'Mafia Wars' Exclusive Interview: Tom Welling

Tom Welling Talks Action Thriller 'Mafia Wars'. "I read the script, and I liked the idea of a good guy being forced to do bad things for a good reason."

Tom Welling talks 'Mafia Wars'.

Available on digital and On Demand beginning October 11th is the new action thriller ‘Mafia Wars’, which was written and directed by Scott Windhauser (‘Cops and Robbers’), and stars Tom Welling (‘Smallville’, ‘Draft Day’), Cam Gigandet (‘Easy A’, ‘The Magnificent Seven'), and Cher Cosenza (‘Death in Texas’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Tom Welling about his work on ‘Mafia Wars,’ his first reaction to the screenplay, his character’s unlikely alliance with Griff, working with Cam Gigandet, preparing for the action sequences, collaborating on set with director Scott Windhauser, and if Welling is open to returning for a sequel.

Related Article: Exclusive: Frank Grillo Talks 'Superman', 'Peacemaker' Season 2 and More

Tom Welling in 'Mafia Wars'. Photo: Saban Films.

Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and what excited you personally about being part of this project?

Tom Welling: Two good questions. A couple of things. I read the script, and I liked the idea of a good guy being forced to do bad things for a good reason. I liked the pacing of what I read that Scott wrote, and he was going to direct it. Talking to him about it and him being like, “We're not going to shoot this unless we're shooting in Rome. That's it. We're not going to shoot it.” I like that because it allowed us all to be immersed in it. I think no matter what we did, it was going to look good, because we're in Rome. I liked the idea that the character, in every scene, had to navigate. He didn't know what was going to happen. Especially with Cam, who played such a great psychopath, every single take was different. I never knew what he was going to do, and that just informed it all. Scott put that all together. So, I just think he did a great job, and hopefully we can do another one.

(L to R) Cam Gigandet and Tom Welling in 'Mafia Wars'. Photo: Saban Films.

MF: Can you talk about the unlikely partnership Terry has with Griff and how he navigates that?

TW: Well, it was moment by moment, that's for sure, because I think Terry got himself into something that he didn't know how to get out of, and it's not till the very end where he must pounce and make a move. Because there was one scene that we shot in this little plaza in Rome, and I just remember it was what Cam was doing and how he was intimidating people was so outside of what I thought his character would do, that I was just able to watch and be so interested. It was mesmerizing in a way.

Cam Gigandet in 'Mafia Wars'. Photo: Saban Films.

MF: What was it like having a scene partner like that and acting opposite Cam Gigandet?

TW: Oh, it's the best. That's what you want. I mean, the thing is you're working within a set where everybody knows the parameters, but you're being creative within them. So, there was a few times where I'd say, "Hey, Cam, if I do this," and he's like, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Then I don't know if he ever asked me for anything, but he could have if he wanted to. But it's like this. You're in the trenches together and you're there to support each other, and no one's trying to get one up on anybody. The better you can make any other character, the better your character is going to be. I think that's what we had in common.

(L to R) Cher Cosenza and Tom Welling in 'Mafia Wars'. Photo: Saban Films.

MF: Can you talk about preparing for the action scenes, and what was it like for you to execute those sequences?

TW: Well, those are my favorite days, to be honest. We probably didn't have as much preparation time as I would've liked. But the good thing is that based on my experience and Cam's experience, we were able to kind of pick it up quick, what was being asked of us. A lot of times, because the film is edited, you must remember that you don't have to do the whole thing all the way through all the time, if you know what I mean. A fight sequence, you can do it in movements, make sure you have those movements, and then move on. Because what we don't have in a movie like this is three months of preparation like you would on a ‘Matrix’ or a ‘John Wick’ or something like that. I mean, that would be fun. But then again, you go to set and they're like, “Okay, you got this eight-minute action sequence that you have to do every time, all day”. So, there's a give and a take. But Cam was up for it, and I was up for it. Scott knew what he wanted, knew when he had it, so we were able to kind of just be in it together.

(L to R) Tom Welling and Cher Cosenza in 'Mafia Wars'. Photo: Saban Films.

MF: Can you talk about collaborating with Scott Windhauser on set and what he was like to work with as a director?

TW: He was the best. I mean, I bug him so much because I want to do another one of these, or at least something else with him because he's such a great captain. That's how I look at directors in my mind, like the captains of the ship. They take care of the crew, and they know where they're going. If they need to deviate their course, then the crew goes, “Yes, we're behind you and let's go”. He did all of that. He also allowed me to be creative and not be worried because he took care of everything else. That's what I would like most in a director.

Tom Welling in 'Mafia Wars'. Photo: Saban Films.

MF: Finally, is this a character you would like to return to in the future and are you open to a sequel?

TW: I would like to return to him. I don't have any stories in mind. I wish I did because that'd be a great answer. But what I like about this character is he could kind of do anything. He could be dropped in any situation, but I've been bugging Scott about it way too much. He's kind of like, “Leave me alone until I figure something out because Terry could go anywhere.”

Mafia Wars

R1 hr 38 minOct 11th, 2024

An ex-con gets released early from prison only to be forced into an undercover unit of six men and on his first day the other five are all killed. Now he must face... Read the Plot

What is the plot of ‘Mafia Wars’?

An ex-con (Tom Welling) gets released early from prison only to be forced into an undercover unit of six men and on his first day the other five are all killed. Now he must face the men who he was tasked to spy on.