Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe (A Comic-Con Preview)

Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe is an experiment in television making. In a time when people are expanding the way that they view and consume media, content makers such as Universal, Fox and USA Network are discovering new ways to tell and distribute their stories. Burn Notice, one of the most popular series on cable television is entering their 5th season and have already been renewed for a 6th. To capitalize on the success of the show and the popularity of one of its stars, USA Network is releasing a Sam Axe origin movie straight to DVD.

Bruce Campbell, a cult favorite from his work in the Evil Dead series plays Sam Axe, an ex Navy Seal who accompanies and assists burned spy Michael Weston on many of his missions. Resourceful, laid-back and a bit of a ladies man, Sam Axe is a good guy to have in your corner.

Matt Nix, creator of Burn Notice says that, “When I think of Sam Axe, he’s kind of the best older brother there ever was. He’s the guy that you want by your side. He’s the guy that’s going to do the right thing and going to stand up for you and tell you when you’re wrong and all those things. So that for me is where I go when I’m writing for the character.”

To shoot the Sam Axe back story, Matt Nix assembled some key cast and crew and then took them to Bogota, Colombia to film the movie. Burn Notice star Jeffrey Donovan took the helm as director and using mostly Columbians they filmed in the Andes Mountains at 11,000 feet. The cast and crew couldn’t get over the fact that Bruce Campbell spent the entire shoot wearing nothing but a t-shirt while the rest of the people huddled by a fire leading the Spanish speaking men to exclaim, “El Gringo est macho.” But Bruce Campbell says that he lives by his, “Evil Dead theory. If you stay sort of miserable the whole shoot, you never get really miserable.”

Besides the frigid temperatures the film and its crew had many other challenges including equipment, supplies and high altitudes. When producers discovered that they couldn’t import gunpowder, a trade mark necessity for any Burn Notice show, they had to adapt and use propane instead. They also discovered that there was only one man in the entire country who knew how to make squibs. Matt Nix said that they kept him so busy that he’ll probably won’t have to work again for the next couple of years.

Conditions were extreme in Colombia but both Bruce Campbell and his alter-ego Sam Axe helped to keep things light. One of the traits that Sam Axe and Bruce Campbell share is a devil-may-care attitude. Matt Nix said that like his character Bruce is always with a smile, he takes care of people and he watches out for the crew. He points out to Bruce that, “There is a certain lightness you bring to any thing that you do.” And when it comes to the production he adds, “It’s not really a Bruce Campbell movie unless it’s fun.”

To demonstrate this sense of humor Bruce Campbell was asked what he did to prepare for his role and he said, “Two words: Jack, S#@t. I play a former Navy Seal, not a current Navy Seal.” But in preparing for the movie that takes place five years prior to the Burn Notice series he said he had to do two things, “Darker hair, less weight.”

One of the new elements that Bruce got to explore while making this film was a romantic relationship. In the TV show he plays the ladies man who is always picking up rich older women to pay the tab, but the exchanges are played for humor. In this film he has a real romantic relationship and even gets to share a kiss with Kiele Sanchez. When asked about it Bruce says, “It’s no big deal, I cheat on my wife all the time, but just in front of the camera.” But when pressed again he adds, “It was nothing.” and then gives his trademark roguish smile. Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe will be available on DVD July 26th.