Justin Chatwin is the star of the new fantasy adventure, Dragonball Evolution, a thrilling story about an apparently ordinary teenager who discovers his extraordinary destiny: to go on a mystical and dangerous quest. An unlikely hero, Goku finds he has special powers as he awakens to his enthralling destiny. Goku must save the world from destruction, in the face of despicable villains. In search of seven elusive ‘dragon balls' he is plunged into a strange and magical world that is also full of hidden danger.
Q: How thrilling was it landing the role of Goku?
A: "It was so exciting because I have always enjoyed the Dragonball Manga. The TV show was more popular with the generation after mine but I remember growing up that all my friends' little brothers were always talking about the show and about Goku. I love this character. Goku symbolizes decent, positive morals; he stands for good and hope, and his goal is to create a better, healthier, more positive place to live in. The film is such fun too. I feel like six year-old in my front yard, playing guns and fighting battles with the bad guys."
Q: How did you get the part? This is your first big leading role.
A: "It was the same as it is with most movies. I went through the process of auditions. They spent a long time looking everywhere for an actor who would be right for the character, so I was very lucky. It finally came down to five of us and they got hair and make-up, wardrobe and cameras and a crew and we actually went out to a location and shot several scenes. And each potential Goku had to read with the girls who are in the film."
Q: How much of a responsibility is it playing such an iconic comic book character loved by fans the world over?
A: "It is a big responsibility because I'm playing such a hero, a character who has already existed in peoples' minds for years, so I hope the fans will approve and appreciate my interpretation of Goku. And hopefully there will be new audiences who have never seen the comic books."
Q: Did you do a lot of intensive martial arts training?
A: "I trained a lot for the film. I had six weeks to prepare so I went to the experts: the stunt performance, action design company, 87eleven, who have trained actors for films such as The Bourne Supremacy, 300, The Matrix, and Mr. and Mrs Smith. There are several guys who do all the training. I had to make sure that I was physically fit for the part and I had to learn about the craft of martial arts. "
Q: You must be very fit and healthy?
A: "Making this film has definitely turned me on to a healthier lifestyle. I quit drinking. I quit sugar. I stopped eating bread and pasta. It was tough but I feel really good. It gives me more energy during the day definitely."
Q: You did War of the Worlds, of course, with Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise; did the scale of that film help you with the challenges of this film?
A: "It did. I got thrown into the deep end really quickly doing The War of the Worlds because it was a massive movie with massive stars and I wasn't used to that."
Q: What did you learn from Tom Cruise?
A: "Tom Cruise resembles Goku in some ways, you know. He's very positive and energetic. Sometimes he seems as though he is too good to be true because he's so upbeat and enthusiastic but it is very genuine and contagious. His enthusiasm rubs off on people. He is great to be around, very generous, and I learned a lot from him."
Justin Chatwin, 25, was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada and began acting as a teenager. Although he had a passion for drama as well as a natural talent, he never imagined a career in Hollywood and instead enrolled in business school. However, he also went on auditions and began to land roles in Canadian television shows.
Chatwin eventually left university and started to act full time, soon winning a small part in the movie Josie and the Pussycats, then Super Babies: Baby Geniuses 2. The actor moved to L.A. and went on to star in Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds as Tom Cruise's son. He also appeared in The Chumscrubber, The Invisible, Taking Lives as well as the popular TV show, Lost and the mini series, Traffic.
Dragonball Evolution opens April 11 in theaters nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
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