While playing Shades in luke Cage, Theo Rossi got an opportunity to explore his relationship with his father. By Team Viva
While he might play a sociopath called Shades in luke Cage, actor Theo Rossi is humble and quite different in real life. A family man, he says he would love to play less violent characters and instead act in romantic comedies or a sci-fi movie or a TV show.
“The reaction to the series was terrific in the US. It put the spotlight on a sub-culture that a lot of people never really show in films and it was portrayed as an emotional journey of a family rather than a violent movie that most people assume. This movie will let the Indian audience be part of this culture and learn more about it. They will be entertained and at the same time learn about a different culture they don’t know much about,” he said.
The movie was an emotional journey since the relationship between his character called “Ghost” and his father is similar to his relationship with his real father. “I was involved with people who love cars and motorcycles. The lowrider culture is similar to the motorcycle culture. So, when I was given the script it spoke to me since it focussed not just on low riding but also on graffiti and art. I fought as hard as I could to get the role. I love the dynamics between the father, played by Demian Bichir, and my character since it reminded me of my relationship with my birth father that I never really got to explore,” he said.
For Rossi, the hardest scenes to shoot in the movies were also the ones with Demian because this role let him explore the father-son relationship and acted as a therapy for him. As an artist, he tries to play complex characters that have lots of emotions. “I like real life stuff that focusses on human behaviour. I have been very fortunate to find that in the motorcycle world and in Marvel world with my character in luke Cage. I chase roles that mean something that make people feel things,” he said. “It’s a dream come true to play the character of Shades. I have two little sons who read Marvel comics and I get to play a really cool villain in a comic universe. It’s honestly one of the best shows on television. The character is layered. He could be a hero or a villain. You feel bad for him too in a way. I grew up drawing comics and wanted to be an artist when I was young. So, I’m fulfilling mine and my kids’ dreams too.”
Rossi, who has been working in Hollywood for 18 years now, is an American actor and producer best known for his portrayal of Juan Carlos Juice Ortiz on the FX series Sons of Anarchy. Another project in the pipeline includes the show Ghosts of War.
(Watch lowriders only on Sony PIX)