Seann William Scott is pretty much the best thing about Cop Out, and that's saying a lot given that it's movie featuring Tracy Morgan, Bruce Willis, Adam Brody, Susie Essman, Kevin Pollack and many more bringing the funny. It's Scott's loose, almost unhinged energy that does it, giving him room to steal every scene he's in whether Bruce Willis likes it or not.
Scott brought that same energy to our interview with him on Sunday, explaining without much prompting how he was the Keyser Soze of high school, what caused his earlier film Mr. Woodcock to flop, and yes, suggesting that he'd be perfect to play Jack Skellington in a Broadway version of Nightmare Before Christmas-- a play that no one seems to actually be planning. "I want to do that on Broadway, [playing] Jack Skellington. Because I grew up singing. I'm a much better singer than actor, which doesn't really say a whole lot. But that would be an incredible musical. I'm actually going to record myself for Tim Burton."
When asked if Burton was actually planning the play, Scott quickly explained, "No, he's not doing it. He should though. I sing a lot like Danny Elfman's voice in that. I think that would be an awesome."
So there you have it-- if anyone ever actually does start trying to make this musical happen, there's at least one Hollywood actor who will be first in line. Read below for the rest of our interview with Scott. Cop Out opens this Friday.
We heard it was you improvising that back of the cop car scene.
Oh just repeating him? Yeah. It's a ripoff. Everybody does it. In Tommy Boy, Chris Farley basically repeats him. "You're the one that's got shell on it." He just repeats as a comeback what David Spade says, because he can't think of anything else. That was my inspiration. I wish there was a smarter backstory to it.
It's a schoolyard thing.
Yeah. I think I'm getting the chance to be more of the fun high schooler by doing these movies. When I was in high school I was a super serious athlete. I wasn't fun at all. I was fun with my friends. I did instigate a lot of bad things ,and never got in trouble. I was kind of the Keyser Soze of the group. But now I'm getting a chance to be an absolute idiot, and I'm 33.
It's kind of a stoner character too.
Yeah, I know. I never did that in high school. I did party a little bit like 5 years ago. Not party, party-- my publicist is going to be mad at that. I went through a bit of stoner phase. Everybody has that, right?
I'm the only person who enjoyed Mr. Woodcock--
You did? Dude, you're not the only one. You know who else did? Gerard Butler. I worked with him and Brett Ratner and [Johnny] Knoxville. It's a cool movie with all these awesome actors, all short films. I was so excited to meet him. I love that guy. But he saw Woodcock. He thanked me for it, dude! I was like, 'What? You're the only person I've ever met who saw that movie, except for my mom.' And you! That's great.
But you played an adult character, and it showed!
Thank you. We had such a tough time on that. We did a reshoot for a month with a different director. It should have been rated R I think.
Are you trying to go for more adult roles?
There's not that many good things out there. Even in the comedy world, it's tough. You've got a whole new crop of guys now, the guys from The Hangover, they're on fire. I've got to wait until those guys pass up some movies. It's really competitive. I try to make the best of the opportunities that have been given to me. And of course I hope to have the kind of success to make the right decisions to get to a place so I can do films--. I love this film, I'm very proud of it, but I'd like to do more eclectic films, the kind I tend to sit at home and watch.
Kevin said he was intimidated by Bruce for the first few weeks. What was your relationship like with him and Tracy?
I had never met them before. I met Tracy briefly actually, I hosted Saturday Night Live in 2001. Back then, I was like, 'This guy is going to be a big movie star.' I think he deserves to be at the top. I was definitely intimidated. I was so glad I was sitting in the back of the car. I kept watching Bruce Willis. Even now it just blows my mind. That's all I do is sit home and watch movies. I still can't believe it.
Do you think you'd ever like to do something onstage?
I have an idea. You know what my dream is? The Nightmare Before Christmas, I want to do that on Broadway, [playing] Jack Skellington. Because I grew up singing. I'm a much better singer than actor, which doesn't really say a whole lot. But that would be an incredible musical. I'm actually going to record myself for Tim Burton.
Is he actually planning this?
No, he's not doing it. He should though. I sing a lot like Danny Elfman's voice in that. I think that would be an awesome.
