Kevin Dillon Already Wants Another Entourage Film

“We had it on lockdown: it was very easy to pull back together," says Dillon of returning to the Entourage world - almost with his character's naive charm.

"I watched a couple of episodes to get that feeling back and then after about two takes I felt like we were running on all cylinders.”

The 49-year-old actor relaxes in Los Angeles as he chats about bringing the TV show, which ran from 2004 to 2011, to the big screen. 

“It’s pretty much the same as far as acting goes, except you do have a little bit more time to maybe play a beat, you know what I mean? …As an actor it's nice to be able to have that, you don’t have to rush through that dialogue as quick."

"Sometimes we would spit out the dialogue really fast – this script is about 150-160 pages," he chuckles, adding, "You know, Warner Brothers [the film's distributor] was a little freaked out when they saw how long the script was as well!”

The show centres around Vincent Chase, played by Adrian Grenier, an up-and-coming film star living in LA, who goes through the highs and lows of his career alongside his entourage, made up of his lifelong friends from Queens, New York — Eric, or E, Vince's best friend and manager played by Kevin Connolly; Turtle, who is just happy to come along for the ride, played by Jerry Ferrara; and finally, Dillon's Drama, Vince's older brother and actor, ("If you ask [Drama] he’s the better of the two actors!") whose fame faded many years ago - he will do anything to reinvigorate his fledging career: an all too familiar scenario for Dillon, who is the real life younger brother to US actor, Matt Dillon.

But the role of Johnny Drama alone has seen Dillon score Golden Globe and Screen Actor's Guild nominations, as well as three Emmy nominations in as many years, so he wouldn't have it any other way. 

"It’s the part of a lifetime, really," he says with a smile. "When you think about it, he’s had quite a career too – Johnny Drama can’t be a bad actor, he just works too much!" he says, giving some credit to the fictional star. "We were all kind of comparing our own resumes to Johnny Drama’s and he’s right up there with us!

"We were all kind of comparing our own resumes to Johnny Drama’s and he’s right up there with us! " 

"But the great thing about Drama too is, he’s half a nut job, but he’s got such a big heart and that’s why I love him."

He admits that the challenge is in not only letting go of his character, but also in letting go of the fans. "Everyone’s always like 'Hey Johnny!' You’re like Gilligan, some time has gotta pass a little bit before you can move on," he says. 

Fans of Entourage will know that the concept of the show is loosely based on US star Mark Wahlberg (who is also the executive producer of the show and has appeared on it many times) and his own group of friends. 

Johnny Drama was based on the real life John Alves, an actor and close friend of Wahlberg — it's believed he himself auditioned for the role of Drama and missed out. Although there are similarities between the fictional character and the real man, Dillon says he strayed away from trying to recreate Alves on screen. "I did get to know him because he’s good friends with Mark and we all play golf together. But really, after the pilot the characters took on their own character, you know?"

"These are some of his traits; the guy is an actor, he’s into fitness, he loves to cook and a lot of these things are based on him, just from the pilot," says Dillon. 

Over 12 years, the actors have become close friends. Ferrara served as the best man at Dillon's wedding in 2006. Connolly was also in attendance. 

"I would have had Adrian [Grenier] also, but he had to work," he laughs. "They’re like family to me, they’re like brothers and always will be. We’ve got a long friendship, we’ve known each other over 12 years and I’ll know these guys forever."

And was it really true that Dillon performed Drama's famous 'Victory' call at his own wedding? Dillon laughs. "Yes, I did, and I did it with a broken wrist!" He yelled 'Victory' while posing for pictures as his reception. "I did [it] with my broken hand in the air." Dillon says he loves the call made famous on Drama's fictional '90s show, Viking Quest, though he admits he often is approached by fans on the street: "I do have random guys come up to me and say “Hey, give me a ‘Victory’!” 

"I do have random guys come up to me and say “Hey, give me a ‘Victory’!” 

The frequent celebrity cameos on Entourage have always been a fan favourite part of the show — as a successful actor living in LA, these types of encounters are only natural. Throughout the years, many high profile names have appeared at least once, including Eminem, Zac Efron, Kanye West, Tom Brady, Jessica Alba, Mike Tyson, 50 Cent, Seth Green, the incredibly creepy Gary Busey and many, many more. 

The film ups the ante as well with stars such as Pharrell Williams, Liam Neeson, Jon Favreau, UFC fighter Ronda Rousey and Emily Ratajkowski all making cameos, which Dillon claims to be an intentional move to make the Hollywood world more realistic. "I love the cameos – it’s tricky to put them in and not be like ‘Oh, they just stuck them in somewhere,’ so you’ve got to make them feel real," he explains. "Party scenes are one of the only times that you can do that, you can throw tonnes in there. But you know, to have Liam Neeson drive up next to you, that happens here in Hollywood..."

The boys in the show get up to a bunch of elaborate (and expensive) ventures, including impromptu trips to Ibiza, VIP treatment in clubs and private yacht parties: is that anything like what the real guys get up to?

"You know what’s crazy is that we’re kind of living the Entourage life right now!" he exclaims. 

"Tomorrow, they’re going to drive us to the airport, right up to the tarmac, and we’re going to board a private jet and fly to Vegas – we’re living it!"

This is thought to be the curtain call for the Entourage franchise, though Dillon isn't so sure, he says a new film could be in the works. "I think there could be a second movie, I always felt like the show had legs, I felt we could have done two more seasons, so it’s kind of cool that we were able to do a movie," he says. 

"I still think there’s a lot we could do with these guys, so I know personally I would love to do it and I can speak for all the guys, that we would all love to do it – we need this one to be a hit. We’re proud of what we did and we know we did a good movie, so if people go out and see it and they like, then there will be a second one."

So, where could we expect to see Drama in the future? "Well you know, Drama will get kicked to the curb again somehow."

"I think people like to see Drama suffer and I know for a fact [show creator Doug Ellin] likes to see Drama suffer because he writes tough scenes for him all the time. But I like when he struggles too, I don’t like when things are too good for him."

"Victory!" he bellows as he says his goodbyes. 

Entourage is in cinema 4 Jun.