With the success of Ghost Rider over the weekend, has the studio shown you even more love?

Ioan:  I haven’t heard a word from them until this morning when they said ‘stop talking about the movie’.  I think no news is good news because the last time around, they were on the phone almost immediately ‘reshoots, we’ve gotta fix this, gotta fix that’.  So this time I guess they’re sitting on something really special I don’t know.

So, you aren’t kidding, you actually got the mandate from them to stop….

Ioan: Yes.  What was happening is my mind was on this [Amazing Grace] and somebody asked me about it and I go, ‘oh yes. Blah, blah, blah’ and then thought ‘shit, I shouldn’t have said that.  That’s spoiling the whole movie and then nobody needs to come and see it’.

Was there one straw that broke their back?

Ioan: What I’m saying is there is a presence of Galactus.  That’s all I’m allowed to say. 

That would have gotten out there with or without you.

Ioan:  I know, I know.  Like they told me ‘don’t talk about Doug Jones as the Silver Surfer’.  I’m like ‘but, he’s credited as The Silver Surfer’.

He told us about it.

Ioan:  I know.  I think it’s to the detriment of the movie.  They should be celebrating Doug Jones as the Silver Surfer.  He’s brought this great character to life. 

What was it like working with someone who is so talented?

Ioan: Exactly.  I thought he was under-appreciated because they say ‘don’t mention Doug’.  No, no, Doug has brought this character to life and they’re just manipulating what he did on set; putting that sheen on him.  I thought it was wonderful, so majestic.  When you meet him, he’s like a beanstalk of a guy, isn’t he?  But, his movement is fantastic, breathtaking.  When I saw ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ I was like ‘that’s you?’  It’s beautiful.  I just want him to have his credit where credit’s due.

How does a British audience react to you in a Fantastic Four movie compared to you in a period piece?

Ioan:  That’s interesting. I haven’t really spent any time in the U.K. since Fantastic Four came out.  I did shoot this movie there but, I suppose it goes hand in hand for them for me to be seen in the frocks and wigs.

Do the British people have different reactions to period movies?

Ioan: I think they’re probably more used to it, yes.  It’s part and parcel of our heritage with literature, film and television and because of the theatrical background, we all a bit more aware, more used to period dramas.  But, the response from Fantastic Four is primarily from kids running up to you and wanting to pull your arm and see if it stretches. [laughter].  But to think that I’ve effected somebody in that way.  Even as a child, that’s why I wanted to be an actor, the magic of movies. ‘wow, he made me feel this way’.  That’s why I wanted to do this movie because when I read the script I was bawling my eyes out at the end of reading it because of what he’d achieved, a sense of relief.  I wanted to be that actor that effected me as a child.  So, I got my chance to create that bit of movie magic.  When you see the wonderment in a kid’s eyes; they’re so nervous and tentative because they can’t quite believe it’s you and then, obviously disappointed when I can’t stretch. 

Has Fox already said to you that if FF 2 does really well, it’s jump right back into FF3?

Ioan: Certainly when we were shooting the movie, you get that sense, that they want to try and complete this franchise.  I can’t open my mouth.

Perhaps the movie ends in a way that you might want to see a third movie?

Ioan: [grinning] Perhaps it does. Everyone’s aware that people have signed a three picture deal and I’d love for that to happen.  They probably know now how it’s going to perform with the tracking and they have an idea.

Perhaps, is Fox working on a third script as we speak?

Ioan:  I’m sure of it.  Yeah, they must be.  If they have half a brain.

Have you seen the movie?

Ioan:  Haven’t seen a frame of it, no.  I saw a little bit of dailies but it’s somebody standing next to you in a green suit or a tennis ball with an X on it.  I haven’t seen any of it put together but that’s the exciting aspect of making a movie like that is that I am like an audience member when I see if for the first time.  I’m like ‘whoa, I can’t believe they made me stretch and do that!’  There were bits in the first movie where they manipulated me entirely.  There’s a scene in the Baxter building where Dr. Doom is throwing lightning bolts at me and he eventually throws me out the window and I’m hanging outside the building.  I remember shooting the bit where he threw lightning bolts at me and pretending to avoid them and they put the effect on and from then on, I run to the window and fall out the window.  I never did that. It was a digital me, amazing.  I didn’t do any of that.  It is breathtaking, really impressive.  The difficulty with the new movie is every frame that the Silver Surfer is in, even just as a character talking, is an effect so it’s costing a fortune.

Are you living here now?  You said you hadn’t been in the U.K. for a long time.

Ioan: Yeah, I moved here about four or five years ago.

What’s it like being a toy?

Ioan:  The coolest thing ever!  I can’t tell you… I collected all those Star Wars figures when Star Wars came out.  I remember one of my first highs that I got was a little [indicates about four inches high] action figure of superman about this high.  My mom had gone to London to see a play and she bought us back a little toy.  I treasured that thing so much.  If I had know then that I would one day become a figure, I’d have flipped out.

Do you think it does or doesn’t look like you?

Ioan:  I think it looks very much like me.  They got the proportion of the nose perfect; got a big clunker [does he mean honker?] in there.

Have you see the new toys, the car?

Ioan:  No.  This time I think it’s a different company making the toys.  Hasbro I think.  But, I’ve seen ideas and have approved my likeness. They are using scans from the first movie.  We did hours and hours of scanning again this time.

I’m seen all of you in this car?

Ioan:  [excited] The Fantastic car?  Have you?  It’s a toy? [he sounds like he’s about 5 years old here] Is it online.  No way! Does it look good?  Do you think kids will want to buy it?

It looks like all four of you could be in the car?

Ioan: Beautiful.  It’s a stunning-looking car.  Honestly, it was like a playground ride.  They had it on a gimble and it was able to do all this [leans back and forth] really fast.  We had to be strapped in.  It was hysterical. 

It’s interesting that they don’t expect you to talk about the film at all.

Ioan: It is funny.  I agree.  I think it’s a bit arcane, that thing of ‘don’t let it get out there’, whereas, it’s getting it out there that generates the hype.  But, I’m sure there’s some sort of timing to it.  They don’t want it to peak too soon.  I think that’s what it is.  I think that’s why we haven’t seen any of the movie either.  Nobody’s seen it.  They’re holding onto it.  Don’t let it get out there.

Did you feel there was a lot more money being spent on this one than the first one?

Ioan:  I didn’t think I lot more but certainly some….

Was the catering better?

Ioan:  The catering was fantastic.  I just got the sense that they probably learnt what was important to them so they’re throwing a lot of money on certain aspects of it instead of spreading it out, saying ‘this sequence is important to us’.  The sets were unbelievable this time.  The Baxter building is breathtaking. 

How many big action set pieces are there?

Ioan:  There are three big action sequences. 

Are you going to the Oscars this year?

Ioan:  No.  I’m not going to go until I get nominated or present.