The following is a syndicated interview.
On the eve of LEGEND broadcasting the Channel Premiere of THE RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER: ORIGINS, we talk to Terry Stone about the challenges of playing Tony Tucker and why he thinks ORIGINS is the best film in the franchise.
In RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER: ORIGINS, Tucker returns home from the Falklands War with severe PTSD. What was that like to emotionally explore?
As an actor it was an interesting thing to play. It took me on a journey so when you see my character laughing a lot in the film it’s like a mask to hide all the shit that’s going on in my head. It also explains how you can go from 1 – 10 in violence. Lots of Footsoldier fans didn’t know that Tony Tucker was in the Army so this was a nice reveal and I think any forces veterans that have experienced real war and combat would understand it.
You co-wrote the script. How did you want this prequel to differ in tone from the original Rise of the Footsoldier films?
With this film we wanted to create the best film in the franchise, and we pulled out all the stops in making this happen. With the backdrop of Covid, the script was amazing and it attracted some great acting talent: PH Moriarty rip, Vinnie Jones, Keith Allen, Bronson Webb and so many great actors from film and television.
What did Nick Nevern bring to the table as a director that helped rebrand the gritty Essex underworld for this instalment?
I think he really ensured that every performance was the best it could be. He worked relentlessly with each actor to ensure this was the standout film in the franchise.
You’ve been playing the role of Tony Tucker on and off for nearly 14 years. How daunting has it been to get right?
I don’t know if my portrayal is a hundred per cent correct – I played him from 33 – 38 years old. (Tucker was murdered in 1995) but I spoke to a lot of people when researching the character, various people who knew him, who said it was chilling watching me – it was as if he was still alive. I never met him so I took that as a huge compliment.
What was it like having Vinnie Jones join the firm as Bernard O’Mahoney, part of Tucker’s security team?
It was great Vinnie is a God of British crime films so to share the screen with him was epic.
Given your own massive history as a key promoter in the UK rave and garage scene, how authentic did it feel stepping back onto sets meant to recreate that era?
It felt real and we recreated everything so the fans got a big dose of nostalgia.
Is it more difficult to prepare for an intense, violent role like Tony Tucker, or to manage the heavy responsibilities of being a producer on the same project?
When you’re not acting, you’re learning your lines, when you’re not learning your lines you’re producing. There was more than one producer on this film so it’s much easier to juggle these responsibilities when you have a great team and partners.
The Inter City Firm and subsequent Essex underworld stories have been heavily documented. How do you strike a balance between respecting the true events and making an entertaining cinema experience?
It has to feel real when you’re doing it and it has to feel real in a documentary style when you’re watching it, as we aren’t making John Wick or an action film, it’s a gritty period crime film set in Essex so it has to feel shocking. You want the audience to look away, laugh and then quote the dialogue.
Origins takes us to the start of the legend. Where do you see the franchise heading as you continue, as producer, to build out this dark, true-crime universe?
I’m no longer involved as an actor or as a producer, I may come back but only if it returns to what made it great in the first place.
Finally, what other projects are you currently working on?
I’m just finishing off a new UK rap film called ‘Tales From The Trap’. It’s a new film franchise, so basically it’s “Rise of the Hoodsoldier” Top Boy on steroids. I’m also working on a film about the Shah of Iran which is really timely and I’m currently presenting two podcasts ‘The Terry Stone Connection’ which has had over 41 million views on YouTube & ‘The Tales From the Trap’ podcast.
You can watch RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER: ORIGINS on LEGEND, Friday 17th July, 11.10pm. Sky 148 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 41 / Freesat 137
