Kiefer Sutherland talks wrestling with Danny Dyer and recalls Christmases with his late father Donald

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Paris is buzzing with activity, and Kiefer Sutherland is gearing up for a new film. Just a day away from starting production, he’ll be doing what he does best: action! The movie, titled ‘Father Joe,’ is a gritty and intense thriller written by Luc Besson. Sutherland stars as a priest who takes on a dangerous mob boss, played by Al Pacino, in a violent showdown. Though the story is set in 1990s New York City, filming is actually taking place in Paris and Bulgaria.

Honestly, this action star – who’s turning 59 just before Christmas – says the script demands a level of physical work that’s seriously daunting. And that’s coming from a guy who spent ten years running around as Jack Bauer on ’24’, constantly defusing bombs and battling bad guys against the clock! He really means it when he says this will be tough.

It’s amazing for a moment – you realize how lucky you are! But that feeling doesn’t last. Before you know it, you’re facing a tough challenge on set, maybe even getting injured – a sprained ankle, a wrist injury, or a cracked rib. And even then, you still have to keep working.

Fortunately, his intense training for Father Joe’s physically demanding role wasn’t entirely new. Nine months earlier, he’d had a practice run – wrestling with Danny Dyer on a garage forecourt in Yorkshire. They were filming a rather silly fight scene for the Sky Christmas comedy Tinsel Town. In the film, Sutherland plays Bradley Mac, a conceited Hollywood star who unexpectedly ends up in a British pantomime. Dyer plays the boisterous ex-husband of Sutherland’s love interest, Rebel Wilson, who is the choreographer.

Kiefer Sutherland is a big admirer of Danny Dyer and praises his acting talent. He explains that their recent scene together – a fight at a gas station – was a playful nod to their history of playing tough guys. Sutherland, known for his role as Jack Bauer, and Dyer have both frequently portrayed strong characters. The humor came from the fact that, despite the initial fight, they quickly realized neither of them were very good at it. Sutherland considers it one of his favorite fight scenes to film because of how funny it was.

While he might still be starring in major films with actors like Pacino, could Donald Sutherland understand the idea of a fading Hollywood actor having to play a silly character in a British stage show?

For me, a movie needs to feel emotionally true. I’m glad I didn’t end up in the same situation as Bradley Mac! My career has definitely had its ups and downs, but the story that really stuck with me was the strained relationship between his character and his daughter. As a father to Sarah Sutherland, who’s 37, I could relate to that. In the film, his character has a daughter in London from a previous relationship, played by Alice Eve, and he really struggles to reconnect with her – because ultimately, that’s all he cares about.

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Donald Sutherland’s son, and his twin sister Rachel, were born in London while their Canadian actor parents, Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas, were working there. His parents divorced when he was three years old. Last Christmas was particularly difficult as it was the first without his father, who passed away at 88 in June 2024. He pauses, reflecting, and shares that many of his cherished childhood memories revolve around Christmas visits with his father and Francine. Having grown up in a separated family, he thought of his father often, especially remembering the happy times shared with his three half-brothers and the rest of the family.

It’s been eleven years since the last season of 24 aired in London, and Kiefer Sutherland still thinks about the character Jack Bauer. He says he’s talked with producer Howard Gordon, who has developed a potential storyline. Sutherland is enthusiastic about revisiting the role and hopes a revival happens soon. “He’s come up with an outline, which I think is an exciting step forward. We’ll see what happens. But I’m very open to it. And hopefully it’ll be sooner rather than later!”

Knowing how much Donald Sutherland loved both pantomime and Hollywood, someone jokingly suggested a story idea: ‘Jack Bauer and the Beanstalk!’ He laughed and replied, ‘Feel free to pitch that as a reboot idea for 24 – I’ll be the judge of whether it works!’

Read more: Sky confirms Christmas 2025 TV schedule – from Tinsel Town to Rob & Romesh Vs

Tinsel Town is available now via Sky Cinema.

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2025-12-07 19:41