How did director Joseph Kozinski convince Tom Cruise to make ‘Defender: The Lone Ranger’?

I recently read an interview with the director of “Defender: The Lone Ranger”. Talk about how he persuaded Tom Cruise to make a ‘Defender’ sequel, and a behind-the-scenes look at the filming. The best part is the communication at the beginning.

About five years ago, producer Brockheimer approached Kozinsky, gave him a very early version of the story, and asked for his opinion. Kosinski said his thoughts after seeing it. Brockheimer said, you have to speak to Tom directly.

So they flew to Paris. Tom Cruise was filming Mission Impossible at the time. The filming gap gave them about half an hour. He started by saying to Kozinski, “Thank you for coming. Whatever the outcome, it’s a pleasure to see you all.”

Kosinski then learned that Tom Cruise still had no will at this point, but he still said his thoughts on the sequel.

He’s worked with Tom Cruise (2013’s Forsaken), and knows it’s going to be emotional.

He said the sequel, like the original “Defender,” was a rite of passage. Although the first episode has air battle scenes, it is basically a drama. The same goes for the sequel. But the story is that the Lone Ranger goes deep into enemy territory with Goose’s son, and then reconciles.

Tom Cruise became interested when he heard this.

This is actually Koginsky’s idea. In hindsight, he says, the film revolves around the relationship between the Lone Ranger and the rooster, of course. But the version he got at the beginning didn’t have that.

Kozinsky’s “No Way Back” was in the post-production stage at the time. He also found a picture of one of the protagonists, Miles Taylor (with some moustaches), and showed it to Tom Cruise, saying that he had worked with the kid and thought it was good. Of course, in the end, Miles Taylor still relied on his own ability to get the role of the cock through casting.

After talking about the main axis, Kojinsky continued to talk about the opening dark star. To let the audience know whether the lone ranger or the lone ranger. He’s still flying and pushing himself and technology to the limit. But he is no longer in the original team, but alone.

Finally, when it comes to shooting, try to be as realistic as possible. He said watching YouTube at the time, any navy pilot with a GoPro made a better-looking video than the previous movies. He knew that it would be impossible to make another aerial combat movie in the same way as before. Tom Cruise certainly agrees.

The last is the title of the film. Kozinski said it must not be called “Defender 2”. Let’s call it “Defender: The Lone Ranger”! This is a movie about characters. (Exactly what I said in “Defender: The Lone Ranger: Legacy, Letting Go, and Moving Forward “, the focus of the film shifted from the plot to the characters.)

Tom Cruise picked up his phone, called Paramount executives and said: We are going to make a sequel to “Defender”.

The interview also touches on something that struck me when I saw the movie: the softness and fragility of Tom Cruise’s interpretation of The Lone Ranger, not the tough stereotype we’ve seen in other films.

The director said that the Lone Ranger is the character closest to Tom Cruise himself. So he has been reluctant to make a sequel. The way he made movies, no one has made them like this anymore, just like the Lone Ranger in the movie. Of course, there is also the connection between the movie and the real Fang Kimer. So it’s not just a movie, it’s their life.

The rest of the interview is also brilliant. full text:

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Director Joseph Kosinski Interview

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