Burn Notice Q&A: Bruce Campbell on “The Fall of Sam Axe” Film

Burn Notice fans, you have another reason to love Matt Nix: he’s brought us a full length movie of our favorite lovable rogue, Bruce Campbell’s Sam Axe, in the new film Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe. Set to air this Sunday, April 17th at 9 p.m. on USA, The Fall of Sam Axe debuts just as Campbell and crew are filming season 5 of the hit summer show. In a Q&A with Campbell, the star talks about trading places with co-star Jeffrey Donovan, Sam’s past with the CIA, and why The Fall of Sam Axe is not to be missed.

Bruce Campbell on how the Sam Axe movie came about:
“It was Matt Nix’s idea. Any show that’s around for three or four or five years, you want to start expanding the show. So this was Matt’s idea to create something outside the show, yet within a show. And I was all for it and the opportunity arose to get Jeffrey Donovan to direct it, so we thought this is perfect.”

On filming in Columbia:
“Columbia was challenging but authentic. That’s where the action takes place. Normally what happens in Hollywood, they say it takes place in Columbia and they shoot it in Burbank, California. So, it was kind of refreshing to go to the actual place and as a result it was very difficult.”

On what’s surprising about Sam:
“He was actually once very competent, capable, and responsible and show-up-able. I think Burn Notice sometimes portrays him as being more casual or lazy or whatever. In this movie, it’s five years ago and it’s Sam’s last mission. It’s back where he used to be a real soldier and he used to actually work for a living. You’re going to see Sam being a real soldier.”

On seeing Sam’s past catch up to him on season 5 of Burn Notice:
“Matt Nix has made it clear that because of this prequel, an event that happens 5 years ago, Sam has a bit of a run in with the CIA. Ironically, Michael Westin is now getting back in with the CIA five years later, but that might not be a good thing for Sam Axe. Sam knows a lot of guys, but his run-in with the CIA may actually cause a few glitches in the future. Matt Nix made it clear that there will be some incidents where if you didn’t see the Sam Axe movie you won’t get it, in season 5. So you have to watch it, because really it’s not for me, it’s for the sake of the story.”

Greatest challenge on set:
“Being the leading man again. Jeffrey Donovan’s number one on the call sheet, and so I’m number two; and in the Sam Axe movie I’m number one. Boy, that’s a drag, let me tell you.”

On Jeffrey Donovan serving as director to the film:
“As an actor he’s very seasoned, he’s been around for a while. As a director he’s newer, but he did an episode last year that I was in very heavily and I got to work with him then as well. He’s actually a good director. Jeff came up and said, ‘Who’s directing that Sam Axe movie?’ and I was like, ‘They’ve got a list.’ He goes, ‘can you put me on your list?’ I was like ‘yeah, sure whatever.’ So later it kind of worked out that he worked his way up the list until finally I encouraged everyone to support it. So we got him to do it, and he did a great job.”

On Sam’s love life in the film:
“He’s gonna get some, are you kidding. He’s a lover. Kiele Sanchez is my co-star and she’s awesome. In the movie she’s great and in reality she’s kind of a little hottie. Sam’s going to get some, that’s all I can say.”

You can check out Bruce Campbell and Sam Axe’s love life on this week’s special premiere movie of Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe set to air this Sunday, April 17th on USA Network.