Exclusive Interview With Michael Rooker At Fan Expo Chicago 2025

TV & Film

Aug 31

Michael Rooker is a veteran actor with an extensive career in Hollywood. He has appeared in many popular franchises, such as The Walking Dead, where he played Merle Dixon, Daryl’s brother, and also as Yondu in the Guardians Of The Galaxy movies. He worked with James Gunn again, playing the role of Savant in The Suicide Squad. He is an extremely talented actor who always kills every role he's in. He also has a history in Japanese martial arts. Recently at Fan Expo Chicago, I had the chance to do a quick interview with him, where I got to ask him a few questions about his time as Yondu, and even what it’s like working with James Gunn.

CS: How different was it going from The Walking Dead to a huge franchise like Marvel?

MR: I don’t even think of the projects as franchises; I don’t even think about the projects in general. I think more about the role, and if it’s something I can sink my teeth into, and I’m down for it usually.

CS: What was your favorite scene you did as Yondu?

MR: You know, there was that scene where I’m crossing the bridge? That’s a really good one. You know where I’m using the arrow? And then there’s another scene where I take out all the lizard people. You know, those two scenes were kinda action sequences, and I enjoyed them.

CS: You've worked with James Gunn twice, twice for Marvel and once for DC. What's it like working with him?

MR: A few too many times-(laughs). No, me and him like working with each other, and we’ll continue doing that, no matter what anyone says, and we've got each other's backs.

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CS: You have a history in Japanese martial arts-what got you into that?

MR: I was about 18 and I had a few jobs, and I was making a bit of money, and I always wanted to do martial arts, so I decided this is what I want to do.

CS: If you could be any other character in the MCU, who would you want to be?

MR: There are just so many characters in the Marvel universe, and I don’t know them all. I wouldn’t even begin to pretend like I know too much about those shows, all those characters, because I still see them as cartoons, in my mind, and my forte is in more serious stuff. I have been getting cast in those, you know, through those roles. Most of my roles I do in those universes are very human and very real.

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