What is it about this story that Doug and you guys felt was worthy of a movie?
Kevin Connolly: Well, I think that’s what Doug struggled with the most. It’s not easy; when you have 96 episodes and eight seasons, it’s hard to carry on a story like that. [The show] is essentially a 96-episode movie! It was one huge arc. And now we’re continuing with it.
Adrian Grenier: Doug borrows a lot from real life and our personal stories and tries to make it as authentic as possible. For me and my character, I was happy and excited. There were just some minor arc things that I talked to Doug about that he was already in the process of fixing. I just wanted to make sure Vince had real transformation.
Jerry Ferrara: There’s some elements to it that feels like nothing is changed; it’s just Season 9. There’s some other feelings like the night we first started, I had some jitters so there was definitely a private moment of reflection to see how far I came in 10 years.
Kevin Dillon: It feels the same to me. With just less pages of the script.
Adrian Grenier: The luxury is we got more times to get more shots for the quality of it all. And it’s one of those things where people are gonna be excited to sit in the theater. We had the luxury of watching the show in the theater during the premieres. And that’s something most people weren’t lucky enough to experience. And it’s a whole ‘nother world. So I’m exicited for people to get that cinematic experience.
The show has always been heightened by the cameos. How well did it play for the movie?
Kevin Connolly: It’s funny when the show first started, we begged people to do cameos and the first few were favors. Jessica Alba did us a big favor and Ali Larter did us a big favor. Even Mark [Wahlberg] stepped in a bunch. But as the show goes on, people are essentially begging us to be in the movie. Doug is great because someone will call and say they want to be in the movie and then Doug will say, “Do you have any ideas?” Like, Bog Saget’s back. And he’s in! He came in with an idea. What are you willing to do? Are you willing to poke fun at yourself or what’s the story you want to tell.
Jerry Ferrara: We have Ronda Rousey. We meet her early in the movie and it’s one of those things were Turtle feels he has a connection and in typical fashion, all the guys are just doubting him…saying ‘You can’t get her’…makes him kind of insecure. And I kind of ask her out and it becomes a business deal and she gets confused by that, thinking I actually wanted to date her. It’s definitely a good little romantic storyline with her and I’ve personally been a fan for years now. She’s the real deal–in and out–of the ring.
Is there any fighting in that “relationship?”
Jerry Ferrara: There will be blood. And I’m sure it’s mine.
I see Saigon got thrown back into the mix.
Jerry Ferrara: And it’s a cool moment because that storyline had closure but that really was the character’s first venture into business! I talk to him all the time. He and my mom are actually like best friends on Instagram. Saigon is always putting up photos of his kids and my mom likes every single photo of anyone I follow on Instagram! I’m actually writing a book on a how-to book on when your parents join social media. It’s tragic.
Photo: WENN
Does the movie have an entry point for non fans?
Kevin Connolly: Yes! This is where Piers Morgan comes in. I think what was important to Warner Bros. was the ability for audiences to not have seen the show and still enjoy the movie. So the movie essentially opens up with CNN doing a piece on Vincent Chase and “The Entourage.” It basically sums up the series in the first few minutes of the movie.
Jerry Ferrara: Where the show left off, Turtle kind of landed himself into a bit of wealth, which was really nice. What I really love about it that he made all this money and he still drives all the guys around. He made all this money and he could easily sit back and be on easy street but he still picks Vince up and drives the guys around in his Escalade, which I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Adrian, you’re on the set but your character isn’t wearing a wedding ring…
Adrian Grenier: I mean…[Laughs]. You’ve seen the show. I think we all knew that wasn’t going to last. There will be more beautiful ladies but it’s kind of odd because E gets more ass than V.
Does Drama finally get his “big break” this time around, Kevin?
Kevin Dillon: Drama’s character is always tethering. He’s always on the edge of complete failure and Hyde is a major motion picture and he feels like this part could be the one to take him to the next level.
Did you guys really have a doubt that there was going to be a movie made?
Kevin Connolly: Not saying there was a doubt but things have to happen. There has to be a script and there has to be a studio and there has to be a budget approved. In my heart I always knew it would happen but there’s still schedules to consider as well. And then everybody has to like the script! But we’re just happy to be here.
Jerry Ferrara: You’re never really show but I’ve always tried to take the show’s mentality that everything always works out in the end. I’m a bit of a pessimist but everytbody including Warner Bros. wanted to do it and it did.
Kevin Dillon: I kind of felt it was going to happen. As time went by, I was getting a little bit nervous [Laughs]. It’s like going back to your mom’s house and putting on an old pair of your favorite shoes. It just feels right. This show, I always felt, had legs. Eight seasons just didn’t feel like it was enough for me. It felt we could have gotten TEN. Now with this movie, it’s kind of like doing another season.
Adrian Grenier: Me and the guys…we’re all East Coast guys and we’re all from the same ‘not-very-sensitive-anything-goes’ perspective. So I guess from a Midwest point of view, [our language] may be insults but to us, they’re funny and compliments. We’re all so close and the characters were born for us.
