Werner Herzog Has Some Surprising TV Watching Habits

One might assume that famed German documentarian Werner Herzog’s tastes probably skew pretty highbrow. I mean he’s an 77-year-old award-winning filmmaker, and he has an accent! It’s not like he’s the type of guy to be staying up late at night watching WrestleMania and Keeping Up With The Kardashians. However, according to a new interview in Variety, that’s exactly the type of guy he is. Only while he’s doing it, he’s also pondering the cultural significance of the vulgarity before his eyes and measuring the impact of Kim’s ass against the fiery miasma of a world shifting meteorite as it plunges to Earth, laden as it is, in its essential molecules, with the hopes and dreams and an alien race we shall never meet. At least I think that’s what he said.

Werner has taken an acting role in the new Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian, directed by Jon Favreau. In preparation for his role, Werner did a ton of research. I’m sure of it. Just not into the Star Wars franchise. He was probably researching the provenance of a particularly intriguing button he found under one of the catering trucks on set instead. Werner’s never seen a Star Wars movie, but he understands their place in the universe is essential yet unknowable. And even though he says he and Jon are “kindred spirits” and that Jon hired him for the role because of his “way of putting emphasis on world stories, fever dreams in the jungle, quasi-science fiction stories”, he’s never actually seen anything Jon’s directed.

Favreau has made some highly successful films recently; did you feel an element of pressure working with him?

I do not know what other films he has made.

You don’t?

No.

He made “The Lion King” earlier this year with Beyonce and Donald Glover.

Well I like “The Lion King,” but the animated version 30 years back or so. That was a wonderful film, the music was particularly great, Hans Zimmer’s score.

Werner says “you shouldn’t feel upset that I haven’t seen the “Star Wars” films; I hardly see any films. I read. I see two, three, maybe four films per year.” And when asked if he watches television, Werner answered:

I do, I watch the news from different sources. Sometimes I see things that are completely against my cultural nature. I was raised with Latin and Ancient Greek and poetry from Greek antiquity, but sometimes, just to see the world I live in, I watch “WrestleMania.”

That paragraph right there is an entire movie in and of itself. I laughed, I cried, I now want to watch Cats with Werner, over, and over, and over again. Werner says he’s a curious man, that’s why he likes to keep up with populist offerings.

You have to know what a good amount of the population is watching. Do not underestimate the Kardashians. As vulgar as they may be, it doesn’t matter that much, but you have to find some sort of orientation. As I always say, the poet must not close his eyes, must not avert them.

So you’ve been watching “Keeping Up With the Kardashians?”

I’m starting to discover it. I’m curious; that’s my guiding principal.

I suppose this could be read as shade towards fellow septuagenarian director Martin Scorsese for his less populist opinions about Marvel, but at this point, I’m not 100% convinced Werner knows who he is. But one thing’s for sure, like many of us, Werner isn’t trying to waste his money on Disney+ just so he can finally say he’s seen a Jon Favreau joint.

Will you watch “The Mandalorian” when it blasts off?

Well, I can only watch it on Disney Plus. I’d have to sign up for it. So far, I have only signed up for one streaming platform, and that’s Criterion. They have hundreds of films, and every one of them is great.

Ok, so he does know who Martin is. Stay weird, Werner!

Pic: Wenn.com