Josh Duhamel Discusses Character’s Struggles in ‘London Calling’

NEW YORK, Sept. 21 (UPI) — Actor Josh Duhamel, known for roles in “Transformers” and “Ransom Canyon,” portrays Tommy, an aging hitman, in the new action-comedy “London Calling.” The film follows Tommy as he returns to Los Angeles after a job in London goes wrong.

Duhamel, 52, told UPI in a recent Zoom interview that his character is not in top form at the beginning of the film. “This guy is a bit of a mess,” he said. “I really related to the guy. Most guys my age — or any athlete who’s at the end of his career — will relate. He still sees himself in his prime, but his eyesight is fading and he can’t shoot like he used to.”

The plot centers on Tommy and his troubles with gangster Freddy Darby, played by Aidan Gillen. After the London mishap, Tommy gets help from another assassin, Benson (Rick Hoffman), who wants Tommy to mentor his shy son, Julian (Jeremy Ray Taylor). Julian prefers role-playing games over crime, but Tommy’s unexpected paternal feelings begin to surface during their time together.

“He’s been close and sort of there, but at that moment, especially when he meets Jeremy Ray Taylor’s character, it’s time to self-reflect and make things right in his life,” Duhamel explained. “We’re all flawed, but we all believe we’re somehow the hero in this movie. Julian is probably the only one that really is.”

Director Allan Ungar emphasized the movie’s blend of humor, action, and emotion. He noted that he aimed to capture the heart often missing in action films today. “The best comedy comes out of conflict and taking two people that have no business being in the same room together and forcing them into a situation they both don’t want to be in,” Ungar said.

Despite the physically demanding scenes, Duhamel faced challenges while filming. He suffered a groin injury early in production, leading him to rely on a stunt double for many action scenes. “Most of the movie, I was pretty debilitated,” Duhamel admitted. “It was a physically demanding film, but that’s why I got into this business.”

“London Calling” marks a collaboration between Duhamel and Ungar, who also worked together on the 2022 film “Bandit.” Duhamel remarked on their strong professional relationship. “He trusted me and I really trusted him. He’s meticulous and comes to each scene with a specific idea about how to shoot it, giving us freedom as actors to explore the material,” he said.

Ungar agreed, noting that their collaboration allows for a productive balance. “There’s a healthy form of push and pull that leads us to the best creative decisions. We had a lot more room to play in this second movie,” he said.

Duhamel jokingly added, “What Alan found out is that I’m usually right.”