Matthias Hughes (Matthias Hues) was born in the German city of Waltrop. In 1986, he went to Hollywood in hopes of becoming an actor. However, soon his dreams went to waste - there was not enough money, he had to sleep in his own car and work as a “bouncer” in nightclubs. His first film was an action sequel with Jean-Claude Van Damme “Don't retreat and don't give up” (No Retreat, No Surrender).
Van Damme didn’t want to star in the second part, so the producers decided to cast him instead Matthias. His final fight with Lauren Avedon at the end of the film it turned out to be one of the most believable and brutal fights of that time. After filming ended, Hughes became the widow's bodyguard Bob Marley and her family. For more than a year he was not offered a single serious role, until “King of Fisticuffs” (Fist Fighter). His career took off after the sci-fi action movie “I come in peace” (I Come in Peace aka Dark Angel) with Dolph LundgrenIn which Matthias played the role of the main villain.
This type took root, and over time Hughes began appearing regularly in martial arts films, mostly playing "bad guy" roles (Talons of the Eagle, Cop 2000 | TC 2000, Fists of Iron | Fists of Iron, Fight to the Death | Death Match). His career includes several science fiction films, for example, "Star Trek 6" (Star Trek 6) and “Digital Man” (Digital Man), in which Hughes played key characters. According to fans and experts of martial arts films made in the 90s, Hughes was one of the best. Now it's time to meet the “big bad German.” Matthias Hughes will talk about the beginning of his career, explain why some films were never made, who is the toughest opponent in battle, and why he and his friend Gary Daniels the director threatened...
Matthias, judging by your recent films, you are in excellent physical shape. Do you do any special training?
Matthias Hughes: Well, I just train all the time, there hasn’t been a week without training. I only take a break when I'm sick or on the road. But during classes I alternate between light and heavy weights.
I read somewhere that you were a professional athlete and competed in the pentathlon. In some films this is noticeable while running. Heavy, large men rarely run like this, with such grace, as you do. Please tell us about your sports career, how you started and when you took up martial arts.
Matthias Hughes: It's true, I like sports, and it all started in childhood. My father often took me to the stadium when I was 12 years old. I just ran on the treadmill all day, watched other athletes train, and soon turned my attention to the pentathlon. I started training with weights later, since all these workouts required physical strength. And when I saw other athletes doing kickboxing at a nearby gym, I decided to join them. That's how martial arts has stayed with me to this day. When you start early, at a young age, it becomes your second self.
Do you think the economic crisis has affected the film industry? As far as I know, neither Hollywood nor the independent studios have any particular problems creating new films that are still expensive...
Matthias Hughes: Actually, this is a serious problem. The shooting of several of my films was canceled, which is a pity - I prepared hard, was in the best shape, and three films were taken and postponed until better times. It's hard, you feel like an athlete preparing for an important competition that is suddenly cancelled. However, large studios are doing well now; they make films, and, of course, independent studios are doing better. Many actors I know found themselves in a similar situation.
Which on-screen opponent would be the hardest to fight with?
Matthias Hughes: With Billy Blanks, Gary Daniels and Don Wilson, they have strong fists and great fighting skills. Dolph Lundgren is also tough considering his size and strength. It wouldn't be easy with Steve Austin. I've seen him at the gym a couple of times, he's a tough guy, you can't argue with that.
You have quite a lot of fans among the Russian-speaking population. Different people like different films, but which of your films do you like best?
Matthias Hughes: Well, off the top of my head, “I come in peace.” I really enjoyed the filming. I even tried to persuade the studio to make a sequel. I wrote the script myself, according to which the action takes place in Europe... Let's wait and see what they come up with. Dolph Lundgren will not take part in this project; we will use rising stars.
Your fellow action movie stars have dabbled in a variety of genres, including Olivier Gruner in the comedy The White Pony and Gary Daniels in Pocket Ninjas. In 1996 you starred in the family comedy Alone in the Woods. How do you like this job? I am sure that many of your fans were surprised by this role.
Matthias Hughes: It was fun, I enjoyed filming. Like a break from movies with fights. I would not refuse such projects in the future. Besides, I like working with children, they are always happy about everything!
Matthias, you have a reality show “Star Super Bodies” ready. What exactly is it? As far as I know, you are the main character of this show.
Matthias Hughes: Basically in this show I (playing myself) look for rising talent for Hollywood, as was my case 23 years ago. Everything will happen in the “Gold's Gym” fitness center, because that’s where they found me. Now I will try to find a person who can become a new generation of action stars. If the show succeeds, we will, of course, not stop there. We intend to make a film with those whose talents can be revealed during the show.
Most of the films you starred in in the 90s are considered B-grade action films. They provide good entertainment to the audience, and no one takes them completely seriously. That's why fans love them so much. What would you prefer: a small role in a large-scale Hollywood blockbuster, continue to act in B-category action films, or simply take part in some interesting project?
Matthias Hughes: I'll do anything that piques my interest. I like films, I write scripts for almost all genres and, of course, I hope that someday they will be made into films. My favorite script is Route 69. This is the story of a crazy hitman who goes on a journey but gets a little lost on the road and is later hunted by an entire village full of crazy people.
The Australian film company “Kakadu Films” has you listed as a main actor in its list of future projects. Will this be a series of films? Tell us briefly about your work with this company.
Matthias Hughes: In the next few years we are going to expand our cooperation, we are preparing two films for production. I wrote one of the scripts and, together with my close friend, created a full-fledged work from it. During the days of economic crisis, anything can happen, studios and producers are afraid to invest money in films, because today you earned money, and tomorrow you can lose it. Sometimes a potential project never comes to fruition due to funding problems.
Your career seems to have changed direction slightly. If in the 90s it was all about smashing your opponents to smithereens, fighting for justice or for revenge, now there is less hand-to-hand combat in films and more acting. In the future, when Matthias Hughes can no longer fight, what will he do? Will he continue acting, maybe take up directing, or change his profession?
Matthias Hughes: If it were up to me, I would move away from martial arts and combine them with good stories and acting. But the producers don't see the real picture. They would do well to stick to what people need rather than forcing us to do useless things. For example, like in the movie we did with Gary Daniels (Kiss of the Vampire, 1996). We argued with the director for days on end until he began to threaten us. That's how stupid it all looked... and even though Gary and I were beside ourselves with anger, there was nothing we could do about it.
I told the director that Daniels and I just needed a week in the warehouse and we would make the fight the best it could be. And he said it's a love story, not an action movie, so take it or leave it. Later, I called the producer and said that they would not be able to sell this film (author's note: Hughes was right. The film was finished filming in 2006, and it was released only 3 years later). The fans were crazy, every week I received a ton of letters and didn’t know what to say. If only everything was up to us back then, at least when it came to the action. Believe me, I'm not the only actor who complains about this, there are a lot of people like that.
Author: T. Teymur
Source: today.az
Translation: EvilDollaR
I also noticed that Hughes looks amazing.
Mityai, at 54, is still in good spirits. On the set of "Black Rose" he had problems with the Russian language. He said that he was unlikely to understand a single word of those that Alexander was trying to teach him. He called Kuritsyn Russian Arnie. :)
[img]http://bzfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/hues-black-rose-3.jpg[/img]
Thank you very much Evil. Mathias Hues is still an old man =)
Please. I'd say he's the Evil Ensign of 90s action movies. )))
EvilDollaR, do you know when the knockout will come out.....?
how much has already passed!