Moviefone Editorial

Category: Interviews

  • ‘Animal Farm’ Interview: Andy Serkis and Iman Vellani

    'Animal Farm' director Andy Serkis and actor Iman Vellani.
    ‘Animal Farm’ director Andy Serkis and actor Iman Vellani.

    Opening in theaters on May 1st is the new animated adaptation of George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’, which was directed by Andy Serkis (‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’).

    The film features an all-star voice cast that includes Seth Rogen (‘Sausage Party’), Gaten Matarazzo (‘Stranger Things’), Kieran Culkin (‘Succession’), Glenn Close (‘101 Dalmatians’), Laverne Cox (‘Promising Young Woman’), Steve Buscemi (‘Hotel Transylvania’), Woody Harrelson (‘War for the Planet of the Apes’), Jim Parsons (‘The Big Bang Theory’),Kathleen Turner (‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’), and Iman Vellani (‘The Marvels’).

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Andy Serkis and Iman Vellani about their work on ‘Animal Farm’, adapting George Orwell’s story and the changes they made, Vellani’s dual role, and putting together the all-star voice cast.

    Related Article: Andy Serkis Will be Back as Alfred Pennyworth for ‘The Batman: Part II’

    'Animal Farm', directed by Andy Serkis. Photo: Angel Studios.
    ‘Animal Farm’, directed by Andy Serkis. Photo: Angel Studios.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Andy, can you talk about why you wanted to adapt George Orwell’s story and the changes you made to the source material?

    Andy Serkis: It always entranced me, the book did from when I first read it on the bus going to school when I was about 12, and I knew, here was this book that was speaking about dark themes, and yet it was couched in this sort of innocence. That was one of the things that stuck with me and through the years, I realized I wanted to make a movie about it. When we were making the ‘Apes’ movies, I suddenly thought, there hasn’t been an adaptation of ‘Animal Farm’ for such a long time. So, it was originally going to be a motion capture and live action version. But animation retained its innocence and allowed us to go into the story for a much wider audience. When we were writing a script that really defined it, you know, in the book, the pigs are offstage characters, and the story is told objectively. So, we needed a protagonist, and I wanted to have it start with a young, innocent piglet who considered himself just one of the other animals, and then gradually, as the story progresses, he realizes that he’s being pulled in another direction that he thinks is right for everybody, but he’s been manipulated. So, the invention of that character, Lucky is new, but there are young piglets in the book from later, which become part of the story, but that was a choice. Then the other thing was, having a third act where there was some hope in a very otherwise bleak story, because this is really for a young audience to sit with their parents and grandparents and engage and actually just say, “Look, it may be difficult and there’s probably no answer because we always seem to get it wrong no matter how long we live on this planet, but we’ve got to keep trying.”

    'Animal Farm', directed by Andy Serkis. Photo: Angel Studios.
    ‘Animal Farm’, directed by Andy Serkis. Photo: Angel Studios.

    MF: Iman, were you familiar with the novella and what was it like voicing two different characters?

    Iman Vellani: I was familiar with the book, but that was about it. I didn’t have to read it in school, so it wasn’t until they said they set up this meeting with Andy and they told me it was ‘Animal Farm’. I was like, “I haven’t read it,” and I was so glad it was a novella. I skimmed through it, and I was like, “Oh my god, this is really intense”. Then that final image was so haunting, and it really stuck with me. Then you are wondering how this is going to be a children’s book or adaptation? So, I came in with so many questions, but Andy was so generous with his time and made it so accessible for me to also insert myself in because we are reorienting it to a young person’s perspective. I think there’s so much power in a coming-of-age story because you get personal stakes. You’re following these characters, making decisions, calling out injustices, and having these moments of rebellion and that’s exactly what kids are dealing with today. They just need the impetus to do it and something to inspire them. If all you’re getting is negativity in the news, in school and through your parents, you don’t feel like you’re growing up in a world that’s going to have anything left to offer to you, right? So, then with Puff and Tammy, they were just so much fun to play. Puff was really the only character I played initially. We didn’t know about Tammy until a bit later. She just felt like a great addition because you could show that extreme version of her, someone who doesn’t question authorities, someone who just goes with the flow of whatever’s attractive and speaking the loudest. So, that was fun for me to play. I learned so much from Andy because this was my first-time doing voice work. So, I didn’t realize how much play and looseness would be involved.

    'Animal Farm', directed by Andy Serkis. Photo: Angel Studios.
    ‘Animal Farm’, directed by Andy Serkis. Photo: Angel Studios.

    MF: Finally, Andy, you cast some of the most recognizable voices in the industry in this movie including Seth Rogen, Woody Harrelson, and Kathleen Turner. Can you talk about putting together the voice cast?

    AS: Well, obviously they had to quintessentially hit those characters immediately. With every member of the cast, from Woody Harrison to Jim Parsons, we were so blessed because everyone was so passionate about the source material and the book. We started talking to people many years ago and they stuck with it. They really wanted to tell this story because they were passionate about what it had. I think everyone just crystallized and each of the actors were perfect for their roles. We were so blessed and particularly with Iman having to do two characters, one of them thrown in much later. But it was wonderful to observe. So, we were very lucky, but it came from a lot of passion for the book and wanting to tell this story for a young modern audience.

