Alexis Denisof, who plays Benedick, was at the Much Ado About Nothing outdoor premiere Wednesday night with his wife, Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother).
Denisof, like many of his castmates, has quite a rapport with director Joss Whedon, appearing in The Avengers and the TV series Angel.
Amy Acker
Like Denisof, Amy Acker also starred in Whedon's TV series Angel. She then appeared in his most recent cult hit, The Cabin in the Woods, before being cast in Much Ado as Beatrice, the love interest of Denisof's Benedick.
Clark Gregg and Jennifer Grey
Clark Gregg on screening the film outdoors:
"I’m from New York, and one of my favorite things to do was go to Shakespeare in the Park and watch Chris Walken, Kevin Kline, Meryl Streep do Shakespeare in the Park in the summer, so to have it be turning into summer in LA and to show this movie outdoors, it feels like a little slice of that."
Jillian Morgese
Much Ado provided Jillian Morgese with her very first speaking role on film as Hero. She had briefly appeared as an extra in Whedon's The Avengers.
Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon on the differences between The Avengers and Much Ado About Nothing:
"They’re pretty easy to separate. There wasn’t a moment where I was like, 'Oh, we gotta get the Hulk stuff for the wedding scene.' They were breathing space from each other. The pressure, obviously, of The Avengers was a particular thing but at the same time, I had dozens of people working for me. Much Ado was a much more freeing experience, but at the same time it was just me and Danny on our laptops editing it, so I didn’t have anybody to blame. It was great. One would fulfill me in one way, and one in the other. Instead of being more exhausting, it was less."
Kai Cole
Kai Cole is not only married to Whedon, the director of Much Ado, but also produced the film with the couple's own Bellwether Pictures.
Cast of Much Ado About Nothing
Whedon on what he was looking for in the cast:
"I look for talent, I look for training, I look for a work ethic. People who’ve worked in soaps, on stage, on sitcoms, they know they have to change all the time, they have to learn it all. Nobody’s coming in and waiting in their trailers when there’s no trailers. They all have a joy about them; they love what they do, they’re grateful to be doing it; and I’m grateful to be doing it with them."
Nathan Fillion
Nathan Fillion on joining the film:
"I almost tried to chicken out of this one. I was so terrified to do the Shakespeare. Thank god he’s brilliant and he’s a good friend. He talked me off the roof and he convinced me it’s OK, and I haven’t been challenged like I was in this project in a long time. Probably since the last time I worked with him."
Reed Diamond
Reed Diamond on screening the film outdoors:
"This is perfect. How more poetic can that be? I think that’s how most of us saw Shakespeare the first time and everyone can drink, which is important. We want you to be drinking while you watch this movie because we were drinking while we made it.
"I think it’s uncivilized that you can’t bring a glass of wine into the movie theater, and I appreciate those movie theaters in America that allow that to happen. It happens in Europe. It’s not some crazy Metallica concert. We’re not tripping and going bananas, it’s nice."
Riki Lindhome
Riki Lindhome on Whedon:
"He knows the material inside and out. He knows what he’s talking about, and he’s a storyteller. He makes you feel really excited and comfortable."