“The Losers”
This is one hot ride you don’t want to miss!

(L to R - Director Sylvain White, the cast of “The Losers,” Idris Elba)

(L to R - Elba and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jason Patric in foreground)

"The Losers" stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan ("Watchmen") as Clay; Zoë Saldana ("Avatar," "Star Trek") as Aisha; Chris Evans (the "Fantastic Four" films) as Jensen; Idris Elba ("Obsessed") as Roque; Columbus Short ("Stomp the Yard") as Pooch; Oscar Jaenada ("Che: Part Two") as Cougar; and Jason Patric ("In the Valley of Elah") as Max.

Sylvain White ("Stomp the Yard") directed the film from a screenplay by Peter Berg and James Vanderbilt, based upon the comic book series written by Andy Diggle, illustrated by Jock and published by DC Comics/Vertigo.   The film is rated PG-13 from Warner Bros. Pictures.

White also worked with Scott Kevan to film the action from a perspective that brings moviegoers right into the fray. The director emphasizes, "We want the audience to experience certain pivotal moments through the eyes of the characters. It's about positioning the camera inside the action and staying as close as possible to the actors. Sometimes it's limiting, and other times it opens brand new doors. It was a fine line, but I think we were able to find a good combination."

He continues, "I'm very proud of the action in this film, but what I think shines through the most is the fun tone and the great characters. I think ultimately that's what I want to leave the audience with--having had a good time with 'The Losers'...and wanting to do it again."

During a press conference in Los Angeles recently, I spoke to White and Idris Elba about “The Losers”

The attraction to this film --

Sylvain White:  The first thing that attracted me was this amazing combination of really hard hitting action --visceral action-- combined with this light collection of characters and their humor.  They did it in quite a unique way.  Jamie generated the script and he was able to inject even more humor into it, really staying true to the characters. That was something that was important to me. Secondly, the aesthetic of the graphic novel is pretty unique and very beautiful.  The use of colors and the graphic nature of the design of the novel is really amazing so I wanted to stay truthful to that on some level; make sure it reflects the graphic novel, but at the same time, it’s not obtrusive to the experience of the movie.  So I book ended that  with the source material, the frames of the graphic novel, yet still trying to apply a steady coating to the movie overall that reminds you that you’re watching a comic book without hitting you over the head with it.

The imagination is stretched with this story.  Could animation have been used for certain scenes?

White:  Well, I think the movie has this sort of comic book tone that I call the ‘gray line’ that you have to walk because you know the tonality of the movie makes it so that we’re almost winking at action films. There is a sort of a sarcastic, cynical look at them, but at the same time, we’re laughing with it so you know some of these unbelievable moments --electromagnetic gadgets and all that stuff-- is part of the comic book world.  It’s part of the fun that the movie exudes so it was always about trying not to push it too far but push it far enough so that people laugh and have fun.  It was actually not that difficult to attain specifically because the graphic novel itself is such a great benchmark.

The look of this film is also unique.  One nuance in particular is the head wrap worn by Idris Elba’s character, Rogue.  It added a nice flavor. 

White: The head wrap was Idris’s idea from the beginning.  If I remember correctly, he just came to me with ideas for his character --as they all did-- and I’m really open to that, specifically, with actors when we construct a look and the feel of a character, I like to collaborate.  I don’t like to necessarily impose on them and that is a good example of how actors can come up with really cool ideas just for their looks, go with it, and it pays off.

The early buzz from those who saw the film is an outcry for a sequel.  Has it been discussed?

White:  We don’t know at this point but I certainly feel that we’ve all had a good experience in this movie and we’d love to do it again. I think we all love the movie; it has such great story arcs and continuing character themes that it deserves to be continued.

Idris Elba:  I think if there was a sequel I’d love the opportunity to bring Roque back but it has to work for the story line.  Jeffrey (Morgan) and I were talking about this and, you know, I would want to see Roque come back and all of them unite again. That would be refreshing to me.  