    'Animal Farm', directed by Andy Serkis. Photo: Angel Studios.
    ‘Animal Farm’, directed by Andy Serkis. Photo: Angel Studios.

    What is the plot of ‘Animal Farm’?

    A satirical allegory of revolution and power that traces how a movement for equality is systematically corrupted. As the pigs consolidate control, truth is erased, dissent is crushed, and the farm descends into a ruthless dictatorship.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Animal Farm’?

    • Seth Rogen as Napoleon
    • Gaten Matarazzo as Lucky
    • Kieran Culkin as Squealer
    • Glenn Close as Freida Pilkington
    • Steve Buscemi as Mr. Whymper
    • Laverne Cox as Snowball
    • Woody Harrelson as Boxer
    • Jim Parsons as Carl and Carl’s flock
    • Andy Serkis as Mr. Jones and Old Major
    • Kathleen Turner as Benjamin
    • Iman Vellani as Puff and Tammy
    'Animal Farm' opens in theaters on May 1st.
    ‘Animal Farm’ opens in theaters on May 1st.

    List of Movies Directed by Andy Serkis:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Animal Farm’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Andy Serkis Movies on Amazon

  • ‘Deep Water’ Exclusive Interview: Aaron Eckhart

    (L to R) Molly Belle Wright and Aaron Eckhart in 'Deep Water'. Photo: Jen Raoult.
    (L to R) Molly Belle Wright and Aaron Eckhart in ‘Deep Water’. Photo: Jen Raoult.

    Opening in theaters on May 1st is the new survival film ‘Deep Water’, which was directed by Renny Harlin (‘Deep Blue Sea’) and produced by Gene Simmons of the band KISS.

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    The film stars Aaron Eckhart (‘The Dark Knight’ and ‘Sully’), Angus Sampson (‘Mad Max: Fury Road’), Kelly Gale (‘Plane’), and Oscar winner Sir Ben Kingsley (‘Gandhi’).

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Aaron Eckhart about his work on ‘Deep Water’, similarities to ‘Sully’, how his research for Clint Eastwood’s movie prepared him to play a pilot in this film, what he learned from working with Sir Ben Kingsley, acting in water, how they shot the shark sequences, why Renny Harlin was uniquely qualified to direct this movie, and if he got a chance to meet producer and KISS bassist Gene Simmons.

    Related Article: Aaron Eckhart and Director Jesse V. Johnson Talk ‘Thieves Highway’

    Aaron Eckhart in 'Deep Water'. Photo: Jen Raoult.
    Aaron Eckhart in ‘Deep Water’. Photo: Jen Raoult.

    Moviefone: To begin with, after ‘Sully’, ‘Deep Water’ marks the second time that you have successfully landed a plane full of passengers on water in a movie. Did you feel any déjà vu while you were shooting this film?

    Aaron Eckhart: There you go. I’m ready for the big time. Obviously, it was getting back in the cockpit, putting the hat on, getting in the chair, adjusting the chair, and pushing the buttons. I took pilot training myself in real life, and then on YouTube, people are filming themselves in cockpits all over the world. So, it’s a combination of all that. Then really, the script, and we have a guy on set that’s telling us what to do, “Don’t push that, do this, do that.” Then it comes down to just Sir Ben and me in the cockpit playing off each other. That’s really the most exciting part, or if it were Tom (Hanks) or whoever. It just comes down to working with great actors.

    MF: When you research a subject to play a character with a particular occupation like a pilot, a cop, or a doctor, does that training stay with you if you ever play a character with that occupation again, or do you have to relearn those skills film to film?

    AE: Oh, yeah. Not only that, but in my daily life, it stays with me daily. If I play a cop and I learn something about situational awareness or defense, I practice it every day. For example, I learned to chop when I did a cooking movie (‘No Reservations’). I learned how to make sauces. I learned how to flip stuff in a pan. That stays with me today. I do that. I use that every day. A great thing, selfishly, about making movies is that you get to work with the best people in the world and they’ll do it with a smile on their face, whether it’s a doctor, pilot, gunfighter, cowboy, or whoever it is. That stuff stays with you your whole life. As long as it’s a good guy, when it’s a bad guy, I try to get rid of it. In fact, people say, “Well, why are you doing all these action movies?” It’s because I want to play good guys. I don’t want to go down into the dark abyss of things that are going to interrupt my sleep at night. I don’t want to do that anymore. This movie is a perfect example of that, of being a leader, of having to step up, having to deal with people, being humbled, loving my family, loving others, and doing the right thing. That’s the sort of thing I prefer to do now.

    Ben Kingsley in 'Deep Water'. Photo: Jen Raoult.
    Ben Kingsley in ‘Deep Water’. Photo: Jen Raoult.

    MF: Can you talk about acting opposite Sir Ben Kingsley, and what did you learn from watching the way he works and carries himself on set?

