Henri Picard on Stepping into a Cult Classic: Youngblood
Henri Picard embodies the character of Denis Sutton in Youngblood: Le Hockey dans le Sang. (Sarah Mongeau-Birkett/La Presse) It was without expectation, and especially without in-depth knowledge of the original work, that the actor auditioned for the role of Denis Sutton, the Quebecois version of the character once played by Patrick Swayze. “I didn’t think I had it, honestly. I’m not good at hockey. I can skate, I played when I was younger, and plus, it’s in English, I figured I had no chance,” the actor recounts in an interview with Le Soleil.
Ultimately, his relaxed attitude worked in his favour, allowing him to land the role. This, in turn, allowed him to discover the cult dimension of this long film, which the team was busy reinterpreting with a touch of modernity. “Initially, I didn’t know the 1986 film existed, but afterwards I discovered that it was a fetish film for many people who like to rewatch it over and over again,” says Henri Picard. “There’s Slap Shot, Miracle, and Youngblood, as hockey films that have really marked generations.”
Rediscovering the Ice and a Cult Following
Beyond discovering a cult work, this project allowed the actor to reconnect with the ice. “I’ve always been a hockey fan, but now, I want to play more.” During filming, he even had the emblematic privilege of sports culture by inheriting a nickname on set: Captain Quebec. “I think Ashton James [the film’s lead actor] came up one day and called me Captain Quebec and it stuck [in the film],” Picard clarifies, who is the only French-speaking member of the cast of this Canadian production.
This new Youngblood follows the journey of Dean Youngblood (Ashton James), a hot-tempered young African-American player who, after a suspension, tries to relaunch his career with the Hamilton Mustangs. To succeed, he must learn to channel his impulsiveness in order to become the pillar his team needs. This reinterpretation takes the opposite tack of the 1986 version. In the original, the character of Dean (then played by Rob Lowe) suffered from the opposite flaw, namely that he was criticized for his lack of grit and toughness on the ice.
A Modern Take on a Classic
For Henri Picard, this narrative evolution is perfectly coherent, as the world has radically changed in four decades. “Society has evolved, the sport has evolved […] Now we are much more based on skills and discipline, we are not like before where players arrived drunk at games,” illustrates the 24-year-old actor. While several iconic elements remain, other aspects have been deliberately discarded to reflect current reality.
Henri Picard, who lends his features to the Mustangs’ captain, takes great pride in this exploration of the role initially held by Patrick Swayze. “To be able to revisit it is a gift,” he confides. He admits he prioritized reading the new script before watching the 1986 work, in order to infuse his own colour into the character of Denis Sutton without being too influenced.
However, he does not hide his admiration for Swayze’s performance, who passed away in 2009. Impressed by the famous actor’s magnetism, Henri Picard confirms he was partially inspired by it. “I wanted to keep his somewhat reassuring presence, he’s a bit cocky, like any hockey player to a certain point, but he’s in good faith. […] I kept his little deadpan side, his sidelong glances, his smiles,” he lists.
Addressing Racism in Hockey
Beyond the characters, this version directly addresses the issue of racism in hockey. Like the successful series Heated Rivalry, Henri Picard believes the film can also help break certain sporting taboos and promote a change in mindset. “The film is very accessible. I think it can make things click in young people’s heads. It’s a sport [hockey] that is becoming more and more open. “Yes, there is still a very macho side to many sports, but I think the more we move forward, the more we see openness, as is presented in the film,” he concludes.
Youngblood: Le Hockey dans le Sang will be released on March 6th.
