Jeff Fahey’s career in the film industry stretches back over forty years. Whether as heroes, villains, or anyone the grey area between, Fahey is a consistently engaging screen presence in everything from Lost, Machete, The Marshal, Wyatt Earp, and From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series. His latest project is the upcoming action thriller The Commando, hitting theaters and digital platforms on Friday.

Former DEA agent James Baker (Michael Jai White) returns home to his family while trying to move past his PTSD. However, he soon finds himself defending his loved ones from an invading gang, led by Mickey Rourke’s Johnny, out to retrieve the bag full of millions hidden in their home. Fahey portrays local Sherriff Alexander, who acts as a more sinister antagonist from the shadows.

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We speak to Jeff Fahey on the making of The Commando, shooting the film in New Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic, and working with his co-stars Michael Jai White and Mickey Rourke.

Screen Rant: How did you come aboard The Commando?

Jeff Fahey: Well, the producer Elias [Axume] and I had just done another film together. He gave me a shout, and I saw the my old buddy Mickey Rourke was involved, and Michael Jai White, who I had not met you, but was a huge fan of. I read the screenplay, and I loved the idea that they were taking the post-traumatic stress syndrome and involving that in an action story with the relationship of Michael’s character and his family. I thought it was very clever and also important in a way. My character was able to be completed in a couple of days and I was able to work with friends on a story that I thought was not only entertaining, but important to the emotional aspect of it.

What were some of the challenges of making The Commando during the pandemic?

Jeff Fahey: Well, I’ve been fortunate to work all during the pandemic. I’ve done about nine or ten films during this period, and because of the times, every film had to adjust, but what it did was it made the creative element more challenging and more efficient in a lot of ways. Everybody had to write these self-contained stories, and from the producing side, they had find locations that could accommodate not only the few locations but make them interesting. The actors ourselves, we had to adjust working in these contained areas over a short period of time. I think a lot of the challenges made the stories interesting in a different way, and this was one of them. What they were able to pull off in such a short period of time and with all these restrictions was amazing.

What was it like working with director Asif Akbar and the rest of the cast like Michael Jai White? What were some of the more memorable experiences from making The Commando?

Jeff Fahey: That was great. I was there for almost a week, but only filmed for two days, but all of the locations were away from everything else in New Mexico. I just did another movie in Thailand that was done in the same way, all self-contained with the crews and the actors, and now, after two years of this, it’s become the new norm. For me, it was my first time working with Asif as the director, and he was easy breezy and great to work with. It was also my first time working with Michael, and since then, we’ve done another movie together, Deadzone. I had a great time working with my fellow actors, and when everybody’s got the jazz rolling and the music is there, you can get a lot done in a short period of time.

As far as your role in the film as Sherriff Alexander, what really stood out to you about the character? Was the PTSD aspect of the film part of that?

Jeff Fahey: That stood out, and for me, and as actors always say, it’s always fun to play a character who’s the antagonist. There’s a lot that the bad guys do that doesn’t have to be justified. When the protagonist does something that’s a little shady, he or she spends the rest of the film justifying it, but when you’re the bad guy, you do pretty much whatever you want. I thought it was fun to play this character as someone who isn’t overtly dark and devious and evil, but he kind of rides the line, and he lets bygones be bygones as long as he gets a piece of the pie at the end. I thought that was fun to play, and he could adjust to every situation. It’s always interesting to play the antagonist, so I enjoyed the Sherriff and being able to ride both sides of the line, as it were.

What other projects do you have coming up after the release of The Commando? You mentioned a movie you’ve done in Thailand.

Jeff Fahey: Yeah, it’s called Raid on Saigon. It’s a period piece during World War II with some people stranded on a military base in the jungle. I also finished working with my dear friend Robert Rodriguez for the seventh time on his film Hypnotic with Ben Affleck, Alice Braga, William Fichtner and a great cast. I have a few other projects coming, and I feel really, truly fortunate to have been able to work through all two years this pandemic on nine or ten films.

The Commando arrives in theaters and VOD on January 7.

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About The Author


Brad Curran
(717 Articles Published)

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Growing up, Brad developed an innate love of movies and storytelling, and was instantly enamored with the world of adventure while following the exploits of Indiana Jones, Japanese kaiju, and superheroes. Today, Brad channels his thoughts on all manner of movies, from comic book films, sci-fi thrillers, comedies, and everything in between through his writings on Screen Rant. Brad also offers philosophical musings on martial arts and the filmographies of everyone from Jackie Chan to Donnie Yen on Kung Fu Kingdom, where he’s also had the privilege of interviewing many of the world’s great stunt professionals, and hearing plenty of gripping stories on injuries incurred in their line of work and the intricacies of designing the acts of death defiance he first thrilled to as a youngster. When he’s not writing, Brad enjoys going on a ride with the latest action hit or Netflix original, though he’s also known to just pop in “The Room” from time to time. Follow Brad on Twitter @BradCurran.

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