“X-Men” star Aaron Stanford sparks up Pyro again after 18 years: ‘I was shocked and thrilled’ (exclusive)
In the realm of superhero cinema, few characters have ignited the screen with the same fiery passion as Pyro, the mutant with the power to manipulate flames. And now, after an 18-year hiatus, the iconic character is back, ready to unleash his inferno once more. Aaron Stanford, the actor who brought Pyro to life in the “X2” and “X-Men: The Last Stand” films, is returning to the role in the highly anticipated “Deadpool & Wolverine”, leaving fans in awe and anticipation.
Stanford, known for his roles in Syfy’s “12 Monkeys” and the horror film “The Hills Have Eyes,” shared his excitement about reprising his character, revealing that the news was a complete surprise. “I was shocked and thrilled,” he exclaimed, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. “They wanted to know my availability, but they wouldn’t say what it was in regards to. Then there was another phone call and another phone call and just more and more inquiries.” The actor knew something was brewing, but it wasn’t until Marvel connected him with the film’s director, Shawn Levy, that the full picture became clear. “He said, ‘Yeah, you guessed correctly. We want to bring Pyro back after 20 years,'” Stanford recalled, his eyes lighting up as he recounted the moment.
The journey back to the world of “X-Men” took Stanford on a nostalgic trip down memory lane. He vividly remembered his audition for Pyro, a.k.a. John Allerdyce, for “X2,” a film he considers to be “one of the first comic book films that was taken seriously and considered elevated.” In the first “X-Men” film, a brief glimpse of Pyro was seen, played by Alex Burton, but it was Stanford who brought the character to life in a more substantial role in the sequel. “I thought I had absolutely no chance at it, and so I didn’t take it as seriously as maybe I would’ve, which is probably the reason that I got it,” Stanford shared, a hint of amusement in his voice.
The Audition: A Blaze of Improvisation
Stanford’s audition for Pyro was a whirlwind of improvisation and a touch of comedic flair. The audition sides were brief, containing lines from what would become his most memorable scene in “X2.” The scene features Pyro, Bobby, Rogue, and John pinned down by the police, while Logan lies seemingly dead. Pyro unleashes his fiery fury, declaring, “You know all those dangerous mutants you hear about on the news? I’m the worst one.” It was these few lines and the opportunity to show his creative spirit that secured him the role. “That was the whole audition. That was it,” Stanford recalled. “What they were doing was saying, ‘Okay, we know there’s not a lot to work with here, so do what you will. Go ahead and improv.” He began hurling imaginary fireballs around the room, his voice taking on a playful tone. “What came to me was, I’m blowing up all these cops, so maybe I’m taunting them,” he continued. “I started singing the theme song to ‘Cops.’ ‘Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do when they come for you?”” Stanford left the audition feeling slightly embarrassed, but it was his unbridled energy and improvisation that earned him the coveted role.
However, the actual filming of the audition scene was a far cry from the playful atmosphere of his audition. Stanford, accustomed to low-budget indie films, was suddenly thrust into the world of million-dollar pyrotechnics and explosions. “I noticed that everybody besides me suddenly took 10 steps backwards, and all these plexiglass blast shields got raised up to protect everybody from potential shrapnel,” he recalled, his voice filled with a mix of amusement and awe. “I was the only one standing in the foreground just completely in the path of this blast. So suddenly it didn’t seem quite as fun anymore. Everything was okay, but there were a few moments of doubt there for sure.”
Stanford’s return to the role of Pyro in “Deadpool & Wolverine” brings forth a new dimension to the character. The film, which takes viewers on a wild ride through the multiverse, presents Pyro in a new light, a stark contrast to his previous appearances. The wasteland setting, inspired by the Mad Max universe, provides a unique backdrop for Pyro’s fiery spectacle. “The very first set I saw was this just gigantic desert wasteland with all of these practical set pieces that stretched the length of a football field,” Stanford recalled, his voice filled with wonder. “I would certainly have expected something like that to be all green screen, but the pains that were taken and the amount of resources and labor that had to go into physically building this world just absolutely astonished me.”
Pyro’s New Ride: A Hot Rod Across the Wasteland
In this dystopian landscape, Pyro gets a new ride, a giant custom-built hot rod that adds another layer of excitement to his character. “It’s this gigantic stretch hot rod,” he said, his voice filled with childlike enthusiasm. “They built that thing and we raced it across the desert. I’m sitting there strapped into a pilot’s chair behind a minigun. The very first time that we raced across the expanse, one of the exhaust pipes broke off the front of it. You heard this tremendous racket explosion. As it fell, it dropped under the car and probably almost busted an axle. So, yeah, that was an exciting little first run in that car.”
The details surrounding Pyro’s role in “Deadpool & Wolverine” are shrouded in secrecy, but Stanford’s enthusiastic sharing of his experience offers a glimpse into the film’s visual spectacle and the depth of his character’s evolution. Fans are eagerly awaiting the film’s release, eager to witness the return of Pyro and the fiery chaos he’ll unleash. Stanford’s return to the role after 18 years is a testament to the enduring appeal of the character and a testament to his own passion for bringing Pyro to life.
What character is Aaron Stanford reprising after 18 years?
Aaron Stanford is reprising the character Pyro in the highly anticipated film “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
How did Aaron Stanford react to the news of reprising his role as Pyro?
Aaron Stanford was shocked and thrilled when he found out about reprising his role as Pyro after 18 years.
What was Aaron Stanford’s audition for the role of Pyro like?
Aaron Stanford’s audition for the role of Pyro involved improvisation and a touch of comedic flair, with the sides containing lines from his most memorable scene in “X2.”
What significant moment did Aaron Stanford recall during his journey back to the world of “X-Men”?
Aaron Stanford vividly remembered his audition for Pyro in “X2,” a film he considers one of the first comic book films taken seriously, and the moment Marvel connected him with the film’s director to bring Pyro back after 20 years.
