Peter Weller Q&A with Harry Knowles

Ain't It Cool News brought Peter Weller to Austin for a special double feature showing of Star Trek Into Darkness and Robocop. Throughout the day Peter Weller talked about his most famous role, the films that inspire him, working with William S Burroughs on Naked Lunch and much much more.
For more news and reviews, keep checking in with AintItCool.com
Follow Harry on Twitter at / headgeek666

[@ZyxthePest]

I always hear that Weller is apparently a jerk and after this video, I have no reason to believe that. This guy stood up for over an hour and talked about how important everyone else was to the success of that movie, rather than how awesome he was. I think people get intensity and douchebaggery mixed up all to often. His natural tone sounds really intimidating, but he seems like a pretty down to earth guy.

[@yeetimusprime3147]

Well I've seen some interviews where he's very blunt about his opinions on certain things, my guess is that people just don't like that.

[@Krystalmyth]

@@yeetimusprime3147 Yeah but, imagine him after getting fucked over on pay, or when his plane is delayed for 32 hours and he's stuck in the terminal.

[@AJR-zg2py]

He's intellectual, intense and intimidating because of it. But seeing this, he's very gracious and I don't see any kind of ego.

[@Adrian2140]

I think that's because the way he addresses people, you can see even in this video. "Got it?" "Understood?" etc etc. Some people might take it as being talked down to. But I mean. He's 70-80. I think he earned the right to skip the pleasantries and what he says is more important than how he says it. I'd totally be able to look past it but I get it if not all people do.

[@davidmayberry3190]

I've always heard good things about him, but you never know until you meet someone personally, there's plenty of people that have taken the NFL QB's course on PR, which is basically "all glory to God, the line made my job easy today, the coaches called all the plays out there, the defense played their hearts out, it's all about the preparation, etc, every QB says that, they can't all mean it, you know some of them want to say "yeah I was fire out there today".

[@John-Ary]

We had a sold out IMAX theater for "Star Trek Into Darkness." Mr. Weller then took some questions from the audience. We then moved to a bigger theater to watch Robocop. Mr. Weller was only scheduled to introduce the film, but he surprised us by wanting to stick around and answer more questions afterwards. The audience members from STID missed out.

[@TheReal7Bit]

This guy is beyond interesting to listen to, he's amazing, so smart and what a great storyteller.

[@alexakaa.charlesross8919]

You can tell this guy is a solid College professor just by the way he talks. Seems like he's interested in making a point and teaching things to others.

[@PADAWAMHD]

Peter Weller is a beast, love him and his dry sense of humor. Very very interesting insights on the making of Robocop, his views on life, and what it takes to make an interesting piece of art. Thank you for this video, the quality was pretty good, need more of those. GOT IT?! ; ) I could have been playing golf too instead of watching this video, damn.

[@tiepabo]

PADAWAMHD DG knows how to spot good movies! ;-)

[@ronronron475]

THIS IS BETTER THAN ANY ROBOCOP SPECIAL FEATURE OUT THERE!!

[@poindextertunes]

facts

[@grainofsalt4934]

Peter Weller is one of the most underrated actors. He’s Just a 110% solid guy

[@CrashHeadroom]

I wouldnt say underrated, Weller is weller. He was basically always picked and type cast himself as a "generic everyman", not bad not good not amazing but satisfactory. I mean can you think of many other things he's been in where he's been as important as robocop? Leviathan maybe and that was pretty meh and he acted the exact same way in that too lol.

[@poindextertunes]

@@CrashHeadroomhe had one BlockBuster Franchise and the rest were very niche roles in great movies. I’d say underrated is fair. we must have two different definitions of the word

[@archepytus8596]

"You don't know what you like. You like what you know."

[@flesheater6676]

I can listen to Peter Weller talk about art and film all day. The man is brilliant!!!!!

[@MrBrownAlliance]

If Verhoeven directed the new Robocop Returns sequel with Peter Weller in the lead and the original writers, SFX guys etc, I'm convinced it would make a Billion Dollars easily! Go Robo...

