In our exclusive interview, director Ángel Manuel Soto opens up about stepping into a project with an unconventional origin story, his belief in “putting things out into the universe,” and why he wanted The Wrecking Crew‘s action to feel visceral rather than sanitized.
The origin of The Wrecking Crew actually goes back to a viral tweet by Dave Bautista about doing an action movie with Jason Momoa. Can you talk about how that playful social media moment evolved into a full-blown film project? Did that unconventional beginning shape your approach as a director?
Ángel Manuel Soto: When the project came to me, the first draft of the script was already done. I didn’t even know about the tweet until it was addressed and I was like, ‘Oh my God, what an amazing story.’ Dave put that tweet out there, put it into the universe, and it turned into a bidding war.
All I could think was: stuff like that can actually happen. Sure, it’s one in a million, but still. You should put things out into the universe, you never know what can happen. I’d always wanted to make a movie like this, to pay homage to films like Lethal Weapon or 48 Hrs., but in a setting that wasn’t your typical downtown L.A. scenario. Then this movie came along. There’s power in putting things out into the universe. I do believe in that.
Some of the violence is very sudden and graphic, especially considering how playful the characters often are. Was that contrast something you discussed early on, or did it emerge during editing?
Ángel Manuel Soto: Early on. I wanted the action to be an extension of the characters’ trauma. I wanted it to feel visceral. I think sometimes we do society a disservice by not showing the real effects of certain actions. I’m not a fan of shootouts with no blood, no bystanders. I’ve lost too many friends in drive-bys who weren’t even the target. So it is unrealistic. Why now show the reality?
If you get punched in the face, you’re going to look like a pumpkin; you can die from one punch. I wanted to be true to the action and find levity through character.
Moments like Johnny and the cheese grater come from that. I’ve always had this phobia with people shaving Parmesan cheese, that was me projecting my own fears. Same with the arm ripping out of the car. I would have my arm hanging out the window and my dad would always say, ‘Don’t do that, you might rip your arm off,’ and that image stayed with me forever. So I wanted to do something similar, but I didn’t want to sugarcoat the action.
By the end of the film, we still don’t fully know who killed Johnny’s mother. It feels intentionally unresolved. Was that choice meant to close the chapter for Johnny, or should we read it as the possibility of a second chapter?
Ángel Manuel Soto: Originally, there was a version where the way the two brothers healed and moved on was by James joining him to kill the guy that killed his mother. I still think that is not a bad situation in the scope of the movie. We also need to show that Johnny is maturing, Johnny is taking a step to do the right thing. But there is a killer out there and James is willing to do whatever his brother wants to do, so I think you caught up on something. Hopefully, a sequel. But I don’t know if that is the path we are going to take, but it is open.
The Wrecking Crew is now streaming on Prime Video, blending raw, visceral action with humor, heart, and character-driven chaos, and leaving just enough unanswered questions to keep the story alive.
Click here to read our interview with The Wrecking Crew‘s lead star Jason Momoa.
