Steven Seagal Unwittingly Helped Launch Director’s Career Who Later Made Harrison Ford’s Best Film With 7 Oscar Nominations
Steven Seagal’s rise to fame in Hollywood was quick. Seagal started his career with Above the Law in 1988. And had starred in four films within the four years of his first film’s release. His excellence in aikido, a Japanese martial art, was highly influential on the action genre projects in the entertainment industry.
This immense success of his and the box-office hits he was part of naturally translated into the success of the people he worked with in these films. Most notable is the director. With Seagal’s success director Andrew Davis was able to make a name for himself in the industry which got him the opportunities of a lifetime.
Andrew Davis Became Successful Working with Steven Seagal
Director Andrew Davis started his filmmaking career in Hollywood in 1978. But what made him a big name was directing Steven Seagal’s debut film Above the Law, ten years later. The film was a massive success in all aspects. But it didn’t come around as easily.
Steven Seagal was a martial arts coach out in LA. One of his students, Michael Ovitz was an agent in Hollywood who thought Seagal perfect for the lead role in Above the Law.
As the director recounts his first time meeting the person who will take his career to newer heights:
“I had a meeting with Warner Bros., and they said: ‘We want you to meet this guy, Steven Seagal, ‘I was like, ‘Who is Steven Seagal?’ [Seagal] said, ‘I saw Code of Silence and I want you to direct my movie,’” Davis continued. “I went, ‘Well … can you act?’”
Seagal did the screening test, and even though Davis had some hesitation about casting him he did.
“Above the Law came out, and Steven became a big star overnight. He didn’t look like anyone else with that ponytail and the Aikido moves. It really launched him.”
The duo was terrific and they delivered well again in 1988 with Under Siege. The film’s success got Davis the opportunity to direct what would become the film of his career.
“Under Siege became Seagal’s biggest movie, and it got me The Fugitive.”
The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones went on to receive seven Oscar nominations including Best Picture. Lee Jones won the award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Samuel Gerard in the film.
Read More: Tommy Lee Jones Owes His Only Oscar Win to Steven Seagal’s $156M Underrated Classic
Andrew Davis Says Steven Seagal was Not the Best Person to Work with
Davis’s initial reluctance in casting Seagal could have robbed him of a great opportunity. The pair reunited for Under Siege which went on to become the record-breaking masterpiece it is.
However, Davis’s experience of working with Seagal was very different in both films. He said that the actor became difficult to work with
“He was a pain in the neck. He had become arrogant. Tommy Lee is actually in a lot more of Under Siege than Steven Seagal!”
There have been various anecdotes within the industry that are on the same wavelength as Davis’s. The actor was sued for sexual assault, and contract breach amongst many others.
And sure enough, the mid-90s saw Seagal lose his popularity because of his conceited nature.
The Fugitive is available to watch on Max. And Above the Law and Under Seige are available for rental on YouTube.
Source: Yahoo