[@krcm1981]

On top of a great actor and totally underrated he's also a super genius.

[@davidmayberry3190]

I can't hear or read "super genius" and not think "Wile E Coyote super genius", lol

[@jamieashby8810]

THAT was one of THE most incredible hours I've ever spent. Thanks, Harry!

[@morbythelegend]

Murphy, it's You!

[@StreetFreak9000]

Can you crop the entire left hand side of the image out? 🤮

[@MrSilkydrew]

It's all connective tissue, Art history.

[@Persianempire01]

I voted like because I like Mr Weller and i believe he is well educated and wise man and so passionate about history especially Persian history.

[@BadApe351]

Harry Knowles is right on the money. Peter Weller's performance really was extraordinary. He made ROBOCOP totally believable. He is a grossly underrated actor...and should have been cast in way more A grade films.

[@Johnjay82]

No he shouldn´t. Most Grade A films aren´t smart or intellectual at all. He was great in Robocop. I haven´t seen many films with Weller, but he was a real slimeball (in a positive way) as "Liddy" in "Dexter". :)

[@JKentF]

When he does that gun motion.... He clearly still has the Robo moves.

[@Phantasia_Workshop]

You can tell he's a professor, this is almost like a college lecture

[@E32DJ-Baby]

Peter Weller gave a lot of credit to the makers of Robocop a lot more than how amazing he done as RoboCop showing good credit to the makers more than yourself is a sign maturity. Big credit still to Peter Weller as RoboCop great performance as the RoboCop still to this day he's still the best RoboCop

[@ethzero]

16:30 With a surprise guest appearance by ED-209 to fix the music 😂

[@russiancyborg4330]

It's a ginger neckbeard in it's natural habitat... what a treat.

[@macklee6837]

I keep coming back to this vid. It's wonderful to listen to and I never get bored of it

[@Al99NextGeneration]

This guy is so much more than just Robocop.

[@TheTaskmaster]

This will be a treasured gem in film history in its own right.

[@lennyvalentin6485]

The truth of the "You don't know what you like. You like what you know" bit of Peter Weller here is so perfectly illustrated by an experience I had as a young high school lad. I was in some class in school, I don't remember the subject exactly, but the teacher said we were going to be watching a movie instead of having a regular lesson, so I was like, great. Finally, school being fun for once. And then she said like (I think it was a she anyway - this was way long ago now, maybe in 1991) "We'll be watching 'Dead Poets Society'." I knew NOTHING about this movie, other than the title. But I did know that I did not like it. Only thing worse and more boring than poets? DEAD poets, that's what! WORST movie, EVER. So pretentious, and boring. So suddenly we were back to me having a really terrible time in class again. But the movie starts, and it's not immediately horrible. You see the hustle and bustle of boys assembling, and then there's the ceremony in the school chapel, and so on and so forth. And before I knew it, I was drawn into the lives of these young people, in the 1950s, and it was one of the most moving cinema experiences of my life, even though the movie was just a noisy, blurry VHS cassette, and shown on a TV screen seen from a classroom's distance away pretty much. It was that great, and that impactful. And Dead Poets Society remains one of my favorite movies of all time, to this day. Thanks - a decade later on - to Mr. Weller, who's certainly as great a speaker as he is an actor. His way of answering questions with a really long-winded, deep anecdote that turns into the answer only at the very tail end is friggin awesome to listen to. :D Also, Robocop frickin rules. It just does, on so many different levels. Maybe the pain of making that movie was just what was needed for it to be such a masterpiece. Thank you.

[@TitoTimTravels]

Funny, around 4 minutes in, this red headed guy I never heard of talks about "some lady in Dallas"... meaning Bobbie Wygant - a woman who worked for NBC for over 70 years. Luckily Peter does not let him interrupt too often. Dr. Weller gives great lectures! 😎

[@evag6370]

Didn't Peter Weller do a history show for a time? I remember seeing commercials for it.

