Released to great box office success in 1997, the action movie Con Air is one of the beloved gems of Hollywood action cinema. However, the making of the movie itself was a time marked by tension, excitement, controversy, and fascinating stories – behind the scenes the production was anything but calm!
Overview of Con Air
Directed by Simon West and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Con Air tells the story of a group of dangerous criminals aboard a federal aircraft who take their flight attendant hostage and escape in an effort to gain freedom. Nicolas Cage, John Malkovich and John Cusack star among a star-studded ensemble in an action movie audiences everywhere still enjoy over two decades later.
Casting of the Iconic Characters
The casting of Con Air proved to be a landmark moment for many of the actors and actresses which play prominent roles in the movie. Nicolas Cage is undoubtedly the most iconic actor in the movie, and his casting story is fascinating.
He was chosen for the lead role by Bruckheimer and West, who thought he was the only actor capable of making the character of Cameron Poe come to life. The iconic line, “Put the bunny back in the box,” wasn’t even written in the script, it was inspired by the actors’ performance during the audition.
Other characters such as the notorious Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom, were a bit more difficult to cast. John Malkovich wasn’t the first choice for the role, as his natural aloof style didn’t quite fit with the character. However, after script rewriting and auditioning a number of other actors, the directors eventually decided he was the one – and he certainly delivered.
On-Set Controversies
With such a strong cast, behind the scenes the movie was rife with controversy and gossip. One of the most notorious stories involved John Malkovich and actress Monique Lanier, who played a small role in the movie.
Lanier was less than pleased with her role, feeling the part was too minor, and took her complaints to Malkovich. According to a report by the NY Post in 1997, after Lanier complained to him, Malkovich screamed at her on set, telling her “f**k off!”
The scene in the film itself is even an allusion to this, as Lanier’s character is seen walking away from Malkovich’s character, looking shocked and offended after talking to him.
Delays on Set
Another issue which caused the cast and crew stress during the making of the movie revolved around the infamous “burning bus scene”. This scene, which lasts only a few seconds on screen, was the cause of a huge delay in production – the script initially called for the bus to simply burn, but the producers wanted to take it one step further, to an explosion.
After numerous discussions between the director and the visual effects team, the explosion design was finalized and the scene was filmed successfully – however, it took much longer than expected, resulting in a big time crunch for the production.
A Budding Friendship
Despite the controversies and delays, there was one bit of heartwarming news which came from the movie set – the budding friendship between actors John Malkovich and John Cusack. Both had worked in the past, however, they had never crossed paths before.
But after working together in Con Air, Cusack and Malkovich became close friends and worked together in two subsequent movies: 1408 in 2007 and RIPD in 2013.
The Legacy of Con Air
The spirit of camaraderie, friendship, and adventure which filled the set of Con Air can still be seen in the movie more than 20 years later. Released to great success, the movie grossed about 22 times its budget at the US box office, is considered a classic of the action genre, and holds a special place in the hearts of fans everywhere.
The Legacy of Con Air Lives On
Part of the Con Air legacy is how the movie brought its actors together and paved the way for the popularization of some of the leading actors in Hollywood. Nicolas Cage and John Malkovich both used the movie to enter –or re-enter– the A-list of Hollywood actors, while John Cusack used the movie to establish a long-term friendship with Malkovich.
Con Air certainly had a turbulent production, due to numerous incidents such as casting disputes and delays. However, this highly successful action movie brought an eclectic cast of characters together and its legacy still lives on today. It left many behind-the-scenes stories, but among those stories is John Malkovich and John Cusack’s budding friendship, which is truly a testament to the spirit of camaraderie and adventure that was the experience of the Con Air cast and crew.
