James Caan Still Totally Intimidating Luke Wilson in “Middle Men”

Luke Wilson is teamed up with James Caan in the new movie "Middle Men,"  and Wilson hasn't forgotten how scary it can be working with the acting legend.

Caan was the acting giant who agreed to star in 1996's "Bottle Rocket"  -- the movie which launched Owen and Luke Wilson, as well as co-writer/director Wes Anderson. It sounds like a great film team now, but no one had really heard of these upstarts at the time.

They were joyous, yet intimidating times for the exceedingly young filmmakers.

Luke Wilson recalls the excitement of landing the "Godfather" star in the movie. "We were high-fiving ourselves back then and saying, 'This is incredible! James Caan.' " said Wilson. "And then you'd look at him on the set and he had this look of like, 'What am I doing here?' "

Wilson is still laughing recalling the expression on Caan's face.

"He had this look like he was saying, 'I was working with Coppola! I was working with Michael Mann!' " added Wilson. "That lasted a few days. You just felt like we looked weird and we sounded weird."

Wilson even laughingly recalls a take in the film where he spoke and Caan didn't even do his line. That's how weird Wilson must have sounded back then.

But Caan eventually warmed up. "I don't know what happened," said Wilson. "I think he just admitted defeat."

The movie went on to become a lasting cult classic. He and Caan have stayed in touch for 15 years.

Working together in "Middle Men" where Caan plays a sleazy attorney, brought back some of those old "Bottle Rocket" feelings. During one late night take, Luke Wilson accidentally gave his line before Caan could speak.

Caan snapped: "I'm supposed to say, 'What's that?' and then you say '150 grand,' "

"And then he slammed the door." Wilson added.

"I was like, this could be 1995," he said laughing. "It was old home week."
 

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