The Forever Purge opens July 2.
That was the initial thing.
Then I was like, okay, that’s clearly not enough for the movie.
The Forever Purge.Universal Pictures
It was like, how do I shake this up?
They’re not even going to listen to when the sirens [announce] it’s over.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY:The Forever Purgeis directed by Mexican filmmaker Everardo Gout.
The Forever Purge.Jake Giles Netter/Universal Pictures
How did he come on board?
Everardo and I spoke and we share a love of tequila and mezcal.
Heintroducedme to mezcal, which was a great initial way to bond.
The Forever Purge.Universal Pictures
It’s very simple.
Yeah, bring tequila, maybe introduce me to something like a mezcal.
But tequila is the way to my soul.
James DeMonaco.Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
[Laughs]
Tell us about putting together the cast.
On Tenoche and Ana, that was completely Everardo.
He literally said in my first meeting with him, “I’ve got the two perfect actors.”
I knew Ana’s work a little bit.
Tenoche, I knew fromNarcos.
[But] Everardo really brought them up.
I’ve been a Will Patton fan sinceNo Way Out.
We tried to work together onPurge 3.
So this works perfectly.
It was a great cast, we got so lucky.
The film seems horribly relevant for all sorts of reasons.
But when it was delayed for a year because of COVID were you worried it might seem less fresh?
The COVID thing scared us to death.
I’m a theater guy, so this whole future of cinema is scaring the hell out of me.
Sadly I think the discord in the country is still here.
So I think that keeps it somewhat relevant in the world.
People authentically ask me, do you think this could happen?
And they’re not joking.
I’m like, wow, our ship needs to get righted very quickly.
I feel like you’re becoming the Frank Sinatra ofThe Purgemovies.
You’re always announcing your retirement from them.
Oh, I thought this was a booze thing.
But is this going to be your lastPurgefilm?
I thought it was.
Even with Everardo, it was like this is it, my end of America, America is burning.
So that was the initial intent.
I’m going to be completely honest, I came up with something about two months ago.
I woke up with a new way that we can keep it fresh and turn the thing upside down.
[Laughs]
Jason Blum told mehe wouldn’t make aPurgemovie without you.
Yeah, he says that to me.
He really wants me to direct the next one.
It’s such a crazy idea I was actually like, oh, maybe I’ll do that one.
I’ll definitely write it, I’ll say that.
So I’ll definitely be involved in some way.
Watch the trailer forThe Forever Purgeabove.
