Interview with Susan and Robert Downey Jr.

Last week I had the opportunity to sit down with TEAM Downey to talk about their latest film Dolittle, out in theaters today! Susan and Robert Downey Jr. have been married since 2005 and together they created TEAM Downey, a production company that produces films using television properties since 2010. And after sitting down with these two, I am a believer that couples can in fact work together – and do it well!

Susan Downey is quite something! She has been a film producer since 1995 and has overseen the development and production of feature films including Thir13en Ghosts and Swordfish and made her producing debut as a co-producer on Ghost Ship and then co-produced the 2003 release Cradle 2 the Grave, Gothika, House of Wax and critically acclaimed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

It was in intimate setting and we were pleasantly surprised when Robert Downey Jr. joined us while we interviewed Susan , co-producer of Dolittle. I’ve been a big fan of Robert Downey and it felt so surreal sitting across from him at the table! It felt like seeing an old friend since I have grown up watching him on the big screen. Both he and Susan are really down-to-earth and shared with us their thoughts about the movie and what attracted them to the script.

Blogger:  Susan, I’m so proud of you woman–thank you, thank you, thank you. That a woman has such an important role. Not only in this movie, but in the entertainment world. So what has inspired you? How did you find a way into this world managed by men?

Susan Downey:  Yes, exactly. Yes, it’s interesting. I grew up outside Chicago and started by doing film and television–film and television stuff inside the city, did a lot of print work and all that in front of the camera, just as a hobby as a kid, but I was so much more interested in what people like around me or doing then–I never wanted to be in front of the camera. It was just, like, I way to not be in school and stuff. And so my interest in wanting to get into film started there. And so at the time, I was looking at colleges like, I want to go to film school. But you know, to any parent now, you’re like.

But they supported me and I went to USC. What’s interesting is when I went in to production, there were 50 kids they let in and there were 4 girls. And by the time I was a junior, they opened the class to 50 more. So there was 100 kids, there were 8 girls. And now, the Dean, Elizabeth Daley, who is an amazing Dean at the film school, she’s like it’s 50-50, Susan. It’s 50-50.

Blogger:  What drew you guys to the script? What was it that you liked about the script?

Robert Downey Jr.:  I like the idea of a kind of–a guy who used to be on the world. I just love the hermit will, like, I’ve known folks who have verged on agoraphobia and I think it’s weird–it’s just the funniest thing but I think of everyone can relate to it. Could you imagine at some point you just like I’m never leaving the house again except his is also I’m never interacting with another human again. And then, things to these kids that come along, he has to change it.

Susan Downey:  And I liked kind of more of a macro thing, it’s like we haven’t done a thing movie that our kids can see and we have a five-year-old and a soon to be eight-year-old. And even though the boy, the older one did get to see some of the Marvel movies, not all of them, we haven’t done a family film. And to do something that was like good for all ages from our, you know, five-year-old too, you know, an 85-year-old could enjoy the movie and to be able to create something like that, we would not thought that would be fun. This is going to be the first one they actually got to see coverage so it can’t keep changing or it’s just a real pain.

Blogger:  Susan, how is–what it’s like to be the boss of your husband?

Susan Downey:  Are we talking about in life or professionally?

Blogger:  Everything.

Blogger:  It’s not that interview.

Robert Downey Jr.:  It’s an illusion.

Blogger:  But how is it working together?

Susan Downey:  No, it’s great working together. I don’t see myself as his “boss.” I mean, he’s Robert Downey. He’s number one on the call sheet, you know what I mean? It’s–

Blogger:  –What about you?

Susan Downey:  It’s just–it’s really about respect.

Robert Downey Jr.:  We said early on in our relationship that we never wanted defined roles like no, you’re in charge of this and I’m in charge of that.

Susan Downey:  Or you are that type and I’m that type. That’s dangerous.

Robert Downey Jr.:  Yes, see, I would actually be more comfortable with that because then there’s less things flow and change less, but I think it’s just unrealistic to say you’re always this area always–you tend to fall into certain–

Susan Downey:  –But I also don’t think people are that simple. Like, you know, you’re–okay, you’re nonlinear in your thinking, but you’re also, like, really on time, really very organized and what you want to do, like, incredibly prepared for things, so I just think it’s a dangerous thing to take any titles in a relationship like that.

Robert Downey Jr.:  But nobody would say that I’m running Susan’s program–

Susan Downey:  –That’s true–

Robert Downey Jr.:  –Whereas most would say that she’s running my program.

Susan Downey:  Okay, you’re right.

Blogger:  So what’s next for team Downey? What’s coming up?

Susan Downey:  Well, we have, interestingly, Perry Mason, which were doing for HBO, wraps the date this movie comes out, so we wrap on the 17th and then that’ll come out on HBO next–this coming summer and then we launched Age of AI, which is a ducky series that Robert posted–

Robert Downey Jr.:  Our YouTube. It’s worth watching. I think–I think you would enjoy the series because it’s your world. We’re talking about the world you’re inheriting all the cool tech stuff.

Susan Downey:  The first four launch already in the second for come out January 15. So were kind of ushering things into their next stages.

Blogger:  That’s exciting. Congratulations.

ABOUT THE MOVIE:

Robert Downey Jr. electrifies one of literature’s most enduring characters in a vivid reimagining of the classic tale of the man who could talk to animals: Dolittle.

After losing his wife (Kasia Smutniak) seven years earlier, the eccentric Dr. John Dolittle (Downey), famed doctor and veterinarian of Queen Victoria’s England, hermits himself away behind the high walls of Dolittle Manor with only his menagerie of exotic animals for company.

But when the young queen (Jessie Buckley, Wild Rose) falls gravely ill, a reluctant Dolittle is forced to set sail on an epic adventure to a mythical island in search of a cure, regaining his wit and courage as he crosses old adversaries and discovers wondrous creatures.

The doctor is joined on his quest by a young, self-appointed apprentice (Dunkirk’s Harry Collett) and a raucous coterie of animal friends, including an anxious gorilla (Oscar® winner Rami Malek), an enthusiastic but bird-brained duck (Oscar® winner Octavia Spencer), a bickering duo of a cynical ostrich (The Big Sick’s Kumail Nanjiani) and an upbeat polar bear (John Cena, Bumblebee) and a headstrong parrot (Oscar® winner Emma Thompson), who serves as Dolittle’s most trusted advisor and confidante.

The film also stars Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen (The Queen), Oscar® winner Jim Broadbent and Carmen Laniado (FX’s A Christmas Carol) and voice performances from Tom Holland, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez, Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard, Frances de la Tour, Jason Mantzoukas and Craig Robinson.

DOLITTLE – IN THEATERS JANUARY 17

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #DolittleMovie

The junket was hosted by Universal Pictures

0