Desde Hollywood had the chance to speak with two talented Latino actors that steal their scenes in the new action movie, ROADHOUSE: Daniela Melchior (who plays the intrepid Ellie) and Arturo Castro (the hilarious Moe).

The talented duo talked about their respective characters, working alongside director Doug Liman, UFC fighter Conor McGregor (in his feature film acting debut), and the main star of the 80’s remake, Jake Gyllenhaal.

The film is now streaming, exclusively on Prime Video.

Watch the video interview and/or read the fun and interesting conversation below!

This movie has a great balance between all that craziness and fun from the eighties and what makes a modern film.

D. Melchior: The biggest conductor in this orchestra was really Doug Liman. So, and I think he did amazing on finding that balance in welcoming this amazing cast with different ages, backgrounds, origins, and just putting everything together in such a fun way.

A. Castro: Yeah, it was just, you know, it’s like laughter and action, and it just feels current and fast-paced, and you know, so that way it feels really modern, and it’s so exciting to watch it be shot, you know.

The movie is funny! Arturo, your character is kind of a lovable, I don’t know… lost individual?

A. Castro: He’s just trying to find friends, and he just, like, winds up with the wrong crowd, is what I’m saying. You know, a description that I like that the people have been using is, like, it seems like my character is, like, starts to realize that he’s in an action movie and that he’s stuck between the bad guy and the good guy, and he does not want to be there, you know. And you know, I credit Doug a lot, and Jake, and people on set for letting me improv and for letting me, like, throw some dimensions into this character, which I thought, you know, I tried to play him in the sense of, like, if you ask him a question, he has to answer honestly, you know, and so whatever he’s feeling, like, he has to say it, like, he has just no filter for it and has no ability to read the room, right? And so, that type of character is always fun to play because he’s, like, he just says what he sees in the most inopportune time, absolutely.

Daniela, you already have a lot of experience in terms of big Hollywood action movies. What do you find unique about playing this character, Ellie?

D. Melchior: I would say that for me, as an actor, this was my first physical role. In a way, it was the first time I had fight training for Fast X, but I ended up not having any fight scenes. So for me, I hope this is the beginning of something. I found a power that I didn’t know that I have being, like, a petite, thin girl. So, it was interesting to find that. And yeah, and playing Ellie, such a strong girl, was interesting. I can’t wait to explore this side of me.

A. Castro: You killed this role, by the way. You’re so good in it. I was, like, it’s the first time I watched it yesterday, too. And you’re just, like, so engaging, cool, and so many layers to it. It was awesome.

D. Melchior: Thank you!

Arturo, can you tell me about working with someone like Jake Gyllenhaal? I have said many times that in Hollywood there aren’t many strong leading men, but Jake obviously is one of them.

A. Castro: Yeah, I mean, watching his work ethic was, it was incredible, you know, how he transformed his body, how he, like, the fight scenes are so real. It was really cool to watch him do his thing live. Yeah. And he baked me cookies one day. And so that’s the story. Well, not him himself, but like he had some cookies baked for me just because he felt like, you know, because he couldn’t eat them. So, I think he just wanted to know that somebody else ate them, you know. But yeah, it was cool, man. Also, it’s like, it’s a trip watching getting to work with people that you’ve not grown up. We’re not too far in age, but like, you’ve seen your whole life, kind of on films. And then you watch them. What’s refreshing is that they’re also just human. Like, you know what I mean. Like that’s the best part about. And I’m sure Daniela can attest to it from, from like working with Vin and all these people at the end of the day, it’s just these cool human beings doing a cool job. And it’s wonderful to see.

Daniela, talking about Roadhouse and a bar, if you had a chance to go have a beer with your character with Ellie, what kind of conversation or advice would you give her?

D. Melchior: So, first, I know that she would grab a beer, but I would have tea. And then I would just tell her, you know, girl, there’s nothing wrong with healing. She’s focused on herself. She’s on her lane. She’s like single and ready to mingle but happy at the same time by herself. But I would really tell her, I know that you think that you’re OK and you’re like solved and good, but there’s always a lot of space to evolve as a human being. That would be my advice for sure in my conversation with her.

Arturo, you mentioned the fights… Conor McGregor is like a mix of Mr. T and The Tasmanian Devil!

A. Castro: Dude, it’s incredible. I mean, obviously, he’s a master at the art of fighting. And so watching him, also again, yesterday was the first time I saw the movie. He’s such an engaging, cool character to watch because I love characters that every time they enter a scene, we as the audience know that something’s going to get destroyed, you know? And so, that was really cool to watch and watch him find it. I was there on his first day, the first-ever acting job. And he was so cool and willing to try things and willing to learn new ways of doing it. And watching him and Doug work together to find this character was awesome.

Daniela, how much did the location help you to get into the character and the scenes?

D. Melchior: For me, it was very special, mostly because whenever we’re on set or working shooting any project, our lives are just like going to the studios, then coming back, having dinner, taking a shower, learning our lines for the next day. I’m super grateful because I’m doing what I love, but there’s something missing or we’re just caught in the rhythm of doing it again and again and again and it’s like a vicious cycle until we’re just wrapped and then we breathe. Shooting this movie in the Dominican Republic made it really, really special because we had the opportunity to unwind at the end of the day by the beach. We had the opportunity to feel more grounded and connected with nature. I don’t think I gave as much value as I give nowadays when I realized how important that is to just be in the present moment. That helped me. The location made it really, really special. And also to feel connected with everyone because we have that sense of community watching the movie, but we were really as a group throughout the shooting. We had a lot of busy actors doing multiple things at the same time. But every time we were together, we took a bit of that energy to the roadhouse for sure.

You did an amazing job, Daniela, in The Suicide Squad. If you were able to work again in that space and with James Gunn in the future, would you like to continue that character’s story or you’re open to explore another character?

D. Melchior: I’m open to exploring another character, but I’m also open to exploring more of Ratcatcher 2’s background, or even her future. I’ve been saying that Ratcatcher 2 is taking a nap right now, but I can’t wait to wake her up. Enough is enough! [Laughs]

Arturo, remember we had a Latino joker in Cesar Romero, and there is no joker in the DCU.

A. Castro: Yeah, I mean, there is a Joker. Barry Keoghan is the Joker, but people confuse me with him all the time.

That is Matt Reeves’ joker. In the DCU, there is no Joker!

A. Castro: Oh, yeah. You are right. There you go: Joaquin Phoenix, Barry Keoghan, Arturo Castro… all the Jokers. I’m down!

Ex-UFC fighter Dalton takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems.