Ethan Hawke Explains Why He Signed On For ‘Getaway’

Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez hit the big screen this weekend in director Courtney Solomon’s action flick Getaway. The actor’s decision to star in such a film left a few fans scratching their heads.

The actor is best known for his roles in such acclaimed dramas as Reality Bites, Before Midnight, and Gattaca. Although the actor has dabbled in action before — Assault and Precinct 13 and Training Day spring to mind — most of his roles seem to be have a bit of depth.

The same cannot be said for Getaway. The film definitely doesn’t put Ethan Hawke’s strengths to good use, especially if you’re familiar with his earlier work. The star recently told Entertainment Weekly that he took the part in hopes of connecting with a new generation of moviegoers.

“I have a feeling that you do a movie like ‘Getaway,’ and kinda the hope is that you make a fun movie for young people, and I’ll be kinda like the Lee Marvin — I’m the old guy now… ‘Who’s the old guy with Selena Gomez?’ It’s like, ‘Oh, he’s all right,'” Hawke recently explained.

He continued, “If I want to keep working and having something relevant to say, you gotta get your hands dirty. And it’s really hard. You talk about balancing a career — it’s the most difficult thing that they can’t teach you in acting school.”

Hawke hasn’t had much difficulty staying in front of the camera these days. The actor recently starred in Universal Pictures’ surprise box office hit The Purge earlier this year. He’s also appeared in such notable efforts as Sinister, Daybreakers, and Brooklyn’s Finest.

Unfortunately, Hawke’s most recent cinematic effort doesn’t appear to be winning over the critics. As of this writing, the flick sports an epic two percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie is presently one of the worst-reviewed Hollywood releases of the year.

Are you surprised that Ethan Hawke decided to star in Getaway? Do you plan to catch the movie in theaters this holiday weekend?

[Image via Warner Bros. Pictures]