Opening this weekend is director Paul W.S. Anderson’s disaster epic Pompeii.  The film stars Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) as an enslaved Celtic gladiator named Milo who falls in love with a noblewoman (Emily Browning) on the eve of a massive volcanic eruption that destroys Pompeii, an event that also brings him face-to-face with the man (Kiefer Sutherland) who slaughtered his family years earlier.  The film also stars Jared Harris, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Carrie-Anne Moss, Sasha Roiz, Jessica Lucas, and Paz Vega.

At the Los Angeles press day, I landed an exclusive video interview with Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who plays a fellow gladiator and friend to Milo.   He talked about his reaction to the finished film, the special effects and how they couldn't have been done a few years ago, how Anderson likes to beat up his actors, the way he prepared for the role, getting to sing and dance in director Will Gluck's Annie remake, and how his next project is the NBC pilot Odyssey.  Hit the jump for what he had to say.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje:

• What was his reaction to the finished film?  Talks about the special effects and how it couldn't have been done 10 years ago.
• How Paul W.S. Anderson likes to beat up his actors.  What did Anderson make him do to get ready for the role?
• Talks about the Annie remake and who he plays.  Reveals he gets to sing and dance in the film.
• Says his next project is a pilot for NBC called Odyssey