to me the whole movie, the central pillar of the movie is the relationship between Davis and George. Like that's the heart of the movie. The movie's about trust and friendship and you know, people are like really? Like a gorilla. And Dwayne and I'm like, look man, I love my dogs. Like, I relate to that, you know, and animals are such innocence. So we focus a lot on that dynamic and the heart that came from that, like ultimately like I love doing big blockbuster movies, but if there's no heart and soul to it, it's just kind of empty nonsense. And so I spent a lot of time thinking about that and then we spend a lot of time with Jason Miles, who plays George and really, you know, we photo capture is faced with two cameras. We had like 30 cameras in like every set he was in like getting every single movement, even when George was massive, we had him redo all the actions so that we could use his actual animation. So it was just getting, trying to get the most out of that relationship so that you could have a, have a big heart.
SR: Now this is your third collaboration with Dwayne. Do you see yourself continuing that relationship working with Dwayne and you know, he has Black Adam coming up this a Warner Bros. movie, any chance there?
Brad Peyton: I teased him once. I was like, Hey, what do you think about Black Adam? I mean, I think I work really well with this guy. I really liked him. I would do this a thousand times. I don't see any reason not to do it ever again. I mean it's like why, you know, fix something when it's not broken kind of vibe. Um, I think it's always comes down to like, what can we do that audiences haven't seen before? And that's sort of what both of us are always asking each other and ourselves, you know, so as long as we can keep doing that, I don't see why we would stop.
SR: Now, you're great at destruction. Destruction movies. So when Rampage comes across your desk, are you already thinking of like, this is what I wanted to do, and that's what I want to do?
Brad Peyton: I think I had the exact reaction anyone would have been with Rampage. I was like, what do you think this is going to be? You know, like, it's not obvious. It's just... And I think people's expectations are like, really a standup arcade game, and I get it. I'm like, I had the similar kind of thought. With a title like Rampage, you better destroy something. So stories Chicago. But there is, you know, we had to level a couple of buildings. The weird thing that I always say to people is, um, I don't know why, but I feel very comfortable with destruction. Like when I'm in those...
SR: It shows.
Brad Peyton: Well, dude, when I'm in those scenes. And I'm like, yeah, we're blowing stuff up, and Dwayne shooting a grenade launcher for whatever reason. I'm like, yeah, this feels great. This feels totally normal. When I'm in like scenes versus two people talking and I'm like, oh my God, like this is stressing me out. Can we like smash something. So it's. Yeah, it's weird, but that's, that's the way it is.
