Robert Carlyle On Making ‘Trainspotting 2’: ‘It’s One Of The Best Scripts I’ve Fucking Ever Read’

T2 Trainspotting released its first official trailer this morning (November 3). Ewan McGregor (Rent Boy), Jonny Lee Miller (Sick Boy), Ewan Bremner (Spud) and Robert Carlyle (Begbie) all reprise their roles from the classic 1996 film and Trainspotting screenwriter John Hodge has scripted the sequel too – although Boyle has said it’s only “very loosely based” on Irvine Welsh’s own follow-up novel, Porno. NME was fortunate enough to speak to Carlyle on the phone in November last year before shooting had begun, so we had to ask if he’d tell us any more.

How are you feeling about shooting Trainspotting 2 next year?

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“It’s nerve-wracking to a certain extent, because I’m obviously aware of just how much people loved the original film. People still quote lines to me on a fucking daily basis. I get it everywhere; I can’t fucking escape it! But I’m grateful for it too – Begbie has been fucking terrific for me and my career. So therefore – and I think probably if you asked the rest of the boys, they’d feel the same – I’m slightly wary about it all.”

Have you read the script yet?

“Yeah, we’ve already had a read-through of the script, we did that in the springtime. You’re going to think, ‘Of course he’s going to say this,’ but honestly, it’s one of the best scripts I’ve fucking read. I mean, ever. What John Hodge has done is just so clever.”

Clever in what way?

“Well, obviously these four characters are 20 years older now and I’ve never seen a sequel that takes place 20 years after the original, so I think that gives it a certain unique quality. And of course, the audience is 20 years older too – people who came to see the original film when they were in their early twenties are very different people now. And the way John Hodge has put this thing down, obviously with the help of Danny Boyle, is to make it about how the characters’ lives have moved on… or have they? Without giving anything away, maybe some of them haven’t really moved on. That’s what the audience is going to have to go through with them. I tell you, this film is going to be quite emotional for people. Because the film sort of tells you to think about yourself. You are going to be thinking: ‘Fuck. What have I done with my life?'”

So it’s going to make us question ourselves?

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“Yeah, that’s really what the whole thing is about. Have these four characters changed? Have they remained the same? Have they fucked it up completely? Have they achieved anything? And of course the audience are going to be asking themselves exactly the same questions. So it’s a beautiful thing, this film. And though I’m obviously feeling a little bit tense about it because of the success of the first film, I’ll tell you this: if anyone can pull it off it’s Danny Boyle. He’s the best director I’ve ever worked with, he’s immense.”

T2 Trainspotting is released January 27 2017

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