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Alexander Nevsky Reflects On Returning to Westerns With His New Film The Wide West
Image Credit: Alexander Nevsky and Joe Cornet
The 411 Interview: Alexander Nevsky
Alexander Nevsky is an international action superstar and producer from Russia who has been in the movie business since the year 2000. A former professional bodybuilder, multi-time Mr. Universe winner, and current member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Nevsky has starred in movies like Showdown in Manila, Maximum Impact, and directed and starred in Black Rose. Nevsky’s latest effort is the western The Wide West, directed by Joe Cornet and currently available exclusively to stream on the Xumo Play platform. In this interview, Nevsky talks with this writer about making The Wide West, working in the Western genre again, and more.
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Bryan Kristopowitz: Why did you want The Wide West to be your next movie as an actor?
Alexander Nevsky: I wanted to make another Western as an actor and producer, so I was looking for the right script. My longtime friend and USA SUMO director Andrew Freund came up with an excellent idea, and that’s how The Wide West was born.
BK: How did you approach your character Max?
AN: Max is a gambler, not a shooter. He even says it in the movie. I always play heroes, but this character is a little different. He is more down to Earth, in my opinion. Also, I was heavily inspired by Charles Bronson’s character in the classic Red Sun (1971).
BK: Where was The Wide West made?
AN: We shot in California, on Whitehorse Ranch. It’s a very nice and authentic Western town.
BK: Describe your working relationship with director and co-star Joe Cornet.
AN: Joe is a great friend, and The Wide West is our fourth movie together. He’s a very talented director and actor. I really like working with him because he’s always positive, optimistic, and very well prepared.
BK: The Wide West is your third Western as an actor. What is it about the Western genre that makes you want to keep coming back to it?
AN: I’m a big fan of Clint Eastwood and John Wayne. I’ve watched most of their classic films. Gunfight at Rio Bravo was my first Western as an actor, and I had huge fun making it. I also added a lot of action into it. So now I’m doing one action Western after another!
BK: What was it like working with sumo wrestlers Hiroki Sumi and Takashi Ichinojo?
AN: Hiroki and Ichi are amazing to work with. They are legendary athletes but talented actors as well. The only problem is: they’re much bigger than me, and it was hard for my ego because usually I’m the biggest guy on set!
BK: What was it like working with Nick Baillie, who plays Judge Dwight Ogburn?
AN: It’s important to have great actors in your movie, and I was lucky to have Nick as my co-star. He was very supportive, and our scenes were fun to shoot. Nick also co-produced The Wide West.
BK: What was it like working with Tatiana Neva, who plays Sybil Malone?
AN: Tatiana is an amazing actress, and she’s so beautiful. Her Sybil really helped elevate our story because it needed a strong and stunning female character. Working with Tatiana was a dream experience because she’s so talented, kind, and supportive.
BK: What was it like working with Kaz Kobayashi, who plays Taka?
AN: Kaz is a good actor and experienced martial artist. He also helped a lot with translation (from English to Japanese and back) because our Sumo legends really needed it.
BK: What was the hardest part of making The Wide West for you as an actor? What was the easiest?
AN: As I said, Max is different compared to other characters I played before, and it wasn’t easy for me to play him. But it was an interesting challenge. The easiest thing was the action — as soon as I started shooting bad guys!
BK: What is your favorite scene in The Wide West?
AN: All my favorite scenes were with Tatiana Neva: in the saloon, in Sybil’s store, and the moment when Max saves Sybil.
BK: How did you get involved with the fight choreography for The Wide West? Describe your working relationship, if any, with fellow fight choreographer Andrew Freund.
AN: I started as a boxer and kickboxer, and later I switched to bodybuilding. My first Hollywood movie was the boxing drama Undisputed (2002), directed by the great Walter Hill. My first starring role was in an action thriller Moscow Heat (2003), and that’s when I started to choreograph fights. It was great to work with Andrew on The Wide West. He choreographed all action scenes involving Japanese characters, and I choreographed all action scenes involving “Western-style” fighting and shooting.
BK: Any upcoming projects you can tell us about?
AN: The Wide West was just released in North America on NBCUniversal’s Xumo Play streaming platform, and we just had a great special screening at The Japan Foundation Los Angeles (which was a big success). I’ll spend this summer promoting The Wide West and preparing for the next Western — Last Heroes of Rio Bravo.
BK: What do you hope audiences get out of The Wide West?
AN: This film is great entertainment, but it’s also inspired by true events, so I hope the audience will have fun and learn something new.
BK: Any interest in a potential The Wide West 2?
AN: Definitely! The Wide West will be released internationally this fall, and after that we’ll see how and when we’ll make a sequel.
BK: Just how complicated is your character Max’s last name?
AN: I won’t tell you because you won’t be able to pronounce it anyway!
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A very special thanks to Alexander Nevsky for agreeing to participate in this interview and to david j. moore for setting it up.
The Wide West is currently available exclusively to stream on the Xumo Play platform.
Check out my review of The Wide West here!
Check out Alexander Nevsky on Twitter here and on Instagram here.
Poster image courtesy of Hollywood Storm. All other images courtesy of Alexander Nevsky and Joe Cornet.