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Im glad I found the whole interview! This move was my best!! Even as a child I felt the emotions when he was watching his wife, and having the flashbacks, it was hurtful and I was a child

[@nicarlos73]

A direct sequel to the original Robocop titled: "Robocop returns" is currently in development. The movie will ignore Robocop 2 and 3 and take place after the orginal film. Im guessing the story will take place years after the events in that film. The director attached to the project was asks "who do you want to play Robocop".. and without hesitation he said: "Peter Weller".

[@RichaRd_JeRome]

Very Informative... 😊 ThanKs John and PeteR from 🏡 HopKins Minnesota "Leviathan and Buckaroo Banzai"

[@ClbnaVGM]

Thanks a lot for this gem ! Peter Weller has a huge culture of movies and arts...It's incredible how he and moni yakim and paul veroeheven created robocop. The robo movements, the voice and everything else comes from a reference. The golem, the mime and it wouldn't be Murphy if all these elements were missing. And when you look at the other Robocops non Weller made...You understand that what an actor can bring to a character is really connected to one's own intelligence. Is it possible to have in the description section a list of the all the films titles he's mentionning ?

[@ogelsmogel]

What a great interview/performance/lecture! Thanks for uploading this. Yeah, I definitely have a lot of huge gaps in my movie history (I did watch Persona though). But hey, man, I'm trying.. I recently watched Seven Samurai for the first time and it was pretty damn good for such a long movie (mostly because Toshiro Mifune carried the movie on his own shoulders, if you ask me). Playtime (Tati)? Not for me, I don't get it. Hitchcock? Heck yeah. Bergman's Hour of the Wolf was great! I could go on, and on... but it's not just the old black&white movies, there are still modern classics being made that I hope will stand the test of time. Like the first hour of Babylon is a f**king masterpiece! Some of the best I've ever seen in a cinema (and we were only two people there)... soooo much good movies out there. It's just about getting out of your comfort zone once in a while, and then you're in for a treat (or a snoozefest, who knows, but that's a chance you'll have to take). Ok, bye, take care, and watch some damn movies, ok?

[@robertmunro5382]

great interview

[@samneves1637]

first saw this film when I was 9years old (born 1992) this version is without a doubt the best! 2nd one was OK third one well not bad but weller had no part in that I never tire of this film lost count how many times I've seen it over the years but one of my absolute favourites just wish this guy had some form of social media so I could thank him always wondered if he gets fan mail ?

[@robag555]

Brilliant talk. You'd think he was the writer and director and I mean that in a complimentary way. If he was running a film history class in my neighbourhood I'd pay for the privilege.

[@arzoo82]

he's got a PHD

[@evag6370]

There's an INtro to Film class at Columbia that always gets 10-15 audit students taking it for no credit.

[@cnferguson5]

He is a director. He has done several different TV shows, like Sons of Anarchy and Hawaii Five-O.

[@rinzler9171]

I am going to guess, that the scene they filmed where the suit wasn't functioning is the one where he was sitting in the chair as Robocop the first time. "When you're at rest, you'll sit in a chair." "Yes, I understand." *sits* Not as much effort required.

[@DarthHater100]

What and interesting person. I think everyone got their money's worth.

[@poindextertunes]

i did not want that to end

[@TyroneDaviesWELSHMAN]

Just wants to say this is one of important lectures in art history.. trust me.. It is.

[@gotindrachenhart]

He needs to be an instructor/teacher lol

[@alexlexusZXpredator]

he teaches at a college now

[@shazamkablam1420]

@@alexlexusZXpredator really I didn't know that.

[@PuFu_Channel]

55:10 - I am Cuba - cool)) an actor from one of my favorite usa movies tells me, a former ussr citizen, about ussr movie that i never knew before)) how cool is that))) thanks Peter!!!!))

[@MB-tu4no]

Wow. Weller he simply amazing here. He talks about other actors like Errol Flynn being incredibly inspiring to him. Well, just watching Weller here is life-changing for me. He is full of substance he knows his subject and his canvas is broad. He blew me away here

[@marcoshark]

Mr. Weller is very entertaining and informative!! If he's this passionate at the Q7A, I can imagine how he is as a teacher!! (Harry, here is a suggestion, how about a film series put together by Mr. Weller with a series of lectures?)

