With 'The Bourne Legacy' hitting theaters last week and 'The Avengers' and 'Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol' under his belt, Jeremy Renner has officially made the leap to Hollywood action star. The 41-year-old American actor also plays a bounty hunter in 'Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters', which is due in January 2013. Here, the actor tells us about renovating houses and why he might star in an Steve McQueen biopic.
The role came to me in a very Bourne-like way. Someone flew out to Germany where I was shooting 'Hansel and Gretel'. They knocked on my door, handed me a script and said, ‘When you’re done with it, call this number…’ It was very spylike. So I read it, loved it, and thought I’d be an idiot to not do it.
I play Aaron Cross, a guy who wants to fit in and be a part of something. He’s completely the opposite of who Jason Bourne was. Bourne was just trying to find out who the hell he was, but Aaron Cross knows exactly who he is. He knows what he wants to do and that’s being a part of this team.
There is an amazing motorbike chase scene in Manila with Rachel Weisz clinging on for dear life. To prepare, I had to get used to that motorcycle. It’s an on-road, off-road bike which is a different way to ride than the street bikes that I’m used to. I had to get used to that bike and then having someone on the back riding with me.
I haven’t read Robert Ludlum’s Bourne book series. That would require a lot of time. I’m a guy who has very limited time right now. It’s such a leisure activity to sit down and read for pleasure. I normally read to be educated. The last time I read for pleasure was probably 15 or 20 years ago.
Music is important to me. I’ll bring a playlist or two, if I need a little help for energy. I’ll spend about an hour in the morning stretching and getting loose so that I don’t get injured (on the sets).
There are plans to star in and produce a Steve McQueen biopic. I think he’s an icon. I was never really a crazy rabid fan by any means, but I certainly have seen quite a few of his movies. I just thought he was a really interesting guy to explore.
I still renovate houses. I’m doing one now. It’s been a part of my life for a long time and I don’t plan on giving it up. It’s a tangible thing and will still exist after the movies are gone.