    AE: Well, that’s a very good question. I have the utmost respect for him. He’s one of the greats. He’s done fantastic work. Now, as an actor, when he walks onto the set, when he walks into wardrobe, how’s he doing? How does he greet people? Does he have a smile on his face? Does he take time with people? These are all things that I’m watching. I’m soaking up everything, not just the acting. How does he go onto set? What does he do when he gets onto set? How does he prepare himself? How does he talk to the director? All these things, I am soaking up all the time. For Sir Ben, or if its Nicole Kidman (‘Rabbit Hole‘), or whoever it is, you’re with the best. They’re sitting with you and they’re working with you, so you must take advantage of them. Any question that I ask is like, “Sir Ben, what was it like doing ‘Hamlet’? What was it like doing this? What were you thinking about?” I did that with Clint Eastwood (‘Sully’). I did it with Jack Nicholson (‘The Pledge‘). I did it with all of them. I’ve learned things from them that I put into my repertoire. Things that Tom Hanks said to me. He might not even know that he said it to me, or it wasn’t even said. I just go, “Okay, that’s the way to do it.” Gary Oldman, I learned a lot from on ‘The Dark Knight’. How do these guys deal with others? How do they deal with crisis on the set? How do they deal with times when they’re not happy? Just all that stuff. I have so many experiences of that, but it never goes to waste. I’m always looking at them. Let’s say that an actor of Sir Ben’s quality and qualifications is not happy with something. How does he deal with that? How do I deal with him? How do I ask questions when he’s concentrating? It’s a little dance. Then I look at others and go, “Well, how are they responding to me? What sort of energy am I putting out?” Over the years it’s changed. I have to say earlier on in my career, I wasn’t good at it. I misinterpreted a lot of signals, and I wasn’t as professional as I thought I could be. So, I’ve learned, and I’ve mutated over the years to try to be the professional Sir Ben is.

    MF: What are the challenges of acting and performing in water?

    AE: Well, I’ll tell you what, let’s just think about it. If you and I were acting together and I said, “Okay, this is what happened. We just fell 30,000 feet out of the air. We’ve just seen people getting dragged out of a plane. We’re in the middle of the ocean. The water’s freezing. We’re not prepared. You’re freaked out. Action!” It’s impossible. Now, you’re in water and you must use the fourth wall as an actor and there’s sharks out there. You can’t see through the water, it’s a nighttime. People are yelling and screaming and now you must deal with every single fear at the highest level. Now, you must do it with eight other actors. How do you do it? I don’t know how you do it, but you got to always do it on a level of 10. When you find yourself slipping into a 9 or an 8, you got to hit yourself and say, “Hey, I got to be up at 10. This is 10 time.” You look at other people and they’re not at 10 because they’re sipping warm tea, and they got a jacket around them and they’re waiting for the director to set up the lights and the camera. You can’t do that. You got to stay at 10. I’m not saying you got to be freaking out all the time. I’m saying you got to be prepared mentally at 10 all the time, because the audience wants you to be at 10. Even if you’re being calm, you got to be at 10. That’s the challenge. Then in water, it was very challenging because you must feel like the sharks are ripping you out of the water, and it was very difficult in that sense. I don’t know if we achieved what I wanted, but it’s tough.

    Aaron Eckhart in 'Deep Water'. Photo: Jen Raoult.
    Aaron Eckhart in ‘Deep Water’. Photo: Jen Raoult.

    MF: Did you shoot in a tank on a soundstage or were you in a practical location?

    AE: No, you’re in tanks with green screen, and the tanks are at 55°. They try to make it as comfortable as possible. So, you have that to fight against that, but there are some dangers. I mean, when you’re swimming with a girl on your back and you’re taking more water in than you want to, and you’re not getting as big of breaths as you need, you have a certain responsibility there and there are people watching you. Look, the fun is being real. So, if you can convince yourself that there’s a shark right there and he’s coming at you and he’s going to eat you, if you can somehow get in that ballpark, then everything’s fun. It’s when you can’t get to that ballpark, that it becomes frustrating. So, Renny’s helping you, and you have the other actors, the circumstances, and your preparation. It’s all that, but that is the challenge in filmmaking.

    MF: What was it like working with someone who clearly has experience making movies in this genre such as ‘Deep Blue Sea’ director Renny Harlin?

    AE: I loved it. As you say, he’s the pro. He’s the go to guy in this genre. He loves filmmaking, and he’s always happy. I always say to Renny, “You really love this stuff, don’t you?” He’s like, “I love it!” He said to me one time, “I love every frame.” He’s always coming back and saying, “Look at this area, look at this frame.” It’s a big explosion and I’d say, “That looks awesome, Renny.” So, he’s great. He’s willing to work with me, which means a lot to me, and I think that we’re developing a rhythm together. I trust him as a filmmaker. He lets me do what I want to do. Hopefully he trusts me, so I like it. Everybody around him loves Renny. He’s very good to the crew. At the beginning of the day, he has a pep talk. At the end of the day, he has a pep talk. He has giveaways. He always tries to keep the crew into what he’s doing. So, he knows how to do it.

    (L to R) Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley of Kiss in 'Biography: KiSStory'. Photo: The Biography Channel.
    (L to R) Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley of Kiss in ‘Biography: KiSStory’. Photo: The Biography Channel.

    MF: Finally, the film is produced by rockstar Gene Simmons from KISS. Are you a KISS fan and did you get a chance to meet Gene while you were making this movie?

