By Ryan Pearson, Entertainment Writer
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (AP) --Quentin Tarantino's latest film, "Hateful Eight," takes place a few years after the end of the Civil War — and cast members had the Confederate flag on their minds.
Comic-Con audiences were introduced to the film's motley crew of eccentrics Saturday in classic Tarantino fashion, with edgy banter and memorable nicknames, like "The Hangman," ''The Confederate" and "The Mexican." Set in a Wyoming haberdashery, this explosive group of bounty hunters, lawmen, outlaws and veterans — played by the likes of Kurt Russell, Tim Roth and Walton Goggins — take shelter from a blizzard and try (poorly) to keep the peace.
Roth and Goggins found the film incredibly timely, even before South Carolina removed the Confederate flag from its state house on Friday.
"Ferguson had just happened when we were rehearsing… it seems very pertinent, oddly enough," Roth said. "And even more so now with what's happening in Charleston."
The British actor said that while he's "not a big flag person," he was "very glad to see that thing come down."
Goggins spent the last few months in South Carolina, and he said his wife watch the flag lowered on Friday.
"To be there, and to have witnessed the pain of that city coming off doing this movie, is extraordinary," he said. "And if there's any person to bring this topic (of race and justice) back to the young people in this country, Tarantino is the one to do it."
Russell, who said working with Tarantino was the best experience of his career, said the story behind South Carolina's flying of the Confederate flag "has not been promoted very correctly."
"When I learned that it wasn't until '61 or something that the flag was put up … that was in response to the civil rights movement," Russell said. "So the state decided that that idea of putting the flag up in response to that was not a great idea after nine people were killed because of the color of their skin. I think even those people who might not agree with what (state legislators) did or feel it's getting onto the politically correct aspect of things, the state decided to change its concept of why the flag was put up in the first place."
AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr contributed to this report.
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More