The movie Strange Nature is an eco-thriller, which covers the deformed amphibia phenomenon that began in the ’90s in Minnesota. The story examines how a small Midwestern town copes with the deadly malformations when they move beyond the ponds. “This film came about from James Ojala’s brain,” he said, with a laugh. “I was really impressed with his effects works, and I was super excited to work with him on this project,” he said.
Hennigan hinted, “The mutants may or may not be the good guys in Strange Nature.”
Working on this film, for Hennigan, had pros and cons. It might have had a smaller budget than he is used to, as opposed to bigger projects, and at times, it was filmed under difficult circumstances such as shooting in locations in Minnesota with no air conditioning, or in places with tons of big mosquitoes. “On the plus side, everybody involved worked really hard together, and it is a bigger part of the creative process than on a bigger show. It was really cool. The sense of camaraderie after finishing this project was really rewarding, and the bond you have with the people may last for years, or sometimes a lifetime,” he explained.
For aspiring wrestlers and actors, he encouraged them to “be patient.” “Wrestling takes a long time and acting takes a long time. Both are very competitive,” he said. “My advice is don’t take yourself out of the game, which basically means to be patient.”
He listed Jackie Chan as his dream collaboration in the acting world, whom he described as his childhood hero. “I would love to do anything with Jackie Chan,” he admitted. “Tom Hardy is my favorite actor right now, so I would love to do something with him.”
In the wrestling world, Hennigan complimented fellow wrestler Jessie Godderz (Mr. Pec-Tacular) for being a “hard worker.”
He shared that his fans can watch him tomorrow night on CBS on the debut of Survivor: David vs. Goliath (Season 37). They can also watch him on new episodes of Lucha Underground (@LuchaElRey) and Impact Wrestling.
Digital transformation of the entertainment business
On the impact of technology on the entertainment business, Hennigan said, “Technology is changing the game with the way that media consume media. It is interesting. I consider myself a filmmaker, an actor, a pro wrestler and somebody who is involved in entertainment, and technology has changed the way people consume their movies. It has changed it from traditional movie theaters to streaming services via their digital devices. It is fascinating.”
Hennigan continued, “Technology opens the doors for films such as Strange Nature, which is not a cookie-cutter film. With the opening of Hulu, Amazon, Google Play and iTunes, there are more opportunities for projects such as Strange Nature, which is really exciting for me.”
The acclaimed wrestler turned actor defined the word success as being “at the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which is self-actualizing.”
For his fans, he concluded, “I had a really good time making Strange Nature. James Ojala did something really brave with this film. I feel that the people watching it are going to have a really great time as well.”
To learn more about wrestler and actor John Hennigan, follow him on Twitter and on Instagram.
For more information on Strange Nature, check out its official website.
