Scott Eastwood: On Pacific Rim 2 and being the blockbuster actor of the moment

The sequel to Guillermo Del Toro’s 2013 Pacific Rim film (which received critical acclaim at a time when blockbuster monster movies weren’t exactly held in high regard), The Uprising takes place ten years after the original, and features an all-star cast of John Boyega (the Star Wars franchise), Charlie Day (It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Horrible Bosses), and Scott Eastwood.
Having previously starred in the likes of Suicide Squad and Fate Of The Furious, did the actor jump at the chance of playing a leading role in another action flick?
“Well I saw the first movie and really enjoyed it,” says Scott, speaking from London. “And then before I knew it my agent was onto me about a script for the second and he was asking me to look into it. I mean, I loved it right from the get-go. It’s a fun movie, you know? It’s great to be working on.”
Scott plays the role of Nate Lambert, one of the leading pilots and operators of a “jaeger” (gigantic, robotic machines which humanity has created to fight off monsters which have invaded earth from another dimension). A no-nonsense character, he acts as the foil to John Boyega’s Jake Pentecost, who plays the troubled son of Stacker Pentecost (played by Idris Elba in the first film). How difficult was it to slide into the role?
“I think it was just a matter of not taking myself too seriously,” laughs Scott. “I’m at home with these type of movie. The real challenge for me was just training for the choreography that goes into something like this. It’s kind of like learning to dance without a dancing partner a lot of the time.”
Added to that is the fact the film – a monster/disaster movie in the same vein as something like Godzilla – relies on big CGI moments and special effects. Was that a challenge too?
“Yeah I mean there are some challenging shots in there. But I’ve learnt that you just have to take your directions and use your imagination to conjure up the type of things which look good on the screen.”
Prinicpal photography began back in 2016 in Australia, with later shooting in China. Was there a sense of communal chemistry between all the actors on set?
“Oh yeah! I mean it’s like summer camp or something when you go away together to shoot a movie. You never know who you’re going to end up with, who you’ll be bunking with. But everyone got on so well together. John and I had a great relationship. I wanted to make sure that came through in the film itself.”
With the way his career path has taken him, Scott has developed a reputation for being the go-to guy for action films. Is this a perception he’s happy with?
“I like to do all kinds of films really,” he says diplomatically. “I mean, of course I like doing these action films, there’s no question about that. I wouldn’t be doing so many if I didn’t. But I like doing all kinds. I don’t have an ideal about film. My ideal character? That’s be Bugs Bunny. Bugs Bunny in Space Jam 2, that’s my ideal character.”
So no interest in going down the “critically acclaimed” path?
“Well, I think with any movie, what matters is if the right elements are in place. If the script is good, if the characters are good, the director, all of that, if that’s all good, then I’ll say let’s play ball.”

Already laying the groundwork for his next film, a “mix between a thriller and heist” which he starts shooting New Orleans next month, Scott Eastwood has become a hard-working, leading light in Hollywood and shows no signs of slowing down and a hunger to work with as many people as he can… Directors, this is a man who wants to play ball.

Pacific Rim: Uprising is out on March 23.