Why Austin Nichols Forged Reggie Bush In His New Film ‘The Salamander King’

For Nichols, it is his characteristic directorial debut, whereas Reggie — an ex-NFL star — makes his appearing debut within the movie.

Talking with TooFab following the film’s world premiere on the Dallas Worldwide Movie Competition, Nichols and star Adrianne Palicki opened up about casting Bush in his first appearing function, Nichols’ underdog story inspiration for the venture … and which ones truly has a killer golf recreation.

The Salamander King is an indie-comedy movie following Ray Mueller, the proprietor of an Austin golf course who comes along with pals to avoid wasting the beloved enterprise from closing down for good.

One notable cameo within the movie comes from Bush, who seems in a business the buddies create assist save the course. Nevertheless, the director revealed that Bush’s look wasn’t initially part of the plan.

“It was actually fascinating as a result of it wasn’t actually in a part of the unique script,” he mentioned. “However we began speaking to Reggie as a result of we have been in search of … there’s this scene within the film the place Adrianne has a combat a few well-known soccer recreation, so we sort of began the chance if we might get Reggie or possibly another gamers. And we hadn’t written it but, however we sort of had a plan.”

“After which as soon as we realized that Reggie was , we dove in, we wrote it, and the entire thing happened, but it surely happened late within the recreation,” he continued. “I believe we would already, throughout pre-production, we already began capturing earlier than we knew if it will actually occur.”

Nichols went on to name Bush’s cameo a “completely satisfied accident.”

“It was a type of issues that’s scary, however was a contented accident,” Nichols advised TooFab. “After which it turned out actually humorous and we have been so completely satisfied to have him and he is simply so beautiful.”

Bush’s spouse Lilit Bush additionally makes an look within the movie — with Nicols saying he had her audition after discovering out she was an actress.

“He and his spouse, they’re each beautiful and we’re so completely satisfied they’re within the film,” the One Tree Hill alum added.

With its hilarious plot and various characters, Nichols mentioned he drew inspiration from underdog tales he is at all times liked.

“One which I take into consideration lots that is sort of a massive studio model of our film is Dodgeball,” he mentioned. “And it was one thing we talked about as a result of there are similarities.”

The 45-year-old actor/director mentioned he was additionally impressed by one other “deep minimize film,” the 1983 movie Native Hero starring Burt Lancaster and Peter Riegert.

“It is probably the most charming, lovable films you may ever see. I ask, I encourage all people to observe it,” he mentioned. “It actually, actually impressed me.”

Palicki then minimize in, jokingly including, “You by no means requested me to observe it! I am simply listening to about this now!”

TooFab needed to ask in regards to the pair’s off-screen golf recreation.

“Effectively, I can putt! I believe I did it 4 instances in two of the 4,” exclaimed Palicki.

Though her golf recreation seems to be pure on-camera, Palicki mentioned she felt the intimidation of being within the highlight doing it in entrance of a big group throughout filming. “And the solar’s taking place and it was like a lot strain,” she mentioned, earlier than praising her golfer-director.

“He is additionally an amazing coach as a result of he performs golf and he is aware of what he is doing,” she mentioned. “So that you simply made one adjustment and I made it. And that response within the film is a real… absolute real response of me going, trigger I had no concept I might ever try this.”