Actor Jerry Maguire talks about playing alongside his wife, filming in Kenya during a pandemic, and his pivotal role in the ’80s classic, Stand By Me.

What prompted you to make a new Endangered Species movie in Kenya during the pandemic?

My wife (X-Men star Rebecca Romijn) got the call to be in the movie. The world was blocked, but after extensive testing we could get to Kenya. I read the script and saw the poacher role and said, “Let me play this role, let’s all go to Kenya”. It was an intensely magical experience.

How close did you get to the wildlife?

I was a few feet from a lion at one point. My wife and our co-star, Philip Winchester, were right next to an elephant, although the rangers and guides were there in case anything happened. It’s real when you’re out there in the bush.

What’s it like to play the bad guy in front of your wife?

It’s so much fun. It probably makes me sound like a sick person and I should probably ask for help with that, but when I have to be rude to my wife in scenes I really go for it. My wife was in Ugly Betty and I got to play a guy insulting her.

The character of Vanessa Williams gave me my place, but I must have been really rude to my wife. In Endangered Species, it gets a little crazy towards the end, and during rehearsals I would tell him: “I’m not your husband anymore, I’m your worst nightmare”. I like working with my wife. We’re having a good time.

You were 11 when you played in Stand By Me. How do you remember the experience?

I was a kid who was always in trouble to interrupt and talk out of turn. They called it hyperactivity back then – it would now be known as ADHD. But when I entered this film set, hyperactivity was not only allowed but encouraged. Our manager, Rob Reiner, would point his finger and say, “I want more of this”.

A light went out and I thought, this is where I belong, this is me. I was so grateful to have this. In your life, if you can find something that you do where you say, “Yeah, this is where I belong, these are my people” … well, I just hope everyone will someday like. that in his life.

You avoided the pitfalls that often happen to former child actors – how did you manage that?

My Stand By Me co-star Wil Wheaton said he was under a lot of pressure from his parents when he made this movie, and that’s why his character was so haunted – he was using his life experience for Gordie. I really felt for him when he said that, because I had no idea.

After reflecting on what he said, and I don’t want to take a serious situation lightly, I’m grateful that my parents never put expectations on me.

They knew better than that. Acting was something that I made as a choice even at that age, and I’m really grateful for it. You cannot choose your parents – you have to work with the hand given to you. But we’re still there for Will and we love him.

If you have any idea that someone is going through something, it doesn’t hurt to ask them if everything is fine.

What’s the next step for you?

I filled out The Talk, an American talk show, which was a lot of fun. Also, my wife is working on the new Star Trek show, Strange New Worlds, which is going to be awesome, a real old school sci-fi extravaganza.

I have his email password, so I read the scripts and got chills! She’s out of town right now with this, so I’m on call.

Endangered Species is available as a digital download from tomorrow and on DVD from July 5th via Lionsgate UK