Evan Peters On His Famous Quicksilver Scene

TL;DR

Evan Peters filmed Quicksilver’s famous X-Men scene on a green treadmill, moving bullets among frozen mannequins while a leaf blower created the effect of extreme speed on his face. He credits Rising Sun and the wider special-effects team rather than himself for the finished kitchen sequence. Read on for details about the goggles, Al Pacino, Dwight Chapin, and the strange true premise of Elvis and Nixon.

Transcript

thanks for coming all the way in when did you get in from South Africa uh yesterday at 2 p.m. okay so is your whole time are your is your clock off is everything wrong I am a hot mess you a hot mess okay now it's becoming clearer now I yeah absolutely you were over there shooting a movie with alpacino right yeah yeah that's that's pretty great yeah... Read More

Key Insights

• 😑 The actor expresses admiration for Al Pacino, noting his talent and approachable nature despite his celebrity status.
• 😤 Filming superhero action scenes involves extensive technical planning, relying heavily on visual effects teams to create believable scenarios.
• ⌛ "Elvis and Nixon" showcases a bizarre historical encounter, reflecting on the complexities and contradictions of U.S. culture during the time.
• 😒 The humorous nature of the film allows for a fresh perspective on serious topics such as drug use and celebrity influence.
• 😀 The actor's candid remarks reveal the challenges faced by performers transitioning from intense physical roles to comedic narratives.
• 🏬 The interview highlights the collaborative nature of filmmaking, emphasizing teamwork with various departments to bring a vision to life.
• 🎭 Audiences are likely to appreciate the intertwining of drama and humor in "Elvis and Nixon," underscoring the absurdity of the historical events depicted.

Questions & Answers

Q: How was Evan Peters’ famous Quicksilver scene filmed?

Peters performed on a green treadmill while moving bullets, with some of the other characters represented by frozen mannequins. Rising Sun and other special-effects collaborators then created the kitchen scene’s super-speed illusion.

Q: How did the filmmakers make Quicksilver’s face look affected by his speed?

A crew member stood in front of Peters with a leaf blower. Peters also wore Quicksilver’s goggles while filming the effect.

Q: Were the other actors present while Evan Peters filmed the Quicksilver scene?

Not all of the people shown in the finished scene were in the room with Peters. He said some figures were frozen mannequins while he performed his movements.

Q: What does Quicksilver do in the famous X-Men sequence?

Quicksilver runs around while everyone else appears to move in slow motion. He catches bullets, pulls off people’s hats, and performs other actions at super speed.

Q: Who created the special effects for Quicksilver’s kitchen scene?

Peters specifically credited Rising Sun for the kitchen scene’s special effects. He also emphasized that many other people contributed and said the same special-effects team worked on a new sequence for the next movie.

Q: What was it like for Evan Peters to work with Al Pacino?

Peters described working with Pacino as amazing and initially intimidating. He called Pacino a sweetheart and said the intimidation eased once he could view him as another actor, though moments of awe still returned.

Q: Who does Evan Peters play in Elvis and Nixon?

Peters plays Dwight Chapin, a real-life figure, in Elvis and Nixon. The interview contrasts that role with Quicksilver, whom the host jokingly also calls a real-life character.

Q: What is Elvis and Nixon about?

The film tells the story of Elvis Presley deciding to visit the White House and meet President Nixon. Elvis wants a badge naming him a federal agent at large so he can fight the war on drugs, despite taking many drugs at the time; Peters calls the true story hilarious and crazy.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The actor shares his recent experiences filming a movie with Al Pacino, highlighting the excitement and challenges of the collaboration.

• He explains the innovative special effects techniques used in his "X-Men" scene where his character, Quicksilver, moves at super speed amidst slow-motion action.

• The interview delves into the storyline of "Elvis and Nixon," revealing the humorous and absurd premise of Elvis trying to secure a federal badge from President Nixon.