The Wu-Tang Clan architect also gives an update on his long-in-the-works solo album The Cure.
This month, EW is offering exclusive looks at more than two dozen of 2021’s most anticipated movies.
Check out more of our previewhere.
Credit: Allen Fraser/Universal Pictures
The RZAis kind of like his own one-man action film: He writes!
Drops beatsandthe bad guys!
RZA plays his mysterious brother, Harry, and when they team up with their father Christopher Lloydalert!
well, you’ll see what transpires.
I liked the way that my character entered the film.
I thought it was just hilarious to play Hutch’s brother, to be Harry and Hutch.
They’re brothers, yet it’s an unlikely brotherhood.
So I thought that would be funny and cool, all in one.
You get over a certain number, man, you know what I mean?
Because I wasn’t in my best shape.
But I spent a few weeks preparing myself when I knew I was going to fly over.
Bob was in great shape, and it was really inspiring.
Bob told me that he trained for two years.
[RZA co-wrote, directed, and starred in the 2012 martial arts film.]
We didn’t expect that you’d be able to work this out so quickly.
So we appreciate that."
I’m not in great shape, but I’m notoutof shape, you know what I mean?
And let’s say this: I’ve been working out.
[Laughs] I would never be caught off [guard again].
I’m going to be better even next time I do something like that.
When he gets back on that bus?
The price of the popcorn is paid, a’ight?
When Bob gets back on that bus?
You got everything you came from, because that s— iscrazy.
I got a chance to talk to him about my favorite scene.
They got the heat lamps on and s—.
And I look over and I said, “Christopher, do you mind?
I wanted to say one thing to you.
I’m a big fan of yours, but the thing that won me over was your character inTaxi.
And you first started off with [imitates bad piano playing].
And everybody was like, ‘Oh, what is he going to do?’
But then you played this incredible f—ing Mozart piece!”
I never forgot that scene.
[Laughs] So we laughed about that.
There’s a photo of you three at the top of this story.
How would you describe the collective energies of your three characters in the climax of this film?Wow.
Let me see if I can give you a quick sentence of that.
I’ll say, a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream.
[Laughs] That’s it right there.
A couple of hot chocolate with whipped cream.
With a can of whip-ass on top.
You’ve directed another action movie,Cut Throat City.
It’s not just a run-of-the-mill action film.
We are definitely at a very unique time.
Because the sunlight doesn’t discriminate who it penetrates.
And as humans, I just pray that we can find that common denominator lemme say that.
As humans, of course.
As Americans, I pray for it more, because we are a total minority in this world.
There’s only 350 million to 8 billion, okay?
Let’s not subdivide ourselves.
And if science is right, our little blue planet once again is one in multi-billions.
It’s like, we’ve got to take a look at that and appreciate this thing.
But it was good to read that I was evolving into that then.
And maybe people need to hear it now.
How close are you to being finished?
One moment I’m feeling like okay…
It’ll be ready when it’s ready.That’s the line.
Ready when it’s ready.
You act, you direct, you write, you rap, you produce, you score films.
What are you justterribleat?They said I’ve got some bad dad jokes.
My daughter went on record in aRolling Stoneinterview and said, “Dad got bad dad jokes.”
I’m working on it!
I’m working on them.
I’m going to have a few good ones, sooner or later.
Among all your projects you have going on is the meditation EPGuided Explorations.
Any parting words of wisdom for these horrific and unsettling times?
And they always say the truth sets you free.
But what do they mean by being free?
If you go back to George Floyd, he wasn’t a big dude, but he was humble.
But he’s just a nice guy with a beautiful family, right?
We put everybody into a stereotypical mindset, and therefore it’s not based in truth.
And this is the year.
We came from 2020.