[@JayOkay-ou4dk]

Thanks for uploading. I enjoyed hearing PW experiences and knowledge about Art-Cinema.

[@garyfenlon5769]

When Peter Weller is talking about Homosexuals being beaten up by the police in New York in 1972 they flash up a photograph at 40:48 and the 4 Officers faces that you can see could have come straight from the 'Village People'!!! I wonder if the similarity annoyed the Police and if it was done intentionally by the 'Village People' just to annoy the uniformed Officers?

[@TyroneDaviesWELSHMAN]

Wish I could have been there! From Wales! Thank you for this! Awesome!

[@austenpowers]

Surely someone goes next door with a message? ‘Alright mate (you’re not my mate, but I’m giving you the option), where’s it coming from?…’…

[@poindextertunes]

Man Peter Weller would’ve CRUSHED in a Kubrick film 🔥

[@GSXK4]

Imagine having Dr. Weller as your art history professor and having to write a paper for him to grade!

[@djAstraim]

In the instructions, he looks to the eye and says, "dead or alive your graduating with me"

[@chrisramsay8827]

This the most entertaining video I’ve seen on KZbin for some time. Loved hearing the history of robocop

[@Krystalmyth]

I would have loved to hear audio reactions from the viewing. I mean being in the theater with Peter, so epic. Did he give any commentary? That would have been epic, I don't mind talking in theaters if its something like this.

[@BenPollinger]

Great series of vids, what a brain he has, and funny with it.

[@writeralbertlanier3434]

Wellers take and his discussion of his preparation for the role of Robocop is compelling and intelligent here. A thoughtful and fascinating interpretation of Robocop .

[@themcmc]

So pitiful how the other guy keeps trying to interject with "how much he knows". Hearing Weller give these memory vignettes was great

[@SergioSacotoOficial]

This is really powerfull...

[@fredfredburger5150]

28:55 *That is Robocop*

[@高橋直之-w5k]

熱い思いに答えようと聞き入るピーターに感激しています！！

[@ummagumma00]

What in the hell is a clip from The French Connection doing at the 45 minute mark?

[@198634]

I didn’t realize that GWILDOR from masters of the universe was now in a wheelchair and is a movie host ....

[@jesseslack2089]

ROFL!

[@wingitprod]

Weller is a gentleman and a scholar.

[@-Zakhiel-]

I know I'm 7 years late, but in someway he is. He produced documentaries.

[@davidmayberry3190]

And.....now I'm off to watch Robocop.

[@ktotheswiss1617]

I'm listening to this while playing rogue city.

[@DrQuagmire1]

well he has some documentary shows on the History Channel a few years ago

[@mariomario4372]

Péter Weller and eternal Robocop 💪👍

[@abigailsockeye1586]

Potty mouth on the chunky elf in the beginning.

[@198634]

Loloool

[@amargad69]

Epic

[@rickytoddbotelho9555]

Love Pete Weller. They should make a remake of Robocop call it 'NakedRoboCopper.' A couple of months ago I got on the Robocop trip all over again. Started with listening to the soundtrack. I started crying. Fuckingfantastic!

[@Krystalmyth]

Isnt it amazing? Basil, man. The Conan soundtrack does me in too.

[@jquest43]

Crying??lol Get some testosterone therapy sweetie.

[@granpastreetz]

Does anyone else want to know what scene he's talking about? 21:28

[@swedd2]

11:30 I didn't get that part "His soul is born out then by a physical life, not vice versa" Someone please explain....

[@SGTBizarro]

swedd2 I believe he meant that.. Murphy's soul had been buried by software and shock and reprogramming. As much care as they took to make him a purely digital machine, his true soul began to surface on it's own, in the quietness of his own thoughts and subconsciousness it began to break through that wall, *without* any external stimuli. Exposure to his old life wasn't necessary for his spirit to begin fighting against the machine that contained it. Visions and memories of his prior life came pouring back suddenly, and from that point he began a journey to try and connect those memories with reality. It wasn't the physical life that revealed Murphy's soul, it was his soul that first cried out for the truth which lead him to rediscover the physical life he once had.