    AE: Yeah. I grew up in the ’70s. KISS was revolutionary in the ’70s. It was like a brand-new thing, and of course, they didn’t take their makeup off till years later. So, I never knew what those guys looked like, but I listened to KISS. Now, I did not know that Gene was a producer on this movie. We filmed in New Zealand and then we filmed in the Canary Islands. So, he never made the trip, I don’t believe. But I’m glad he’s into it. I hope it helps, and I’d love to do another one with him. So, get that out there!

    'Deep Water' opens in theaters on May 1st.
    ‘Deep Water’ opens in theaters on May 1st.

    What is the plot of ‘Deep Water’?

    A group of international passengers traveling from Los Angeles to Shanghai are forced to make an emergency landing in shark-infested waters. Now they must work together in hopes to overcome the frenzy of sharks drawn to the wreckage.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Deep Water’?

    (L to R) Priya Jain, Molly Belle Wright and Aaron Eckhart in 'Deep Water'. Photo: Jen Raoult.
    (L to R) Priya Jain, Molly Belle Wright and Aaron Eckhart in ‘Deep Water’. Photo: Jen Raoult.

    List of Aaron Eckhart Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Deep Water’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Aaron Eckhart Movies on Amazon

  • ‘Mr. Burton’ Exclusive Interview: Toby Jones

    Toby Jones as Philip Burton in 'Mr. Burton'. Photo: Icon Film Distribution.
    Toby Jones as Philip Burton in ‘Mr. Burton’. Photo: Icon Film Distribution.

    Opening in UK theaters on April 4th is the new biopic ‘Mr. Burton’, which was directed by Marc Evans (‘Hunky Dory’) and focuses on the early life of legendary actor Richard Burton. The film stars Toby Jones (‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’), Lesley Manville (‘Phantom Thread’), and Harry Lawtey (‘Joker: Folie à Deux’) as Richard Burton.

    Moviefone recently has the pleasure of speaking with Toby Jones about his work on ‘Mr. Burton’, his first reaction to the screenplay, what he learned about Burton’s early life, Richard’s friendship with mentor Phillip Burton, working with Harry Lawtey and director Marc Evans, mentors that have helped Jones along the way, and the legacy of Richard Burton.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ 

    Toby Jones as Philip Burton in 'Mr. Burton'. Photo: Icon Film Distribution.
    Toby Jones as Philip Burton in ‘Mr. Burton’. Photo: Icon Film Distribution.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and how much did you already know about this point in Richard Burton’s life?

    Toby Jones: I knew nothing about it, and so as a result, I was astonished by what I read. It felt like I was reading a 19th century novel, this idea of a man effectively adopting a son in this way, felt incredible. Then, my first meeting with Mark Evans, I was just keen to verify all of that. Not because it bothered me whether it was true or not, but I couldn’t quite believe that it was true. But it’s shocking in the film and I’m pleased at how shocking it is in the film. Because I think it’s also what makes, what could seem like a very traditional biopic, much darker, and suggests a darkness that might well have partly explained some of Burton’s more erratic behavior in his life.

    MF: Through being part of this project and doing research into his life, did you learn anything that changed your perspective on Richard Burton’s life and career?

    TJ: Yeah, it really did. I mean, I knew that he’d come from a working-class background. He was almost the most famous of a whole generation of British actors, including my father, which is why it’s so personal to me, who through a mixture of education, inspirational teaching and the economic climate of the time were able to escape the precariousness and the inevitability of their lives and through acting to achieve stardom. I mean, extraordinary celebrity in the case of Richard Burton. So, I found that fascinating. There’s a big debate in our country, there has been for the last 10 years that we don’t produce as many working-class actors as we used to. By working class, I mean people who aren’t able through their economic circumstances to go to drama school, which is the traditional way into the profession. Because the access points aren’t there, the scholarships aren’t there. So, this film, in a way, highlights how there used to be access in the most unlikely way and how education brings freedom.

    Harry Lawtey as Richard Burton in 'Mr. Burton'. Photo: Icon Film Distribution.
    Harry Lawtey as Richard Burton in ‘Mr. Burton’. Photo: Icon Film Distribution.

    MF: How would you describe Philip and Richard’s friendship in your own words?

    TJ: I think that Richard Jenkins (Burton), however wounded he was, was smart enough, and naturally clever enough, to realize that Philip was a channel in which he could realize who he was. It wasn’t an easy channel, and I think we see this in the film because there was such a strong culture of masculinity in the mining towns of those Welsh valley towns. Yet there was something about how Philip Burton was able to channel the power of literature, and the power of Shakespeare, specifically, but the power of words and education. It tells you something about Richard Jenkins’s sophistication that somehow, he was able to. Yes, Philip helped him, but I think Richard was a survivor and was able to realize that this was a way out and that he could. It was an escape route, and I think that was their relationship in that sense. It’s very moving for me. There are two different kinds of masculinity going on. But there’s at the same time, a joint love of learning that they both have, and Richard Burton had that for the rest of his life. You know, he used to carry bags of books around him, wherever he went. He was able to recite poetry off the top of his head, and all the roots of that are here. For all the famous, rambunctious alcoholic years later, he never lost that love of literature and that love of the spoken word. You see that in the interviews he did on TV, and the root of all that is here in this chemistry between the two men. For Philip, it’s a complicated situation because he’s a single man and I think he glimpses for himself a way out as well. Because after the events of this film, Philip comes out and he goes to America. He forms a drama school, lives in Florida and doesn’t have any kind of pathetic life at all. He flourishes in later years. I think Richard was the source of that strength to do that in a way.

