Reagan Interview: Jon Voight on Playing a KGB Agent in Biopic
ComingSoon Senior Movie News Editor Brandon Schreur spoke to Jon Voight about starring in the new biopic movie Reagan. Voight discussed what drew him to the project, acting in heavy makeup, and more.
”From dusty small-town roots, to the glitter of Hollywood, and then on to commanding the world stage, Reagan is a cinematic journey of overcoming the odds,” the synopsis for the movie reads. “Told through the voice of Viktor Petrovich, a former KGB agent who followed Reagan’s ascent, Reagan captures the indomitable spirit of the American dream.”
Reagan releases in United States theaters on August 30, 2024.
Brandon Schreur: In this movie, you’re playing a KGB officer, Viktor, and I have kind of a two-part question for you. First of all, I’m curious about what drew you to the character and what appealed to you about him. Secondly, Viktor is based on a real person, so did you have to do any research for this movie to look into what the real-life Viktor was like?
Jon Voight: I did a lot of research, but I didn’t do any research into this specific fellow, Viktor. But I did a lot of research into some people who were associated with the Soviet Union. There’s a fellow, primarily, who I took a really close look at. His name was Yuri Bezmenov, who was a former spy for the Soviet Union. He came to the United States and warned us about what was going on, that there was a planned takeover from within. That the people in the United States would be attacked with propaganda from an early age and in different places. That there would be a focus to take over the education system, the press, and Hollywood. This plan that they had; they had like a three-part plan and the first part was like a 20-year plan.
It took root and we’re experiencing the results of that today. In our universe, as you can see, they have a very high opinion of Socialism and Communism is the next step. This kind of tyranny is not looked on as a danger, but that’s what the kids are ingesting. This antisemitism that came forth is a product of propaganda, too. These kids are not given the right attitude toward many things. They’re not given information and a proper positive attitude about our country, which is a great country. Our country is founded on the most extraordinary principles and when we get away from them, we get into trouble.
I’m curious, also, about your preparation for this role. You have a Russian accent in this movie.
Voight: I do? Oh my god!
Surprise! How did you go about developing that? Was that a challenge at all?
Voight: I think of myself as pretty good with accents. I do like to change myself, physically, too. Those aspects of my enthusiasm are taken care of with this character because I have to do that. I have to play myself older and then I have to play myself 35 years younger. Then you’d say, ‘Thank God for CGI,’ but I did most of it just through makeup. With a very talented makeup fellow by the name of Scott Wheeler. I hope he gets the word that I said this on television to you.
I will put that in the interview. It looked great, too. It didn’t look like CGI at all, it looked like it was makeup and I thought that was awesome.
Voight: It is mostly makeup, yeah.
So you’re working with director Sean McNamara again. I know you just worked with him not too long ago on the Dangerous Game movie. What was it like to not only reteam with him but, now, you’re doing something that’s totally different? It’s a totally different kind of movie.
Voight: We were very fortunate to have Sean McNamara as our director because, not only have I worked with him, but Dennis [Quaid] has worked with him. We know that he’s very flexible and very professional. He knows everything about the camera. He keeps a positive attitude. We were facing shooting during times of COVID. The set would have to close down if anyone got COVID. We had a huge crew and, if one of them got sick, that’d be it, we’d have to take ten days off. We were on and off all the time during that, and it really slowed down our process. It also interfered with the pace of the piece. Nothing bothered Sean. Sean was always positive on the set. He took the blows as they came and just kept moving. We all picked up some of that energy, that positive energy, too, because of him.
There was a lot to do in this film. Sean was the kind of guy that really has tremendous energy. Nothing seems to stop him. He’s interested in everything, he can read everything, and get along with people. We were very fortunate.
Definitely. That sounds like it was probably really challenging, but it came together well.
Voight: He’d always say at the end of every take, when he liked the take, ‘Brilliant!’ Brilliant! And you felt so good. ‘Oh, really? It was that good, huh?’
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