Puss in Boots: The Last Wish star Antonio Banderas says the more somber tone underlying the Shrek spinoff movie emanates from a serious health scare a few years ago.
Speaking about the Puss in Boots sequel with Radio Times, Banderas revealed the heart attack he suffered in 2017 influenced his leading role in the animated adventure film, allowing him to connect with his part and offer more emotional depth to the movie. He also expressed how pleased he was with the final product. "Well, I had a heart attack six years ago. It probably was one of the best things that happened in my life," he said. "It was like putting glasses on and seeing what was important. I came back to Spain and started looking at my professional life from a different point of view. So I do connect to it in a personal way. I think it’s a beautiful message, and I think it was done properly."
Antonio Banderas' Puss in Boots Influence
Furthermore, Banderas stated how he felt his situation influenced the story arc. "I didn’t want to ask the question – if they’d been inspired by my own life. We never explicitly talked about that. But I think yes, it probably was referring to that situation. And why not? Because at the end, you know, what comes out is the supreme value of existence. That’s what we have," he said. Banderas suffered a heart attack in January 2017, requiring the Spanish actor to later undergo heart surgery to place three stents in his arteries.
Hailing as the sixth installment in the popular Shrek franchise, The Last Wish was set after events in Shrek Forever After. Like the original, the movie is based on the Puss in Boots character that originally debuted in Shrek 2. The titular character ventures to find the mystical Last Wish for the Wishing Star, joining forces with Perrito and Kitty Softpaws to restore the first eight of Puss in Boots' nine lives. Throughout the film, the hero does everything possible to avoid Wagner Moura's Death who tries to take away the last life.
Also featuring Salma Hayek Pinault, Florence Pugh, John Mulaney and Javier "Harvey" Guillén, The Last Wish generated $298.5 million at the global box office on a $90 million budget, generating strong critical acclaim along the way. The movie, which arrived on Dec. 21, also earned a series of major accolades including a Best Animated Feature nomination at the 95th Academy Awards, as well as a nod at this month's Golden Globes.
Banderas' next film will see him play a character called Renaldo in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which is scheduled for release on Jun. 30. The Shrek franchise star is known for prominent roles in The Mask of Zorro, The Legend of Zorro and Evita. Along with the Puss in Boots sequel, Banderas' 2022 movie résumé also included The Enforcer alongside Kate Bosworth, Uncharted and Code Name Banshee.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is playing in theaters, and fans can stream it via Amazon Prime Video.
Source: Radio Times