    MF: What was it like creating that relationship on screen with Harry Lawtey?

    TJ: Harry comes from a generation who don’t know who Richard Burton is, which seems incredible to people like me who grew up with him being so famous. So, he totally immersed himself in it, every night after filming, he’d go back and watch another movie. He’d watched everything once already. He listened to the voice, and he had a very complicated job to do, and part of the complicated gestation of this film was trying to find an actor who was old enough to be able to play Burton in the later scenes, but could also suggest the young, naive Burton, and be able to tell the story of his evolution, the evolution of his voice as much as anything, and how the evolution of his voice almost tells the story of the character emerging. Harry’s sophistication at doing that was great. You hope that you’re going to meet collaborators like that all the time, but the dream is that you learn from younger actors, and I relearned something from Harry about that kind of immersion and it was great just working with him.

    Harry Lawtey as Richard Burton in 'Mr. Burton'. Photo: Icon Film Distribution.
    Harry Lawtey as Richard Burton in ‘Mr. Burton’. Photo: Icon Film Distribution.

    MF: Have you had a teacher or mentor who helped guide you, and have you mentored anyone yourself?

    TJ: I’ve certainly been asked to be a mentor, whether I’ve succeeded in that, I don’t know. You’d have to ask people who I’ve taught, spoken to, or chatted with. It’s a complicated relationship because often there’s a certain feeling of unworthiness in it. There’s something about pontificating about acting that I feel a little uncomfortable about. Often with actors who are requiring advice of you, I think, “Well, if you need advice, it’s probably not the best profession for you.” Because normally people are mad, and you must be a certain kind of madcap, confident person, and confident in your own individuality that you don’t listen to it, but you literally pursue your own course. That said, I certainly had a mentor when I trained in Paris under a guy called Jacques Lecoq in the 1990s. He was an extraordinary teacher, and he fed me with enough curiosity about the world and how the world might be used in my work, to last me a lifetime. There isn’t really a day that goes by where I don’t try to honor what I learnt in those classes, not just what I did, but what I saw happening in the classes. Then I was lucky enough at school to have a few great teachers of literature, a bit like Philip, who imbued me with a sort of lifelong love of words, and to not fear words.

    MF: What was it like working with director Marc Evans on set?

    TJ: He’s a very relaxed director. That’s at least how he appears. He’s very quietly spoken, enthusiastic, very supportive, and very Welsh. He’s extraordinarily humble for someone who is an experienced filmmaker. He’s very keen to solicit our views on things, but has a very interesting poetic eye, and an understanding of the landscape of poverty, because that’s the culture that spawned him. So, he’s the ideal translator of that world, really. I absolutely adored working with him. He’s got nothing to prove and as a result, we’re able to talk very frankly to each other.

    Harry Lawtey as Richard Burton in 'Mr. Burton'. Photo: Icon Film Distribution.
    Harry Lawtey as Richard Burton in ‘Mr. Burton’. Photo: Icon Film Distribution.

    MF: Finally, for a younger generation not familiar with Richard Burton and his work, which of his films would you recommend?

    TJ: Well, you can see online his ‘Hamlet’, which was extraordinary. It was directed by John Gielgud and the battle that he had with Burton about how to play Hamlet has been turned into a play. It has been made into a play that’s going to be on Broadway called ‘The Motive and the Cue’. It’s a very interesting play, but you can see the whole performance. on YouTube, which is just great. I loved his last performance in ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ with John Hurt. I thought he was amazing in that. I enjoyed ‘Equus’ on film, and even the old films like ‘Alexander the Great’ and ‘Cleopatra’. They are kind of camp, but camp in an interesting way. Even the schlock that he did like “Where Eagles Dare’, there’s always a wonderful gravitas about him. But it’s interesting, his voice, which was almost unlike anyone else’s voice, it’s fascinating now because there’s something so unapologetic about the joy of speaking that you don’t get in actors now, and that itself dates him a little bit.

    'Mr. Burton' opens in UK theaters on April 4th.
    ‘Mr. Burton’ opens in UK theaters on April 4th.

    What is the plot of ‘Mr. Burton’?

    In the Welsh town of Port Talbot, 1942, Richard Jenkins (Harry Lawtey) lives as a wayward schoolboy, caught between the pressures of his struggling family, a devastating war, and his own ambitions. However, a new opportunity arises when Richard’s natural talent for drama catches the attention of his teacher, Philip Burton (Toby Jones).

    Who is in the cast of ‘Mr. Burton’?

    Toby Jones stars in 'Mr. Burton'.
    Toby Jones stars in ‘Mr. Burton’.

    List of Toby Jones Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Mr. Burton’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Toby Jones Movies On Amazon

  • ‘Over Your Dead Body’ Interview: Director Jorma Taccone

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    Opening in theaters on April 24th is ‘Over Your Dead Body‘, which is a remake of the Norwegian film ‘The Trip’ and was directed by Jorma Taccone (‘Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping’).

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    The film stars Jason Segel (‘Shrinking’), Samara Weaving (‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’), Paul Guilfoyle (‘Spotlight’), Keith Jardine (‘Shot Caller’), Timothy Olyphant (‘Alien: Earth’), and Juliette Lewis (‘Cape Fear’).

