To get ready for Knights of the Zodiac live-action film, releasing in theaters May 12th, I interviewed Diego Tinoco about his role as Nero the Phoenix Knight and the message to take away.

Note: I was invited as media for screening and cast interview. However any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

Appeal of Nero Character

Diego Tinoco: So much appeal to me about this character started on paper. Reading the script, seeing how he's kind of mysterious and sleek individual. And then really seeing in the third act of the script, all this explode.

So all of that on paper, but as an actor, you got to do research, right? Then I dug a little deeper into this guy in the original anime manga. And when I found most appealing was, this guy's past. This guy is dealing with so much tragedy.

Diego Tinoco: From watching the love of his life, literally get murdered in front of him, to watching his little brother get taken away from him, at such a young age.

This guy has been through it, right? But, I really tried to channel all of that, that tragedy, and that trauma to use that as fuel. And I think in the third act of this movie, that's when you'll really see all this guy's past come out and explode on the movie screen.

Preparing for Stunts & Action Scenes

Diego Tinoco: We had a lot of special training. We trained with Andy Chang, who was the stunt choreographer on Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

So he handled the choreography for our movie and I worked with him for weeks. The choreography, the body behavior of this character, the all the fights scenes, all that stuff.

Diego Tinoco: Obviously, there were some things that I don't think I was talented enough to handle, and it was a little risky too, right?

So we had these really awesome stunt doubles, who who really took on some of the impacts, that I guess the producer wouldn't let me take on.

Memorable Scene for Latino Representation

Diego Tinoco: I think one of the most memorable scenes for me to film was when Nero was turning into the Phoenix Knight. It was my first time working with wires and having this grand sci-fi type of transformation, right?

And I think once I was in the air, I wasn't even too high in the air, I was like, maybe like six feet or seven feet in the air, right.

Diego Tinoco: When you're in the air and seeing everybody below, it feels like such a magical moment. And you really think like wow, this is happening, I'm about to be a superhero!

And you don't see too many Latinos on the on the big screen turning into these iconic characters, so it was such an honor and a privilege.

The Film's Message

Diego Tinoco: I really want them to take away from this film, the powerful message that we instilled in the movie... which is nobody's destiny is written in stone.

You can create your own destiny, you can take charge of the cards that life is dealt you, and you can create the life that you want. I think that's a very powerful message.

I've said it all my life, I always tell my friends that, and I've been told that by my parents, my whole life growing up. And it's a message that I strongly believe in.

Diego Tinoco: I don't think anybody's defined by the circumstances that they're born into, and i don't think nobody should be defined by the circumstances that they're born into.

I think that in this life, the whole experience of living is being able to create this video game type of character. Create them, however you want. You know, that's ourselves, right? So I want people to walk with that message.

Diego Tinoco: And, then also, I want all my Latinos out there, to see a Latino on the big screen be like, hey, okay, there's Latino's doing that. I want people to leave inspired, all my Latin people out there, to leave inspired and be like, man, this guy's doing big things.

There's a lot of dark times we're going through, right now, right? But I want everybody go to cinema, enjoy a cinematic experience with the family, and just leave inspired feeling good.

I think that's what a movie should be all about.

SYNOPSIS

Seiya (Mackenyu), a headstrong street teen, spends his time fighting for cash while he searches for his abducted sister. When one of his fights unwittingly taps into mystical powers he never knew he had, Seiya finds himself thrust into a world of warring saints, ancient magical training and a reincarnated goddess who needs his protection.

If he’s to survive, he will need to embrace his destiny and sacrifice everything to take his rightful place among the Knights of the Zodiac.

Cast: Mackenyu, Famke Janssen, Madison Iseman, Diego Tinoco, Mark Dacascos, Nick Stahl and Sean Bean

KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC - Official Trailer (HD)



Directed by: Tomek Baginski
Screenplay by: Josh Campbell & Matt Stuecken and Kiel Murray
Based on original stories and characters from The Manga “Saint Seiya” by: Masami Kurumada
Produced by: Yoshi Ikezawa, Joseph Chou, Tim Kwok

Learn more, visit - www.kotzmovie.com