Gary Oldman‘s “Bring Me Everyone” moment on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was originally an outtake that has now become an iconic moment in cinema history. During the interview, Colbert showed Oldman a clip from his film “Leon the Professional” where he famously delivers the line “Bring me everyone.” Oldman explained that this was actually just a joke he had made on set to make director Luke Besson laugh. However, Besson ended up keeping it in the film, much to the delight of fans who love the meme-worthy line.
The clip shows Oldman’s character, Stansfield, demanding that his henchman bring him everyone. As Colbert watches the clip with Oldman, they discuss the origins of the line. Oldman reveals that it was simply an outtake that he did to make the sound guys laugh, but Besson decided to include it in the final cut of the film.
Not only did this moment become a memorable line, but it was also a physically intense scene for Oldman. As he yells the line, his eyes remain fixed on a spot, making it seem as if he was never looking at anyone to begin with. Oldman explains that they were filming the movie in New York, and at the time of shooting this scene, they had closed down a main artery in the city. They even had to blow up a building for the explosion scene, which drew a large crowd of onlookers. Coincidentally, a real bank robbery was happening across the street from where they were filming, causing the crowd to temporarily shift their attention. Despite the distraction, the New York City crowd remained unfazed and continued watching the filming.
Colbert also joked with Oldman about his reputation for playing villains in movies. Oldman admits that he has been typecast as evil characters because of his appearance. Casting directors often saw him as someone who could convincingly portray a psychopath or a villain. However, Oldman humorously announces during the interview that he has put a stop to playing villains and is now demanding a higher fee if he is asked to portray such characters. He jokes that he is now more interested in playing heroes, but at a discount rate.
Before wrapping up the interview, Colbert challenges Oldman to quickly shift into an evil character without saying a word. Oldman demonstrates a trick he learned from James Cagney, where he lifts his head up first and then his eyes, creating a menacing look. This small display of his acting skills showcases Oldman’s ability to effortlessly transition into different characters.
The interview ends with Colbert promising to be back with more of Gary Oldman, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating what other entertaining insights and stories the acclaimed actor has to share.