    'Over Your Dead Body' director Jorma Taccone.
    ‘Over Your Dead Body’ director Jorma Taccone.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Jorma Taccone about his work on ‘Over Your Dead Body’, remaking ‘The Trip’, shooting the action sequences, the music, and putting together the exceptional cast.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.

    Related Article: Jason Segel Talks Apple TV+’s ‘Shrinking’ and Working with Harrison Ford

    (L to R) Jason Segel and Samara Weaving in Jorma Taccone’s 'Over Your Dead Body'. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release.
    (L to R) Jason Segel and Samara Weaving in Jorma Taccone’s ‘Over Your Dead Body’. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and the challenges of remaking ‘The Trip’?

    Jorma Taccone: Well, this is based on a Norwegian movie called ‘The Trip’, originally called ‘In Bad Days’ by Tommy Wirkola, and it’s a very funny movie. Tommy did movies like ‘Violent Night’. I was really a big fan of all his stuff. He’s more of an action-comedy guy. I’m more of a comedy-action guy. So, there’s a Venn diagram there. The original movie is very dark. It’s angry but it’s very funny too. I was very interested in, one, what a different cast would bring to it. There are some pretty big changes that have happened with our bad guys. When I read the original script, I was really impressed that Nick (Kocher) and Brian (McElhaney), who are very funny writers, had captured the tone that I really wanted to present, which is the characters being a bit more redeemable and really trying to earn the ending of the movie. It’s a series of tricks that this movie is doing of threading all these different needles. It’s like three movies in one. It’s this suspense/thriller, into almost a home invasion, into an action movie and it just ramps. So, it was pushing the comedy, which is obviously my heart, not wanting to break anything and having the reality of the world. But really doing all those tones, having all these twists and turns, and having the comedy stitch it all together in this way that felt like such an awesome challenge. Showing different shades of things that maybe people don’t expect from me.

    (L to R) Timothy Olyphant, Juliette Lewis, and Keith Jardine in Jorma Taccone’s 'Over Your Dead Body'. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release.
    (L to R) Timothy Olyphant, Juliette Lewis, and Keith Jardine in Jorma Taccone’s ‘Over Your Dead Body’. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release.

    MF: Can you talk about your approach to filming the action sequences?

    JT: I mean, there’s a lot of cool set pieces in this movie. With the days that you have and the time that you have, it’s always challenging to get. A half a page of action lines can take a full day to shoot. So, it’s always like that. There’s a whole action set piece that goes all around the front yard and there’s brutal stuff that happens. There are maybe ten different gags that happen that are just really over the top violent and it’s so fun. It’s also funny and disturbing. So, that was a fun one to block and choreograph with 87North Productions, who are known for ‘Bullet Train’, ‘Atomic Blonde’, ‘John Wick’. So, I had the best stunt team on the planet. Then I’m also weaving all my dumb comedy into it as well. So, it was those moments that you’re just like, “This is so fun to have so many different things going on in one scene.”

    Samara Weaving in Jorma Taccone’s 'Over Your Dead Body'. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release.
    Samara Weaving in Jorma Taccone’s ‘Over Your Dead Body’. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release.

    MF: Can you talk about the music you used in the film?

    JT: I’m obsessed with audio. There’s all these EDM songs that are in the movie that I got Karen Gillan to do. So, she did this song, and Samara Weaving does a song. But if there is chaos, there’s even more chaos with audio and there’s this crazy song happening. So, it was fun to build all that stuff up.

    (L to R) Samara Weaving and Jason Segel in Jorma Taccone’s 'Over Your Dead Body'. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release.
    (L to R) Samara Weaving and Jason Segel in Jorma Taccone’s ‘Over Your Dead Body’. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release.

    MF: Finally, what was it like putting this cast together and working with them on set?

    JT: Well, one of the things I’ve been saying, which I think holds very true, is that my wife (director Marielle Heller) was saying that there’s a head of every department and there’s always a head of the acting department. Jason Siegel was absolutely that for me. He was the hub of the wheel that we first got. Then to get Samara who works so well with him, and she’s so funny in this movie. She’s playing an Australian too, which was great for her improv to just be able to go toe to toe with Jason. There’s so much fun between them. But then Timothy Olyphant, who was difficult to convince, but I did it. Then him and Juliette are so funny. Then, Keith Jardine, who is mostly known for MMA fighting, but he’s been in a ton of stuff. He’s the sweetest man on the planet and he’s so funny in this. Then, Paul Guilfoyle, who’s unbelievable as this dad character. So, I got incredibly lucky. But Jason was the start of that, of the ball rolling towards this incredible cast.

    Editorial Note: Tessa Smith conducted the interview and contributed to this article.

    Timothy Olyphant in Jorma Taccone’s 'Over Your Dead Body'. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release.
    Timothy Olyphant in Jorma Taccone’s ‘Over Your Dead Body’. Courtesy of Independent Film Company. An Independent Film Company Release.

    What is the plot of ‘Over Your Dead Body’?

    A couple (Jason Segel and Samara Weaving) tries to reconnect while on vacation, only to find out they have plans to kill each other.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Over Your Dead Body’?

