HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO

If this movie is successful, I'd love to incorporate the other Greek myths into sequels. Let's bring in Icarus, let's bring in Persephone, let's bring in everybody. Let's make it beautiful. It's comparable and not comparable at the same time, but if you look at Lord of the Rings, there's so many interesting characters in this world. Aragon, Frodo, Arwen-you could make a beautiful movie about each of these characters, but instead they made one with all of them. To bring Icarus, [Jason Statham], Hercules and make it an ensemble piece, that's what I'd love to do. My dream is in 30 years when my grandson is about to learn about Greek mythology in class, they'll say, 'Here is a series of movies to get you excited!' I remember the movies that were shown were always boring movies. Let's show something semirealistic that depicts Greek mythology and at the same time has these great action sequences and beautiful heroic women and men. Smarts, wits and action and adventure. Hair. [Laughs] No, he needs to get the right projects. He's a great guy - I can't wait to work with him again - but our paths haven't crossed because he's always busy. In order to be Bruce Willis, in the '80s, Bruce Willis was doing different kinds of stuff. I think what Jason did two years ago in The Bank Job was completely fantastic - there was physical stuff, but he was relying on his comedy skills. He's a fantastic actor and he needs more of a mixed platter on his resume than action, action, action. He's hilarious. Jason is so smart and funny and tender. I feel like I've used the right Jason-and Guy Ritchie has used the right Jason-in movies. In Transporter, we were using his tenderness, wits and physicality. The same thing in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. But the other stuff is just using the 'Grrr!' side of Jason. Because he's fantastic. Fd never seen a single frame of Avatar when I met him, a single frame of Terminator: Salvation. What I'd seen was this beautiful, great tender actor from this Australian movie called Somersault. I saw that and thought, ? can't wait to meet this guy.' He was working with James Cameron and another film that was like a Bourne drama, so I realized he must also be physical. I had to meet him and it was instantaneous, like love at first sight. The humility, the charisma, the physicality - actors are not born buff. They have to train to become athletes. Just the perfect Perseus - completely different from any Perseus I had imagined. I thought that Perseus wo