STILL Game legend Greg Hemphill has been a comic book fan all his life and says getting a cameo role in Deadpool & Wolverine was a childhood dream come true.
The 54-year-old actor, who plays a barman in the latest Marvel blockbuster, said being on set with two of his favourite comic characters blew his mind.
Still Game fans went crazy when they spotted Greg in the movie where he tells Wolverine – Hugh Jackman – to ‘Get the f*** out of my bar!’ just before Deadpool – Ryan Reynolds – turns up and all hell breaks loose.
The dad-of-two, who is married to Balamory actress Julie Wilson Nimmo, admits he would love to come back in the next film as the weegie version of Deadpool – Deidpool.
Greg, whose Still Game character Victor has been transformed into a cartoon along with Jack and the rest of the Craiglang gang, says 2024 has turned out to be a real comic book page turner.
He said: “I collected Marvel comics when I was wee and growing up in Canada – everything from Wolverine to Spiderman and then my wee granny from County Tyrone would send me the Broons and Oor Wullie.
“So to end up being in the Deadpool & Wolverine movie all these years later was crazy and pretty cool. I was there for two days and it was like jumping on the most expensive moving train you have ever seen. It was incredible to see it up close.
“Seeing Ryan Reynolds standing there in front of me in his Deadpool costume I was reminded of the old Shakespearean days when rich folk could pay to sit on stage with the actors at The Globe and watch the play.
“I was watching the iconic characters of Deadpool and Wolverine from the best seat in the house. It was ridiculous and really blew my mind.”
In the movie, which hit UK cinemas in July, there are several different variants of Deadpool from across the multiverse including Welshpool, Dogpool, Headpool and Ladypool.
Greg said: “Maybe next time they can squeeze me into a Deadpool costume and let me be the Scottish or Weegie variant. I could be Deidpool.”
But Hemphill is not the only Still Game actor to star in a Hollywood movie – his pal Ford Kiernan, 62, made an appearance in 2002 Martin Scorsese epic Gangs of New York alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, 49, and Daniel Day-Lewis, 66.
Ford, who grew up in Dennistoun, Glasgow, joked: “If Greg was a gentleman he would tell you about the time I spent with Martin Scorsese in the Gangs of New York. I’m sick hearing about his Marvel movie. I’ve already done a Hollywood film and now he’s scored one and I’m raging.”
Greg and Ford are both delighted their characters Jack Jarvis and Victor McDade are being brought to life in Oor-Wullie style comic annual – He Who Hingeth Aboot Getteth Heehaw!
The pair worked with DC Thomson’s comic editor Gordon Tait and a squad of illustrators from Scunnered Ink to reimagine the adventures of the OAP pals plus Winston, Tam, Isa, Navid and Boaby the Barman.
And the Still Game and Chewin’ The Fat co-creators are hoping that one day their comic characters will become the stars of a Family Guy-style cartoon animation.
Ford, who also starred in Dear Green Place and Happy Hollidays, said: “Not every TV show will lend itself to a comic treatment but Still Game is perfect as the Craiglang gang are already charactitures and had all the hallmarks of a cartoon so the transition was easy.
“We had to look at different styles – everything from The Flintstones and Scooby Doo – before we arrived at the perfect style. Every single character needed to be right and couldn’t be half drawn. We made adjustments to peoples faces to make sure they were just right.
“The Still Game characters belong to the viewers just like Oor Wullie was A’Body’s Wullie Jack and Victor and Co. belong to the people of Scotland who have taken them to their hearts.
“When we did a meet and greet tour to promote our whisky we met folk who had dogs called Jack and Victor and cats called Isa. We even met folk who had Jack and Victor tattoos.”
Greg, who was born in Springburn, Glasgow, added: “I think the characters have become the property of the audience because they are so relatable. Everyone knows an Isa or a Winston.
“That’s why George Lucas got into so much bother with Star Wars when he made changes as although it is legally his, in reality it belongs to the audience.”
Ford, who starred alongside Robert Carlyle in 1996 film Carla’s Song, said: “Wouldn’t it be great if it was turned into an animated cartoon like Family Guy. They might have to tone down the language a bit but then again there are a lot of edgy animations out there. It’s in the hands of whoever but that would be a great thing.”
Still Game, which ran on the BBC for nine seasons from 2002, has not been on our screens in five years but Netflix has brought the hit sitcom to a whole new generation – who love it.
Greg, who is dad to Benny, 22, and Chevy, 18, said: “I think kids get it because of the relationships they have with their grandparents. The parents have all the authority whereas as the kids and the grandparents have none which creates a special bond.
“My kids were 11 and ? when they asked me if they could watch Still Game and I said no because they were too young. They said they were embarrassed because everyone in school had seen it and they hadn’t. I felt bad and gave in. We watched it together and it was great seeing it through their eyes.”
He added: “Saying that I’ve just clocked on the back of the annual that it says ‘Not for sale to children’ which I kinda like. Kids will be getting folk to buy it for them like alcopops and ciggies.”
Ford likes the idea the Still Game annual will be in people’s stockings on Christmas Eve and in their downstairs toilet by Boxing Day.
He joked: “That’s a thought that we are going to end up being read in everyone’s toilet. My mum always said I would end up down the toilet but I don’t think this is quite what she meant.
“We are hoping it is the first annual of many and that we will be a Christmas stocking filler just like The Broons and Oor Wullie.”
Still Game Book 1: He Who Hingeth Aboot Getteth Heehaw is out now
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