AP News, July 28th, 2007
Steve Carell knows how to use a shoe phone. Not only did he grow up watching "Get Smart," but he's made calls with the device as secret agent Maxwell Smart in the movie remake of the 1960s TV show.
Carell told a crowd of Comic-Con fans Friday that he's "very psyched" about the film, which he described as a "comedic 'Bourne Identity.'"
"It's probably the most fun I've ever had doing anything in my life," said the 43-year-old actor. "I have such respect for Don Adams and what he did, and I think we're all trying to honor the original and take absolutely nothing away from it.
"Frankly, I don't think I could ever be as good as he was. I'm just trying to do the best that I can within the context of the movie and it's an honor to be able to do it."
The film, due next summer, retains the feel of the original TV show, said director Peter Segal.
"That show was born in the Cold War era, but we've got a lot of political things to satirize today," he said.
The "Get Smart" cast includes Anne Hathaway as Agent 99, Alan Arkin as The Chief, Terence Stamp as Sigfried, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Agent 23 (a new character) and Masi Oka as Bruce "the gadget guy."
Jaime the Robot and Agent 13, both characters from the original show, are also part of the new movie, Segal said, and Bernie Koppel (Sigfried in the TV series) makes a cameo appearance.
"It's be both extremely funny but there will be action and jeopardy," Carell said. "I'm very psyched about it."
The best thing about playing a secret agent?
"I get to look like I am athletic, coordinated, intelligent and sexy," Carell said, "when in real life, I am none of the above."
