by Jeremy Fuscaldo
The first day of New York Comic Con featured a variety of actors, actresses, guests, writers, creatives, and people from all walks of life. One of the most notable panels was a spotlight on Academy Award nominee Josh Brolin.
Brolin has appeared in a variety of films such as The Goonies, No Country for Old Men, Milk, Sicario, and Deadpool 2. He’s perhaps most famous for his role as the Mad Titan Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, specifically Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Hosted by Collider editor-in-chief Steve Weinstraub, the conversation was filled with memories and highlights of Brolin’s career and experiences filming different movies and shows, including when he first started his acting career.
When he was first starting, he recollected that he was afraid but combatted and managed his fear and anxiety over the years, including when he appeared in his debut, The Goonies. He shared some of his favorite memories when shooting the film, including a time that he dropped an F-bomb during a major action sequence involving his character, Brandon ‘Brand’ Walsh.
During the panel, Brolin participated in a Q+A featuring some of the actors he worked on Goonies with, including but not limited to a surprise appearance from Ke Hu Yuan, who asked him which Goonie was his favorite. Brolin answered that all of the Goonies were his favorite.
Brolin also shared that if The Goonies were released today, the film would not hold up at all. Because it was released back in 1984, the film has a special place in film history where grandparents can share it with their children and their children’s children because of its cultural impact.
Although The Goonies was his debut, Brolin said No Country For Old Men, directed by the Coen Brothers, changed his career for the better. He revealed that it was his experience working with the Coen Brothers that inspired him to pursue acting in “better” movies helmed by more experienced film directors. Following the success of the film, Brolin went on to appear in True Grit, Sicario, Milk, and other prestigious titles.
But the most notable highlight of Brolin’s career was when he was cast as Thanos during the early phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At the time he signed on to play the Mad Titan, he revealed that he knew nothing and implied that his role as the Mad Titan and motivation may have been unplanned. At the very least, it was in the early stages of development and the goal was for Thanos to have a major impact on the MCU.
During his screen testing and early rehearsals, Brolin recalled how he had to work with different VFX departments. To his recollection, at least 50 computers were used to model his face and he was prompted to talk like Marlon Brando’s character, Colonel Kurtz, in Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now. Some of the early CGI testing involved him sitting down and leaning forward with his hands clenched together, making various facial expressions, and other kinds of tests for the film. Surprisingly, motion capture dots were not used until later.
Brolin revealed that he did not read the official script for Avengers: Endgame until the official days of shooting. Instead of the actual script, he was given a fake script containing fake scenes of the film to help prep him for the official filming of the movie and get him in character, while preventing spoilers from leaking to the other cast and crew.
In his own words, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame were a feat of acting for Brolin’s career and everyone else. He saw everyone give their best performances including, but not limited to, Robert Downey Jr. Brolin said he and Downey formed a friendship and shared that after their roles in the MCU, they vowed to mix it up and try different things so they can look back and say, “We fucked with life and we did a good job.”
When asked about whether or not Thanos would be returning in Avengers: Secret Wars, Brolin jokingly kept a tight lip and let out a cough for laughs. But in all seriousness, he did say that if he were to reprise his role as Thanos, it has to be done right. Even though the new phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been primarily focused on the Multiverse saga, Thanos needs to be treated with great care and respect.
Brolin said would have to be brought in by the Russo Brothers and he said he would have to do anything the way they would want the film(s) to be. Currently, the Russos are working on the upcoming Netflix film The Electric State before moving back to Marvel Studios to helm Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Even though he has gone down in film history for his performance as the Mad Titan, that has not stopped Brolin from pursuing other acting roles, Gurney Halleck in Dune Part 1 and 2 by Denis Villeneuve. Recollecting his experience filming both Dune films, Brolin shared how Hans Zimmer tasked him to write music for the film and how he and the music team helped improve the score.
He also shared kind words about the director of photography, Greg Fraiser (The Batman, Rogue One, Zero Dark Thirty, The Mandalorian), and how he and Fraiser worked on a book together. During the Dune discussion, Fraiser appeared to ask Brolin what gets him out of bed each morning. Brolin said it’s the courage and life of his children that inspire him to keep pursuing acting and living life.
He also has commented on what he will be starring in next: Knives Out III, helmed by writer/director Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Knives Out). Brolin revealed that he joined the Knives Out threequel because he loves the franchise and Johnson’s filmmaking style. Best of all, he gets to reunite with former costars and develop new relationships with others.
Finally, Brolin revealed that he will be joining Edgar Wright’s The Running Man reboot alongside Glen Powell and Katy O’Brian.
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