    • Jason Segel as Dan
    • Samara Weaving as Lisa
    • Paul Guilfoyle as Michael
    • Keith Jardine as Todd
    • André Eriksen as Hollywood Todd
    • Timothy Olyphant as Pete
    • Ilkka Villi as Hollywood Pete
    • Juliette Lewis as Allegra
    • Iina Kuustonen as Hollywood Allegra
    • Andy Cohen as Himself
    'Over Your Dead Body' opens in theaters on April 24th.
    ‘Over Your Dead Body’ opens in theaters on April 24th.

    List of Jorma Taccone Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Over Your Dead Body’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Jorma Taccone Movies on Amazon

     

  • ‘Wasteman’ Interview: David Jonsson and Tom Blyth

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    Opening in US theaters on April 17th is the new prison drama ‘Wasteman’, which was directed by Cal McMau and stars David Jonsson (‘Alien: Romulus’ and ‘The Long Walk’) and Tom Blyth (‘Billy the Kid’ and ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’).

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    (L to R) David Jonsson and Tom Blyth in 'Wasteman'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    (L to R) David Jonsson and Tom Blyth in ‘Wasteman’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with David Jonsson and Tom Blyth about their work on ‘Wasteman’, Jonsson’s first reaction to the screenplay, Blyth’s approach to his character, shooting the riot sequence and filming in a real former prison.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.

    Related Article: Tom Blyth Talks ‘Billy the Kid’ Season 2 Part 2 and Making a Western

    David Jonsson in 'Wasteman'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    David Jonsson in ‘Wasteman’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Moviefone: To begin with, David, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and why you wanted to help tell this story and play this character?

    David Jonsson: Well, I guess my first reaction to reading this screenplay was the feeling that this is real. I love films and making films is such a special process. But there’s very rare times when you’re working on something that has a root source material. So, I feel like that was in the script. The process of taking it from there to where it is now was very long. Making movies is heroic because nine times out of ten films fall apart, which is what happened with this film. Before either of us came aboard it, it fell apart and then years after it started to gain some momentum again. So, I’m grateful that we got to make this film not just because it feels like a special project, but because of what we were able to give to it, which I think was inherently quite deep.

    Tom Blyth in 'Wasteman'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    Tom Blyth in ‘Wasteman’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    MF: Tom, can you talk about the research you did for this role and how it shaped your approach and informed your performance?

    Tom Blyth: I started as I always do by reading and there’s a lot that goes into it, but I won’t bore the pants of you. I did some reading and listened to podcasts, and you listen, and you absorb as much as you can about the world that you’re living in. But then the main thing, honestly, was we had this charity on board called Switchback, who are a UK prison charity where they help recent prison parolees get back on their feet and get into work and accommodations and just have a place to go. They came on board as consultants, but very quickly became such an integral part of the film process that about 70% of the supporting cast are recent prison parolees who were involved in the charity. So, it gave the film this gritty realism, but at the same time it meant that we had this incredible living resource all around us. If at any minute we felt the “BS barometer” creeping up, you could turn to someone and go, “Is this feeling real to you? Would I be able to do this?” He’d turn around and say, “You know, maybe this way instead of that way. Or maybe you wouldn’t have that in your cell, so I’d get rid of that if I were you.” It just meant it was breathing the entire time and the whole thing felt rich and real.

    Tom Blyth in 'Wasteman'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    Tom Blyth in ‘Wasteman’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    MF: Tom, can you talk about shooting the riot sequence? Did you rehearse that scene or just go for it?

    TB: Most of the fight scenes were well planned and rehearsed, but that one was less so. That was one where they really did bring in six people with riot shields and riot gear and just threw them against us. Lorenzo (Levrini) our DP was amongst it with the camera, trying not to get hit. But there were gas canisters going off, like fake tear gas, and you couldn’t see a thing. You got all the guys playing in the background up above shouting and throwing water on us. It was chaos. It was absolute chaos and I ended up with a big gash in my hand and was bleeding all over the riot shields and you couldn’t quite tell what my blood was and what was the makeup blood. But the adrenaline was just so high, you just keep going and by the end, I was burned out. But it adds to the sense that you’re living it and it’s real.

    David Jonsson in 'Wasteman'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    David Jonsson in ‘Wasteman’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    MF: Finally, David, I understand that you shot the movie in a real former prison. What were the vibes like in there and do you think it added to the tone and mood of the movie?

    DJ: Oh, it was spooky. There were spooky vibes all around. You know, your environment informs a lot of what you do, which is why films try to go to the right place. But this film, filming in a natural prison just gave us everything that we needed. In my opinion, I think it adds to the pressure cooker of this film because I do think it is a pressure cooker. I think it’s based in that, as Tom said, gritty reality. So, shooting in an actual prison, I think it’s like, you couldn’t write it. It’s exactly what’s meant to be.

    'Wasteman' opens in theaters on April 17th.
    ‘Wasteman’ opens in theaters on April 17th.

    What is the plot of ‘Wasteman’?

    Taylor’s (David Jonsson) hopes for a fresh start post-parole are jeopardized by cellmate Dee’s (Tom Blyth) arrival. As Dee takes Taylor under his wing, a vicious attack tests their bond, forcing Taylor to choose between protecting Dee and his own chances at freedom.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Wasteman’?

