Mtv: What did Rob Zombie say when he approached you to take the role?
Tyler Mane: Rob said that he had written this Halloween and that he wanted Michael to be a little larger than life. [He said] he was thinking of me when he wrote it. He asked if I wanted to do it, and, of course, it being Rob Zombie, I said sure.
Mtv: Tell us about the first time you saw John Carpenter's original movie and how it made you feel.
Mane: I didn't remember it. Since I signed on, I've watched all the movies except for the third one, where Michael Myers does not appear. So I have become a fan of the Halloweens, and hopefully I will be the scariest Michael ever.
Mtv: Rob has made a point of saying that he wanted to hire an actor, not just a stuntman, to put on the mask. So tell us: What thespian skills are you bringing?
Mane: Well, there is a whole thought process you have to do. You have to figure out the character; you have to figure out the movements. I needed to figure out a way that I wanted to play Michael Myers and bring a little something different to the character. That's what I'm doing, and hopefully everyone will be pleased with it.
Mtv: You tell people that Rob Zombie is remaking "Halloween," and they assume it'll be the old movie with tons more blood. How accurate is that?
Mane: Well, let's just say it's a little bit more intense than any of the other ones.
Mtv: Have you attempted to meet with any of the other people who played Michael Myers?
Mane: I haven't talked to any of the other Michaels. For research, [all I wanted to do was] figure out what would be going on in the mind of a killer so I could bring something behind the mask, other than just putting on the mask and running around stabbing people.
Mtv: A lot of people on the Internet are arguing over whether you're too tall, or even too skinny, to be Michael Myers. What would you say to them?
Mane: Well, you know, Rob Zombie had a vision and we are bringing it to life.
Mtv: You've spent several days working opposite Malcolm McDowell. What is he bringing to the character of Dr. Loomis?
Mane: Malcolm is fantastic. Working with an icon, you can't have anything better than that. I think he makes an excellent Loomis.
Mtv: This seems like the type of job that would make you look around and think, "I can't believe I'm getting paid to do this."
Mane: Oh, yeah. I mean, we are here to do the movie; we are here to get it done. I'm sure it's going to sink in afterwards, just exactly what happened.
Mtv: So give us an idea: What's it like inside that iconic mask?
Mane: It's hot and sweaty, and it smells like rubber.
Mtv: What was it like the first time you put it on?
Mane: I realized, putting it on the first time, just what I was getting into. Michael Myers is a very famous character. This is the ninth movie with Michael Myers, and when you put on that mask for the first time, you get a little chill going down your spine.
Mtv: Is it easy to get into character once you're looking through those little slits?
Mane: Yeah, once you have that mask on, you get that bloody knife, you get breathing ... it gets intense. It's kind of interesting, and a good feeling.
Mtv: In this movie, you're stalking 18-year-old Scout Taylor-Compton, who is stepping into the Jamie Lee Curtis role. How will the character of Laurie Strode be changing?
Mane: She is doing a fantastic job. I think everyone is going to be very pleased with what she's doing. I don't like to compare actors like that. Jamie Lee Curtis brought what she did. Scout is bringing to Laurie what she is bringing, and it's going to be excellent.
Mtv: What has been your favorite scene to shoot so far?
Mane: Where do you begin? Anytime you get to put that knife in your hand and slice somebody up, it's a good time. People are going to enjoy just about every killing scene. They are looking really good.
Mtv: Rob said his version is going to show us Michael getting the mask. Did you enjoy re-creating such an iconic origin scene?
Mane: Yeah, doing those scenes you're bringing Michael to life. People are going to be able to see his transformation: when he gets his mask, when he gets his suit and how he comes to town on that Halloween night.
Mtv: Are we ever going to get to see your face?
Mane: You're going to have to wait and see.
Mtv: Scout and Malcolm say they'd do sequels, but Rob says this is his only one. Where do you stand?
Mane: Well, we will see. If they call, I will definitely put on the mask again.
© Mtv
Archived 2007-08 Alex D Thrawn. for www.MalcolmMcDowell.net