Frank Grillo is back to kick ass in The Purge franchise, and the that the next instalment shall focus on his memorable character.
Speaking to Empire Magazine, the actor discussed the return of his character Leo Barnes. Grillo says that as creator James DeMonaco returns to the franchise, there was an urge to refocus the series back to Grillo’s character.
“I had an idea in my head about how I should look and how I’m gonna hold my guns. All that stuff I planned out. That solidified me as a guy who could carry a mid-level action movie,” says Grillo. He adds, “the director, James DeMonaco, changed my life. [I’ve] got one more left. James has the script. It focuses on the Leo Barnes character, and he wants to direct it. We’re working with Universal to see if we can pull this off before I’m in the old folks’ home.”
Grillo starred in The Purge: Anarchy and The Purge: Election Year, the second and third films. As Leo Barnes, the actor saw himself as a significant focus of the story. He did not return for the fourth and fifth films The First Purge and The Forever Purge. The latter film took place eight years after Election Year and saw the New Founding Fathers of America regain control of the U.S. government and quickly reinstate the Purge.
James DeMonaco helmed the first three Purge films and returns for this sixth and final film.
The sixth Purge film will reportedly take place years after the original set of films, with America still divided and the federal government in chaos.