Known for tapping into great talent, what put Idris Elba on your radar?

White: Well, you know his Stringer Bell character on the HBO series, The Wire, is the first time I really saw Idris likened to a character.  I loved that series and it kind of put him on my radar.  But, you also know others who know him.  The producers of my first movie, Stomp the Yard, produced three movies with Idris: This Christmas, Takers, and Obsessed so I had had some interaction with Idris during those times.  I was just waiting for an opportunity to work with him and when the character of Roque came up I thought there would be nobody better to really bring out those layers in this character.  I mean, because his character turns on you but at the same time, you’ve got to love his character.  Most of all, the turn [his character makes] has to be believable, so I would say he’s the guy with the most layers in the movie.  I thought he’s a great actor and I just wanted the opportunity to work with him.

Elba: Just to piggyback, it’s all in the writing, the words from the writers.  The creators of The Wire and may he rest in peace, David Mills, who just passed away gave us words that offered the actors choices. The director helps you to guide those choices into what the screenplay says. Then when Jeffrey and I have the huge challenge of making our relationship believable so that when we do have that fight scene at the end, you’re seeing not only two men going at it, they’re professionals at what they do, tactically. Two men that have been friends and comrades and people that will die for each other who are now in a fight, so, it’s all about the words.   I was very lucky to have a great team to work with, and, of course, Sylvain subtly guides Jeffrey and me on that journey.

More on IDRIS ELBA:  He recently starred in the hit 2009 thriller "Obsessed," with Beyoncé Knowles and Ali Larter. Elba earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for his portrayal of a married man being stalked by a co-worker. He previously shared in a Screen Actors Guild Award® nomination as a member of the main cast of Ridley Scott's 2007 true-life drama "American Gangster," with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.

Elba has several film projects upcoming, including the crime drama "Takers," with Matt Dillon, Zoë Saldana and Hayden Christensen, and the action adventure "Thor," in which he stars with Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman under the direction of Kenneth Branagh. He also executive produced and stars in the independent film "Legacy," which was chosen to close the 2010 Glasgow Film Festival, and has also been selected to screen at this year's Tribeca Film Festival.

Elba's additional film credits include David S. Goyer's horror thriller "The Unborn"; Guy Ritchie's "RocknRolla," as part of an ensemble cast that also included Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton and Tom Wilkinson; and the hit horror thriller "28 Weeks Later," to name only a few.

On the small screen, Elba had a recurring role last season on the hit NBC series "The Office." In his native England, he next stars in the title role of the BBC crime drama series "Luther," set to debut in the UK in May. He first gained attention with his starring role as the de facto leader of a Baltimore drug empire in HBO's acclaimed original series "The Wire," for which he received an Image Award nomination. Additionally, he starred in the Channel 4 telefilm "All in the Game," and gained another Image Award nod for his performance in the HBO movie "Sometimes in April," as a Hutu soldier who tries to save his Tutsi wife and family during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Elba has also worked on the stage, including leading roles in several plays produced in London. Additionally, in New York, he starred in Sir Peter Hall's off-Broadway production of "Troilus and Cressida," receiving rave reviews for his portrayal of Achilles.

More on SYLVAIN WHITE - a writer and producer, he previously directed the 2007 smash hit "Stomp the Yard," which marked his feature film directorial debut and topped the box office in its first two weekends in release. His work on the film reflected his knowledge and passion for being a hands-on director, from his involvement with visual effects to camera operation and editing, to executive producing the Stomp the Yard soundtrack.

Born and raised in Paris, White won a scholarship to Pomona College in California, where he graduated with honors in both Media Studies and Film and Video Production.

White went on to demonstrate his compelling visual style and strong storytelling skills when he created a series of sensational, award-winning short films, including such titles as "The 25th Frame," "Urban Short Circuit Mind Scrape," and "Quiet," which received multiple awards in the United States and internationally. He has also directed numerous award-winning commercials and music videos in the U.S., Europe and Japan.