When we sit comfortably on the couch to watch The rock and we find stars of the stature of Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage either Ed Harris in the hectic action film from 1996, it is easy to be surprised to discover that it was only the second feature film by its director: Michael Bay.
Yes, today we know him well from films like Transformers either Armageddonbut at that time, he was a music video director who had just made the leap to the big screen with Two rebel police officers.
So Michael Bay had to learn on the fly how to deal with some of Hollywood’s egos, for better or worse, and in The rockthat happened for an unspeakable legend like Sean Connery.
The Scottish actor was not particularly popular among directors, because he basically hated almost all filmmakers, although it was something he could afford with more than 75 films under his belt.
Sean Connery: the “devourer of directors” who gave Michael Bay a nickname
In an interview with ColliderMichael Bay reviewed some key moments of his career, and stopped at The rock to remember his colorful relationship with Sean Connery.
The director recalled the first day of filming, when the John Patrick Mason interrogation scene and he found himself in the position of giving instructions to an actor who had decades more experience than him.
“I was very afraid to give him the first indication. After we did a take, we were going to do it again and I said, ‘This… Sean, can you say that in a less charming way?’ And he said, ‘Sure, kid. Sure, boy.’ From that moment on, my nickname on set was ‘boy’. He devoured the directors. He hated us“.
Despite the “charming” first day of filming, nickname and all, the “boy” knew how to deal with Sean Connery’s disposition and believes that, in the end, the actor He took a liking to her, and it was reciprocal. She also admits that she learned a lot from him.
The rock is one of Michael Bay’s best films: a fast-paced action thriller that glues us to our seats for just over two hours and that you can currently enjoy on Disney+ to remember Sean Connery’s performance in that second film by the filmmaker.
