I have probably never laughed as much in a interview as I did when we interviewed Michael Peña, T.I., and David Dastmalchian for the Ant-Man movie press day. They came in laughing and we all applauded because they are awesome. They had the best expressions on their face when we did. It so funny. They called themselves the Antourage
Michael Peña – Can you tell my wife to do that? You’re amazing.
T.I. – I wish I had a camera of ya’ll.
I mean just look at those expressions. It could be because they are in the wonderful, amazing Ant-Man movie which comes out July 17th but I think its because they are walking in to a room full of lovely ladies and gentlemen.
I think the funniest part of the whole entrance was Michael Peña trying to do a selfie with all of us in the shot and we were asking questions after that to the other guys but Michael was like, Instagram dude. I am trying to put this on Instagram. It was hilarious.
See? I am internet famous now because I am in a selfie with Michael Peña. Ok enough gushing and on to the really important questions we asked them about their roles in the movie. They are perfect together as the The Getaway Driver – Dave (T.I.), The Hacker – Kurt (David Dastmalchian) and The Inside Man – Luis (Michael Peña). We asked Michael Peña about Luis and if he is like that in real life. I think I busted a rib laughing at his response.
Michael Peña – No. I was always like a quiet kid, to be honest.
T.I. – What?!
Michael Peña – Yeah. I remember, like I got messages on Facebook and I’m like, out of all people to be an actor you’re the guy? I was captain of the wrestling team and the track team and, you know, I loved sports and stuff. So that’s the only way that I really made friends, but I was like kind of a nerd to be honest – It’s hard to believe, I know.”=
T.I. – You know what, man, me too.
Michael Peña – Were you really?
T.I. – Hell no.
Michael Peña –You know, but he’s a smart dude, though. So I’m like, you never know, you know what I mean? So I’m like… He knows. T.I. being a nerd. I’m like, “I would believe it.” He’s a smart dude. I mean he’s not– he doesn’t rap about like, you know, just dumb shit, you know?
David Dastmalchian – I know Michael has done some comedy work before, but he’s so famous for these killer dramatic roles and stuff. And the first time we’re on set and he started making T.I. and I just bust out I was like that’s not the dude that I was expecting. He’s so brilliant in this film and I love it.
Michael Peña – I’m imitating this guy – I won’t say his name, but he’s, you know, in my neighborhood. And I had the blessing of going to prep school and living in the ghetto, you know what I mean? It’s what happens or whatever. And so like, I’d travel like an hour in the morning just to get to that school, come back and then all of a sudden the dude’s like, “And how, how did it go man? You want a nickel bag?” And I’m like, “No man, I’m good man. I gotta study and stuff.” He said, “But if you don’t want a nickel bag it’s cool.”
And then you know he’s the kind of dude that, you know, he got a girl pregnant when he was 13. Yeah, which is amazing, but he’s a really great dad…when he’s not in jail. And he’s the kind of dude that was like, “Hey whatcha’ do this weekend?” And he’s like, “Uh, I went to jail, guy.” “What you go to jail for?” He’s like, “Just smokin’ weed.” And I was like, “Actually, like smokin’ weed is not illegal.” Like show me what happened.”
He’s like, “So literally I was like—,” and he uses big words. “You know, I like, I smokin’ and smokin’.” “Smokin’s bad.” He’s like, “Hey man put it out you know.” And he’s like, “No problem.” (he imitates the guy taking three or four more long drags off the joint before actually putting it out) And he’s like, “Then they took me to jail” And I’m like, “Yeah dude they’re gonna’ take you to jail every time for that man.”
So, it was like I was waiting for a movie to put that character in there because he’s like, the most optimistic criminal that I’ve ever met in my life. But he like, you know, everybody loves him, but at the same time like you gotta’ be kidding me. So that’s Luis.
He did that entire last bit in the voice of Luis from the movie and it was so amazing. I couldn’t breathe from laughing.
Then the question was asked “T.I, You do a lot of stuff with Boys & Girls Clubs in the communities, and Marvel does, as well. Is that something that you recognized and perhaps made you want to be a part of Marvel?”
T.I. – I mean, I think that’s just a positive coincidence. I never considered the philanthropic synergy that could have been created for this. I never really thought about it that way, man. I mean, of course, if there’s anything that we can do together to help the people in the under-served areas in society, man, that’s always a consideration.
To be fair I had not heard of all of T.I.’s wonderful community service work before I researched him for the event. It is definitely something that needs to be credited to him. Very awesome, upstanding guy and he just happens to be amazingly talented.
He was pretty funny when talking about what his kids said when he told them about Ant-Man.
T.I. – You know my kids they’re jaded, you know. I mean, so when I tell ‘em I’m going to work and I’m about to do Ant-Man. They’re like, “Ant-Man? What’s that?”
“He’s a Marvel character like the Avengers.” “Oh you’re gonna’ be in the Avengers!?” “No.” “No I’m not gonna’ be in the Avengers.” “Well I’m gonna’ be in Ant-Man.”
“Well I don’t know Ant-Man. Is Ant-Man in the Avengers?” “Well, technically in the comic, not the movie.”
“Will he be in the movie?” “No, no.”
“Okay, well you gonna’ wear a costume?” “No, I’m not wearing a costume.
“You know just forget about it. Don’t worry about it. I’ll be back.”
We told them how much we loved that they tweeted out that day that they were the “Antourage” which is pretty funny. They all laughed and said we needed to make it happen with our social media skills.
David Dastmalchian – You like that? Alright let’s make it stick. Alright put it out there. Well I wrote a new script the other night. Trust me. I’ve got the whole thing, we show up with Dr. Strange, we’re gonna’ help all of his hair and his style. But, yes that’s a dream.
T.I. –Even cooler though is they should give us a comic book.
David Dastmalchian – Oh see, you put that out there.
T.I. – A comic book for us.
David Dastmalchian – The comic’s so great and fun for people ‘cause we don’t, not everybody has superpowers right? But these guys, we’re good at something.
What do you do with the thing that you’re good at? Are you gonna’ do something good in your life or are you gonna’ do you know what our past is or our characters? And I love that. I think that’s what makes these films great for audiences, too, and families. I can see myself, that’s us. We are the audience, in a sense. The three of us.
And, and it’s funny, too, because we’re with Paul who’s one of the funny guys on the planet, and yet all the great comedy in the film is—I mean there’s tons of big comedy from everybody, but it’s—
T.I. – Was it written to be comedic? I didn’t read it as funny.
David Dastmalchian –Slightly, slightly, slightly. ‘Cause Stan Lee in the comics, how he’s had comedy in them. You know they have humor. I think more humor than comedy in this movie, yeah.
T.I. – It seemed like you know when we just all saw that we were around a group of goofballs. Like, “Oh okay, we’re gonna’ goof off a little bit.” It just, it just happened to work.
I like how they said Paul was one of the funniest guys on the planet but they seriously were the most funny when we interviewed them. A bunch of goofballs who stole the show. I love them.
They took a group photo with us before they left and they were so nice. They hugged us and talked with us. It wasnt like talking with movie stars at all.
Be sure to go see Ant-Man in theaters July 17th!!!
Paul Rudd is always enjoyable to watch and I am excited to see this comic come to the big screen.