Antonio Banderas admits he was initially surprised by the dark storytelling direction of the latest Oscar-nominated Puss in Boots movie, but believes it will resonate well with younger audiences who have spent years dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The second standalone film spin-off from the much-loved Shrek franchise follows the fear-defying feline as he discovers he has burned through eight of his nine lives (though he lost count along the way). As panic and fear threaten to consume him, Puss realises that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment, Banderas who has played the part of the swashbuckling cat fugitive for close to twenty years, says the concept that "death is closer to us than we think" is brought to the fore in DreamWorks' latest outing.
"I wouldn't say the movie is built around the pandemic but it is definitely in the air the whole time. One of the lessons that we learned during that time is that death is closer to us than we think - and kids have been suffering that lesson because they have been confined. Now, in their minds, they are reflecting upon this," he said.
"The studio thought it was a very good idea, and I do too, to show my character who is so animated, happy and alert, reflecting on life and not hiding from it."
The 62-year-old star insists the milk-loving hero has "given me a lot of good moments" over the last two decades.
"He is a character that has given me a lot of good moments - in doing it and the results of what it did. Not only with big box office success but even with international film festivals like Cannes.
"The movies have been appreciated not just by regular audiences but by critics and people who understand what motion pictures are all about," he said.
"It definitely has been one of those characters of my career that I have to be very thankful for," Banderas added.
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish hits cinemas on February 3.
Laura Delaney
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