[WWW] WWE.com 11.17.03 Goldberg comments on Looney Tunes, another movie

http://www.wwe.com/news/headlines/1248401

Goldberg comments on Looney Tunes, another movie

by Phil Speer

BEAUMONT, Texas – Nov. 17, 2003 -- Goldberg is featured in "Looney
Tunes: Back In Action," currently in theaters, and he's getting ready
to star in another movie.

The World Heavyweight Champion told WWE.com that he'll be heading to
Edmonton, Alberta in late January and February to play Santa Clause in
the feature film "Santa's Sleigh."

Goldberg described the movie as "like a Freddy Krueger, ‘Texas
Chainsaw Massacre' kind of thing, but a little slapstick."

He added with a chuckle, "What better setting for a 280-pound Jewish
guy to play Santa Clause and to be able to go around killing
everybody? It's going to be cool. I can't wait."

The champ added that he does not think that the filming of the movie
will interfere with his WWE commitments.

"My wrestling is first, and since I'm a big part of this movie,
they're going to cater towards what I need to do," he said. "Sunday
and Mondays are days off (from shooting the movie). Stuff like that."

Goldberg said that "Santa's Sleigh" is a lower-budget movie, but it's
being backed by Brett Ratner, who directed the "Rush Hour" films,
among many others.

"It's getting a lot of buzz in Hollywood, and he's called in a lot of
favors in Hollywood," Goldberg said of Ratner.

For example, Edward Norton may be among those making a cameo; a final
list is being completed now.

As far as Goldberg's costars, one possibility is Dennis Haskins, who
played Mr. Belding on "Saved by the Bell." Goldberg said Haskins may
play a crooked pastor, and added that he'd love for Haskins to be in
the movie, as they've become good friends from playing together in
celebrity golf tournaments and through mutual acquaintances, including
Charles Barkley.

Goldberg said there's no word yet on a possible release date for
"Santa's Sleigh."

It'll be the third feature film for Goldberg, who also starred in
"Universal Soldier: The Return" alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme and
"Looney Tunes," for which he attended the premiere last Sunday at
Mann's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles.

In "Looney Tunes," Goldberg plays a henchman for Steve Martin's
character, Mr. Chairman, head of the Acme Corporation. He filmed his
scenes over the course of 30 days last year in Hollywood.

The premiere on Sunday was Goldberg's first opportunity to see the
finished version of the movie.

"They shouldn't have cut a couple of scenes out where I was kicking
Brendan Frasier's ass," Goldberg said. "But I thought it was good.
It's a movie for kids and people around my age who are taking their
little kids with them and reliving the Looney Tunes themselves.

"It was a great experience – just a terrific experience to be able to
work with Steve Martin, Brendan Fraser and Jenna Elfman and Timothy
Dalton."

Goldberg said it was also a thrill to be a part of the movie because
he grew up watching Looney Tunes cartoons. His favorite characters
included Yosemite Sam, Road Runner and George the Sheepdog.

"I had a nice little scene with him, and they cut that out too,"
Goldberg said with a smile. "One of these days, I may grow up to be
The Rock and be able to star. My first movie (‘Universal Soldier'), I
was all over it. They didn't cut anything out of that. This one is my
first eye-opening to how Hollywood cuts and pastes. So be it. It was a
terrific experience."