FAMKE JANSSEN: I might. It depends. It depends on many different things, who the director would be. Bryan Singer is no longer going to direct it. He did the first two and then he ended up doing “Superman” now. I love the first two “X-Men” because I thought that Bryan Singer did such a great job. He elevated that whole genre. He’s a very talented director. So it really depends on [the director].
Was there a lot of green screen used in “X-Men” and “X2?”
FAMKE JANSSEN: Not so much with him. He actually prefers to do whatever he can without it, but inevitably.
What about the rumor “Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s” Joss Whedon might direct the third “X-Men?”
FAMKE JANSSEN: I heard that rumor too. I’ve heard it on the street. I haven’t heard it from close reliable sources yet, but I don't know. I’d really have to look at his take on [it]. It’s so hard to imagine at this point anybody other than Bryan doing it because those two movies have such a specific, distinctive look.
Hasn’t the story been set up for Dark Phoenix?
FAMKE JANSSEN: Bryan really wanted to follow that storyline because it’s one of the biggest storylines in the “X-Men” comic books. So it would have been great for me if that had happened and that scenario. I’m not sure what they’re going to do. I know Dark Phoenix is a huge part of the “X-Men” saga, so I’m assuming they’re at least going to want to touch on it. But I don't know and I don't know whether I would want to be involved. That depends on many different things.
Wouldn’t it be weird to see someone else play Jean Grey?
FAMKE JANSSEN: If they went with the Dark Phoenix storyline, then maybe not because I think she’s supposed to be very different anyway.
Is there any progress on “Ice Age 2?”
RAY ROMANO: Yeah, there’s a script and negotiating, and I think it’s going to happen. That’s what they tell me. I believe now. Let’s see, I read the script a couple months ago. What happens now is I think they’re worried about everything melting. Yeah, I think it starts out where they have to flee because they’re about to get flooded. And I know Manny gets a girlfriend in it. My character, yeah, and this is how sad I am, I’m excited about it. You know how you get when you’re playing in a film and you’re going to have a boyfriend or girlfriend? You know, there’s a little bit of excitement. I’m excited that my animated character has a girlfriend. Maybe I’ll get a crush on her.
Are you trying to do a film a summer?
RAY ROMANO: The show is over this year so there will be no time frame, but that’s what we tried the last two years. We did one over the summer with Kevin [James]. It’s called “Grilled,” temporarily called “Grilled.” It’s a dark comedy also. We play meat salesmen who are down on our luck and we have this very bad day where things go wrong and we just need to make a sale. They said January, but I know it’s pushed to April.
Did you model that character after another neighbor?
RAY ROMANO: No, we met the guy. The meat guy and I actually sat and wrote a backstory. I don’t know. I mean, I hate getting all actorly because I’m the last person to, you know? The director was great and he worked a lot with me and Kevin. When you hear me and Kevin you think it will be a broad comedy and it’s really not. It’s kind of twisted and dark. I’m just worried people are going to expect it to be zany and it isn’t. This character I play is a little more selfish and lecherous than this guy [in “Eulogy”]. (Laughing) And he has a full beard and a moustache.
What’s next for you?
FAMKE JANSSEN: I just did a movie over the winter called “Hide and Seek” with Robert De Niro, coming out January 29th I believe. I did “Nip/Tuck” over the summer for 10 episodes and I’m going to direct something with two other actresses. We’re directing. It’s Christina Ricci, Rosario Dawson and myself. It’s one narrative but there’s three different storylines that you follow. And each one of us is going to act in one of them and direct one of the other ones. So we’re directing one another but we’re not acting and directing in our same pieces.
What’s your story about?
FAMKE JANSSEN: I know the entire story, but I’m not going to bore you with the whole thing. But I know which one I’m going to direct and I know which one I’m starring in. It’s really fun. We’re working on the script right now to get it polished and ready.
Do the stories have female themes?
FAMKE JANSSEN: No. I mean, we all are either married or have boyfriends in the film and there are guys too. It’s us three actresses and a female producer at the moment. We’re looking for a DP right now and are looking at some females. But it really depends when whomever is available and is the best, obviously. So it was written by a woman originally but we’re going to have another writer come on to do a rewrite. We’re workshopping it and stuff like that so it’s not entirely… It’s not a feminist project or anything like that but there are a lot of women involved in it. It’s called “Real Women, Real Stories.”