[@swedd2]

SGTBizarro Sir, this was an excellent explanation with such precision to my question. Thank you

[@neoqwerty]

I'm three years late, but. Borne, not 'born', as in, 'carried out'. Because his soul finally woke up from its metaphysical sleep, it's reawakening his own personal traits like his physical habits. Think of it like trauma: someone so profoundly affected that they became a husk of who they'd been before, and as they heal, that submerged self reappears and that lost spark of life returns, which leads to them returning to things they enjoyed doing before the traumatic event.

[@Krystalmyth]

@@neoqwerty I think it's symbolically a bit deeper than that. They tried to ERASE a man. This isn't trauma, this is someone killing you, reaching into your mind, and trying to delete that too. This goes beyond trauma, or even murder. How you can minimize it as 'sleep' is missing a strong element of the film. It isn't a spark of life, it is, for all intents, a rebirth. The ONLY THING comparable to what happened to Murphy is the day you were born. There was nothing there. There were no memories, there were no names, no history. You didn't exist, and suddenly you did. With a new body, a new life.

[@neoqwerty]

@@Krystalmyth I was paraphrasing Verhoeven explaining how important it was that Murphy's body "remembered" the gun-spinning and that action literally waking his soul up. There's huge religious symbolism and a philosophy that I forgot the name of involved with this too, and it's been like a year since I commented so I can't for the life of me remember where I found Verhoeven explaining it or really describe it in more poetic and natural language. I'd call it a "paused/suspended state" but that isn't accurate, either. Sleep is closer: haven't you ever dreamed you were someone else, completely divorced from your true self, before? And then woke up because of something in your body "tugging" you back to awareness? (Also trauma *can* cause a cessation of existence of at least the former personality, either through physical damage or bad enough mental trauma, to pick your nits as you've nitpicked me, heh.) I'm not gonna argue that I suck at explaining it but I will protest that I've missed the rebirth part (at least, I didn't miss it once it was pointed out to me while I was trying to express why the original and the 2014 remake were so tonally different even if you disregard the satire and parody of the era's culture). What I'm missing is probably more the era's culture parody and satire, as I'm only about as old as the movie and from Canada. I'm incredibly happy that you care enough about the movie to 1) find this video and 2) debate and correct another fan though!

[@austenpowers]

Please do more acting that we can see Peter. Passion is art ❤

[@darthvader6005]

Who did he say Sons of Anarchy was based on? John Jeney?

[@robertherrick6703]

I did some searches and the name is Jean Genet. I found this quote in an interview with Kurt Sutter: "FLEMING: I read you studied classic literature and plays. Is there a storied protagonist Jax is inspired by? SUTTER: Hmm. Obviously the nod to Hamlet is an archetype theme. I’m a big, not to sound pretentious, a big Jean Genet fan. In general. But there was something in his work that fascinated me…also in who he was as an artist. That he had this felonious default, where he couldn’t no matter what he tried to do, he couldn’t escape where he came from, and no matter how famous and celebrated Genet became, he still always lived on the fringe. That fascinated me. That complexity of who he was, as a man. A lot of my heroes struggle with that. And Jax definitely does." deadline.com/2014/08/kurt-sutter-emmys-2014-emmy-awards-live-blog-824397/

[@Robertgarygutierrez]

Does Peter live in austin?

[@ClbnaVGM]

Today is 24th June. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETER WELLER & NANCY ALLEN. Fun fact , they were born the same day :)

[@Pinkielover]

robocop is great in mortal kombat 11

[@Trip4man]

What a treat man! I feel blessed!!! Thank you for this my friend... Peter Weller man... I only saw an interview of him and I already knew he was great! Such a committed and open person. I actually had similar experiences as him... I watched that movie of Ivan and it's true! I was blown away by the performance of the actor. But the first 5 minutes I was hating the thing so much... Such things reallyyyyyy do 'mind turns'. Since I'm European and I don't have much access to this type of American content. This was sooooo good. Peter is an icon of the 80's and Robocop was the reason I fell in love with Law. Actually Robocop was the first movie I ever saw! I was too young to watch it 😅That's what I got from hanging out with the older cool kids... That sounds like a bad thing... Nop! It was AWESOME!!! So grateful for Peter... Thanks to EVERYONE who made this possible!

