“xXx: Return of Xander Cage” star Andrey Ivchenko discusses playing Vin Diesel’s rival.
Andrey Ivchenko is an intimidating individual and a man of many talents. Growing up in the Ukraine he was a dreamer with a passion for theater and bodybuilding. In addition to exercising his body, he also exercises his mind with a Masters Degree in Kinesiology. This well-rounded individual is quite an unstoppable force and proves to be in “xXx: Return of Xander Cage” as the villainous Red Erik. Check out the trailer below and what he had to say about the role!
What can you tell us about your role in “xXx: Return of Xander Cage?”
First of all, I just want to say it was an amazing experience to be a part of such an iconic project and to work with a brilliant group of actors. I play a Russian spy named Red Erik who wants to get his hands on a secret weapon called Pandoras Box. In order to get ahold of it, he has to go face to face with Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) who is also trying to get his hands on the secret weapon.
What kind of preparation goes into this type of role on a physical and mental level?
You have to work a lot on the character. Mentally, you have to really sit and figure out who he is, what are his strengths vs weaknesses etc. You have to create a bond with this character. On a physical level, I definitely have to be physically prepared to perform on the highest level possible. I workout regularly and practice my fight choreography often because I do a lot of action projects and do some of my own stunt work for part of the fight scenes. I have to be ready for what is physically required by me.
How was it working with Vin Diesel? Were there any interesting or funny moments or outtakes in scenes that you shared?
Vin is one of the greatest people to work with. He’s very creative and open minded towards his cast mates. He allows them to play with their characters right on set. Prior to shooting one of our scenes in the movie, Vin and I were on set talking, and I mentioned that I have some ideas about our dialogue which would bring out more authenticity to our characters. Vin’s immediate response was, “Let’s do it!” We were so caught up on the process that we worked all through lunch until everyone was back and ready to start shooting again.
What was your favorite aspect of playing your character?
When I play bad guys, I always create some good qualities as well in those characters. Red Erik is determined to get Pandoras Box in his possession, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop him in his quest to get what he’s after. He’s ruthless in his actions but also has some sarcasm in him.
How does this compare to other projects you’ve worked on? Were there different challenges to overcome?
Every project is different in its own way. With shooting xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage, I was able to experience the freedom to creatively alter the scene, still stay on the script, but be able to add some of my own authenticity to the character and action between Xander Cage and Red Erik.
Did you participate in any of the insane stunts?
Bob Brown, our stunt coordinator, had an idea for me to ride a Ducati and do some of my own stunts with the bike. I was practicing and riding different types of sports bikes like dirt bikes and road bikes (which I hadn’t done in decades). When the day came to shoot the bike scene, Bob decided that the stunt double would do all the work because they were going to do some more complicated flashy stunts. After the first take and seeing what the stunt double had just done on the bike, I knew it was the right decision to make! Haha. It was very dangerous, but incredible at the same time. The stunt people really don’t get enough credit for the stuff they can do. It’s truly amazing to witness up close.
Who are some of your inspirations that got you into acting?
I admire the work of Denzel Washington, Robert DeNiro, & Al Pacino. I also love classic action actors like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, & Dolph Lundgren. When I was a teenager and saw “Terminator” I said to myself, “I can be that guy!” =)
What projects are you looking forward to in the future?
I’ve been developing a project for a little over two years now. It’s a very complicated process, but hopefully we’ll start filming towards the end of this year. Besides that, a lot of auditions and gearing up for pilot season. We’ll see what 2017 will bring to the table!