Paul Feig says that he knew Jason Statham was going to steal the show in new comedy movie Spy.

Paul Feig

Paul Feig

Statham stars alongside Melissa McCarthy and Jude Law in the new action comedy and all the buzz is around the performance of the British actor.

Feig, who is back in the director's chair for the film, reveals that he has been a fan of Statham for years and has been looking for the right comedy project for the actor for some time.

The movie premiered at SXSW Festival where Feig chatted to Collider about how Statham stole the show: "I 100% knew that he was going to be able to do that. I have been a fan of Statham's ever since his career started - since Lock Stock.

"But it was when I saw him in the first Crank movie that I thought 'he's funny, he know he's funny and he knows what's funny about him.' And so it became my life's goal to get him in a comedy. I couldn't find the right project. Then I was writing this project I was like 'this is where I am going to put him.' I had this role as a rival spy who is driven crazy by the fact that his woman, who had been working in the basement, is out as his equal.

"I wasn't sure if Jason would do it and I had a meeting with him before I even told him about it because I am just such a fan. I was terrified to meet him because you expect him to be mean and tough. I walked out and he was like 'hey Paul' and just so friendly and a nice guy on top of it. We hit it off. When I wrote the part for him he jumped on it. He might have been a little nervous at first but then he just went for it."

Spy is the first directorial outing for Feig - who has also penned the screenplay since The Heat. This is also the third film in which Feig has teamed up with actress Melissa McCarthy - the pair had already worked together on Bridesmaids and The Heat.

Feig is set to return to the director's chair with Ghostbusters later this year, which will star McCarthy and Kirsten Wiig.

Spy is released 5th June.


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