Chris Evans was a novice at handling guns before taking on the role of Robbery Homicide Detective Paul Diskant in Street Kings, a gritty drama set in Los Angeles and directed by David Ayer (Harsh Times). Evans has played a fiery superhero, a teen heartthrob, and the member of an elite crew trying to save the Sun, but had never before had to use a gun in a film role. And although some members of the cast got to do weapons training in a simulator, Evans never had that chance. “I went out to do the gun range stuff. Keanu and I went with David to this gun range and fired off a few rounds. I had never fired a gun before so it was crazy,” revealed Evans.
Evans stars as the detective in charge of the investigation of an officer’s slaying at a convenience store. The officer, who was cut down by two masked gunman, was in the process of providing evidence to Internal Affairs about the activities of the department’s elite Ad Vice unit. Detective Diskant teams up with the slain officer’s ex-partner (played by Keanu Reeves) to uncover the truth behind the murder of one of their own.
The actor went on ride-alongs and spent time just talking to officers in order to figure out what makes them tick. Asked what was the most important thing he learned from his contact with law enforcement personnel, Evans replied, “That cops hate dirty cops. It was nice. I guess I just assumed that corruption was something that was not talked about, but was everywhere. On the contrary. It could just be what these cops were telling me. Every cop that I spoke to on set or on my ride-along, they just hate dirty cops. They hate them, so that was refreshing. It was unexpected.”
Although he picked up a lot of ideas on how to handle himself in the role, Evans didn’t base his character on any of the officers he spoke with. Instead, Evans used bits and pieces of material from people he knows really well. “I’ll just take someone from my life that I really feel like I have a handle on who they are and where they came from, and use them as my anchor. It’s much easier than trying to create a whole, entirely different person. I always think it’s kind of crazy when actors do that. It almost feels like I barely know myself and to think that I could completely understand a different human being, the way they grew up, it almost feels, at times, arrogant to think an actor can do that. I have an easier time saying, ‘All right. This guy’s gonna be my father. I’m just gonna play my father,’ then I just have a whole well of knowledge. I know so much about this guy. Then, at least I have an anchor that will provide me truth. Because, otherwise, it’s very easy to slip into auto-pilot and, before you know it, the performance becomes kind of contrived,” explained Evans.
Director Ayer says the most difficult role in the film to cast was the part of Detective Diskant because of the character’s strength and vulnerability. The part also required an actor capable of standing up to Reeves’ tough-as-nails character. Evans auditioned with Reeves and Reeves had a say in the casting process, and director Ayer said many of the actors trying out for the role couldn’t stand up to Reeves. But Evans was able to hold his own and not be intimidated. “When you stand up to Keanu you almost feel that he might knock you out,” said Evans. “He’s an intense guy, not just as an actor, in life. I don’t know. I was on auto-pilot the whole audition. I was so nervous. I actually wasn’t sure how the audition went when I left. I was like, ‘I hope that was okay.’ For that exact reason you have to be able to hold your own. I don’t know. I just got lucky.”
“We did a lot of rehearsal, which is great,” said Evans about the process of working opposite Reeves. “I love rehearsal and it was a blessing that Keanu felt the same. Sometimes you work on films where actors and directors don’t really care for rehearsal. I need it. It was wonderful that Keanu and David were both interested in going through everything. There wasn’t a single line….we literally, the first day, sat down at David’s house and went through every single scene, every single line. There’s not one bit of it that wasn’t thought out, which was great.”
Evans has nothing but compliments for Reeves, who came to the set every day prepared to work. “He’s an intense dude. There’s no denying it. It’s nice coming to work with someone who, when they’re at work, they’re working. I guess everyone gets down their own way and has their own approach to acting, but I’ve been on sets with people who are cracking jokes and fooling around with the camera crew and, ‘Action!’ and they [get serious really fast]. They can still do amazing things, but I just like, and I know David likes, when you’re on set, make sure your head’s ready. Make sure you’re in the right place. In between takes, David would come up to you sometimes and look at you and size you up. I’m like, ‘Jesus Christ, what is this guy doing?’ He just wants to make sure that you get your head right. You’re here now. Be here. When you go home, you go home. But you’re here now, be here. Keanu was always present and he’s very uncompromising.”
