CraveOnline: That is a great story. The first part’s sad, but it worked out well.
Paul Bettany: Oh yeah but if I had a fucking dollar for every time somebody told me my career was over, I would have enough dollars for my career to be over. [Laughs.]
There’s lovely people in this business, and then there are dicks. You know what I mean? But that’s the same in every part of the world and every business. And there’s an honesty in this business that is weird, that is, “Show me what you’ve got. Can we make some money out of it?” And then there’s a brutality to this business, that is, that you’ve got to be ready for that gravel shower.
Which is funny for me because this industry seems like it attracts so many sensitive artists. You have to be very emotional.
Well, that’s the very peculiar interaction. It’s probably why there are so many drunk artists.
I should take up drinking. So now you’re on the set for a Marvel movie. Did you ever get to be on the set before, or were you always doing J.A.R.V.I.S. in post-production?
Always. J.A.R.V.I.S.’s superhuman power is to clarify things that two weeks before the release were still unclear, for the filmmakers. So they always left me right till the last minute in case there was something that simply they couldn’t and haven’t been able to explain, [so] that J.A.R.V.I.S. could just say it.
Can you give me an example?
[Smiles.] No.
It’s gone?
No, no. I mean, you have to understand the commitment for me was, I get a phone call saying, “Can you be at this recording studio?” I would go, I would work for two hours, they’d give me a big bag of cash and I’d go home. It was a fantastic relationship. [Laughs.]
——— Spoilers Ahead! ———
Do you have to sign a new contract, now that you’re on-camera? Or is it the same?
You mean, is there a new contract after J.A.R.V.I.S.?
Yeah, was there a separate contract for J.A.R.V.I.S. and The Vision?
Oh, of course.
Are you ready to do a lot more? Are you hoping to do a lot more? Because we want to see more of The Vision.
I can understand why you want to ask the question, and you can probably understand why I can’t. [Laughs.] What I’m allowed to say is that Vision continues and I think… You’ve seen the movie?
Yes.
So at the end of the movie, he’s standing there and he’s an Avenger. He’s an Avenger and I’m very excited to move forward and see where they’re going to take him.
Good answer. I’m sure you know that in the comic, The Vision has a relationship with The Scarlet Witch.
Yeah.
Did you talk to Joss Whedon about that? You only really have a moment together in the film, but did he mention it?
I think for people who aren’t in the know, that moment will wash over them in passing by, and for people that do know, it’s a nod and a wink to that future relationship. Whether that then transpires or not I genuinely couldn’t tell you.
William Bibbiani is the editor of CraveOnline’s Film Channel and the host of The B-Movies Podcast and The Blue Movies Podcast. Follow him on Twitter at @WilliamBibbiani.