[@xtraspecialmango]

3rd time watching lol

[@darkwraithcovenantindustries]

This was like a college level lecture

[@DopeteK]

13:26 Robo neck beard...

[@jokerzwild00]

I don't get into the whole celebrity worship culture thing, but I really like Peter Weller. He's so damn cool, and a hell of an actor. Maybe not the best actor, but a great one. Super smart guy too. Is he a little egotistical? Maybe, but all great actors need to be that way to some degree in my opinion. He does seem grounded though, at least. I think the first Robo stands on it's own as a wonderful film and didn't need any sequels, though 2 was good enough just to have Weller back in the suit. The original was just lightning in a bottle. 2 had a great performance by the antagonist and of course Weller though. CGI has really lowered the quality of a lot of films in my opinion, when they rely too heavily on it. They will never be able to make films like Robocop again. A person can't perform and react to other actors performances the same way against a green screen.

[@linuxstuff73]

Peter Weller was so awesome in Robocop and Buckaroo Banzai. Also liked him in Leviathan.

[@JerpPin]

Amazing talk/interview… peter weller is amazing, definitely one of my favorite actors

[@teeniebeenie8774]

awesome dude and jacket!

[@Steffen744]

A Lot of empty seats... WTF!

[@Krystalmyth]

Seriously where the fuck was this?

[@Herfinnur]

Thank God that camera man had his shit together. Who has that much space left on their memory card for over an hour long impromptu lecture? 58:42 timestamp for myself to rewatch

Pete is an amazing man.

[@pferreira1983]

I wonder what was the scene they shot before Robocop mastered his costume movement.

[@lancer525]

+P Ferreira Me too. I'd really like to know. Rewatched it twice, and I still can't tell.

[@ponteral7023]

From my information is it scene when RoboCop catches keys from the Sgt. Reed. I think they try it to shoot it so many times, until Peter Weller caught that keys.

[@dannylerch]

I hope Joel Kinnaman is a scholar like Weller. Otherwise there won't be any depth to the new robocop. Weller seemed to really get into the head of being part man and machine, dealing with fragmented memories, being trapped, and ultimately resurrection. The mythic history that he conveys to the character is awesome and the story will definitely forever be timeless.

[@EthanJohn1986]

Why the fuck does it cut to footage of the French connection during them talking?? Oh wait, is it becuz a few min later Weller starts talking about the director? maybe it was out of sync?

[@crissrudd4554]

Yes French Connection was directed by William Friedkin

[@cincyfan987]

This movie made me try baby food as a kid.

[@robertherrick6703]

Knock yourself out, Johnson :)

[@JeffWarren47]

Tastes like baby food.

[@Nesty9]

20 mins into this i think "man i wanna watch robocop again" 10 mins before it ends im lookin on another tab for the movies peter mentioned

[@ComicBookGuy420]

I enjoy Weller's acting, always great to hear bts stuff about movies I grew up with

[@MrSilkydrew]

If your toungue gets ripped out, watch Errol Flynn and smile.

[@Fiendtildawn]

Who was the guy around the 32:00 mark that thought Robocop came before Darth Vader. LOL

[@swedd2]

40:20 Read a Book!!!

[@edgarbarrera5291]

swedd2 Has

[@loayprettyboy206]

Big fan of Robocop Peter weller is Robocop

[@jacktrppr1]

Great speaker, however he is the King of Tangents

[@Incognito-vc9wj]

I could listen to this man talk about anything. So much passion, strength and conviction in his words.

[@drlarrymitchell]

Good sir, I too suffer from the Robothoughts™.

[@crisdierodricam8985]

nomo