'Rebel Ridge' Exclusive Interview: Don Johnson

Moviefone speaks with Don Johnson about 'Rebel Ridge' and working with Aaron Pierre. "We have similar sensibilities about how we approach our work".

Premiering on Netflix September 6th is the new action thriller ‘Rebel Ridge’, which was directed by Jeremy Saulnier (‘Blue Ruin’), and stars Aaron Pierre (‘Old’), AnnaSophia Robb (‘Soul Surfer’), David Denman (‘The Equalizer 3’), Emory Cohen (‘Shot Caller’), James Cromwell (‘L.A. Confidential’) and Don Johnson (‘Miami Vice’ and ‘Knives Out’).

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Don Johnson stars in Netflix's 'Rebel Ridge'.

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with legendary actor Don Johnson about his work on ‘Rebel Ridge’, his first reaction to the screenplay, his character, playing the villain, working with actor Aaron Pierre and collaborating on the set with director Jeremy Saulnier.

You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Johnson, Aaron Pierre and AnnaSophia Robb.

(L to R) Don Johnson as Chief Sandy Burnne and Emory Cohen as Officer Steve Lann in 'Rebel Ridge'. Photo: Allyson Riggs/Netflix © 2024.

Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to reading the screenplay and why did you want to be a part of this project?

Don Johnson: My first reaction was that I had the opportunity to work with the great Jeremy Saulnier, and then when I read the material. I was at once excited and a touch trepidatious, only because I wanted to make sure that the first part of the movie didn't become what the movie was about, an old familiar trope. I was so pleasantly pleased to see that it was not that, but it was a very clever way of using something where you think you know, and then suddenly, something starts, and you don't know. But now you're learning and now you're wrapped up in it and now you're rolling, and you're into this world where you go, "Wow, this is in America?" So, I was thrilled with that. I was just thrilled with the opportunity to get to play that part and to work with Jeremy.

(L to R) Don Johnson as Chief Sandy Burnne and Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond in 'Rebel Ridge'. Photo: Allyson Riggs/Netflix © 2024.

MF: How would you describe your character in your own words and is it fun playing a villain?

DJ: Would you say Robin Hood was a villain? I don't know. All my characters are good guys. He's a no-nonsense guy, Sheriff Sandy Burnne, and he's been given a responsibility, and he's managing that responsibility the only way he knows how.

Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond in 'Rebel Ridge'. Photo: Allyson Riggs/Netflix © 2024.

MF: Can you talk about the conflict between Chief Burnne and Terry Richmond and what it was like working with actor Aaron Pierre?

DJ: Well, in the Sheriff's mind, there was no conflict. This is just business as usual. It only becomes a conflict when this very mysterious big guy (arrives). He's 6'4" and ripped. If I was to tell the truth, he might be able to kick my ass if I couldn't find something to hit him with. I loved working with Aaron because he's a wonderful actor, wonderful actor, and we have similar sensibilities about how we approach our work. It was very easy for Jeremy and Aaron and I to find a tone that we wanted and to commit to it. It's a hell of a commitment because if you miss, you miss badly. But if you hit it, you get ‘Rebel Ridge’.

Director Jeremy Saulnier on the set of 'Rebel Ridge'. Photo: Allyson Riggs/Netflix © 2024.

MF: Finally, what was it like collaborating on the set with director Jeremy Saulnier?

DJ: You're asking a mixed bag of emotions. We're not going to go on a cruise together, but we worked together very well as director and actor. But when you're in a collaborative relationship with somebody, and I love Jeremy, and I think he'd say the same thing about me, you lock horns and you argue and battle about stuff, and that's when you know somebody is invested in the stuff. You don't want a director who's going to just yes you to death. You want somebody to say, "I don't know that I see it that way. Let's talk about that." And we did. Unlike a lot of conversations with directors, I think we found the right tone together throughout.

Rebel Ridge

"Their laws. His rules."

R2 hr 12 minSep 6th, 2024

Showtimes & Tickets

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What is the plot of ‘Rebel Ridge’?

In the town of Shelby Springs, Terry Richmond (Aaron Pierre) has come to post bail for his cousin, but his savings are unjustly seized by a corrupt local police force led by Chief Sandy Burnne (Don Johnson). With the help of court clerk Summer McBride (AnnaSophia Robb), Terry unearths a widespread conspiracy within Shelby Springs and uses his set of “skills” to get the bail money back by any means necessary.