    Tom Blyth in 'Wasteman'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    Tom Blyth in ‘Wasteman’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Movies and TV Shows Featuring Tom Blyth:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Wasteman’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Tom Blyth Movies and TV on Amazon

     

  • ‘Lorne’ Exclusive Interview: Director Morgan Neville

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    Opening in theaters on April 17th is the new documentary from Oscar winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (‘Man on the Run’) called ‘Lorne’, which chronicles the life and career of ‘Saturday Night Live’ creator Lorne Michaels.

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    'Lorne' director Morgan Neville.
    ‘Lorne’ director Morgan Neville.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Morgan Neville about his work on ‘Lorne’, the style of the documentary, making it funny, his unprecedented access to ‘Saturday Night Live’, the show’s darkest period, conducting the interviews, what he learned about Lorne from making the movie, and the future of the long running show.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.

    Related Article: Morgan Neville Talks Paul McCartney Documentary ‘Man on the Run’

    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    Moviefone: To begin with, the film plays almost like an ‘SNL’ parody of a celebrity biopic with animated sequences and Chris Parnell’s narration. Was that what you set out to do from the beginning or did you have to pivot when you realized you might not get what you need from Lorne Michaels himself?

    Morgan Neville: I think my intent in the beginning was, I want this to be funny. I didn’t know how exactly. But beyond that, I don’t entirely have a plan about what the film is going to be. I know it had all these great ingredients. I know Lorne’s story is interesting. He’s a fascinating character who rarely does interviews or shows people into his life. I know the show is fascinating. I knew there were lots of interesting things, but I didn’t know how it would fit together. When we started shooting, what you see in the beginning of the film is my first day of shooting, where the cameras come out, and then Lorne vanishes. I felt like one of the themes of the film is basically the theme of me making the film. You go from somebody who really doesn’t seem like he wants a film made about him to somebody who has made his peace with it and is willing to give us a glimpse inside. That was my experience of making the film. So, the idea of bringing Chris Parnell in is a way of channeling ‘SNL’, but also the ‘TV Funhouse’. I mean, it’s also something that I’ve done with a lot of my films. I want the subject of the film to help me decide how to tell the story, so it feels like the telling of it is related to the subject. So, I just kept thinking, well, what is the ‘SNL’ version of a documentary about Lorne? Not to say that because it’s funny that there’s no substance there. Because one thing I’m also proud of is how the emotion sneaks into the film quietly, in a way you’re not expecting. Lorne, in the beginning, is like, “Why is this guy even here? Why is he torturing this poor crew?” But then you understand a lot more about what makes him tick and he opens in that way.

    MF: The movie is very funny. Can you set out to make a funny documentary, or is that a result of the subject you are focusing on?

    MN: I think humor is one of the great under discussed things in documentary film. I think some of my favorite documentaries are funny in different ways. That could be anything from the films that inspired me to make documentaries, like ‘Sherman’s March’, ‘Roger & Me’, and ‘The Atomic Cafe’. I mean, all the documentaries that got me excited, that are funny in different ways. Even in films I’ve made, like, ‘Best of Enemies’ or ‘Won’t you be my Neighbor?’ There are some big laughs in those films, too. But I think humor is such a great way of letting the audience exhale and open themselves up in a way if they’re laughing. They’re way more receptive to what you might want to share with them. So, I love that, and why can’t documentaries be comedies sometimes? So, this was me intentionally in the beginning saying, “I do want this to be a funny film.” Because it’s a film, most people who are going to watch it are comedy fans. I’ve seen a lot of documentaries about comedy that are really depressing. There are a lot of dark stories in comedy. But I always wanted to remember the comedy part of it, too. ‘Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces’ was the first comedy documentary I did that was purely comedy, and this is the second. With both, I tried to balance the funny with some weight or gravitas at the same time.

    (L to R) Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins and Lorne Michaels in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.
    (L to R) Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins and Lorne Michaels in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.

    MF: Can you talk about the unprecedented access that you had to Lorne and ‘Saturday Night Live’ and what did you learn about him as a person from your access?

    MN: I think people think of Lorne as sitting on a throne, deciding who makes it in comedy and who doesn’t make it, and that he is just sitting there, flipping his finger, and deciding the fate of people. I think Lorne sees himself as beleaguered, in the trenches, and worrying about next week’s show and making 100 phone calls to sponsors, network people, affiliates, agents, studios, and cast members to just keep all the plates in the air. So, it’s funny that everybody thinks Lorne is just sitting pretty. I think Lorne feels like he’s just barely making it, because I asked everybody in the film, “At what point do you think Saturday Night Live became a show that was not going to disappear?” Some people said, “Well, when the show reinvented itself after 1995 with Will Ferrell and that amazing cast, or maybe after 9/11, when it became a place where people came together and mourned and laughed together for the first time.” I asked Lorne that question, and he said, “Maybe this year.” You know, fifty years in! So, I think Lorne’s the last person to pat himself on the back and feel like, job well done, we don’t have to worry anymore. I think Lorne is thinking about, “When this cast gels, where’s it going to be in two years?” He’s thinking about things like that. “Oh, this writer I have who might want to leave, maybe I can get him to work on a TV show, and I can get him a development deal.” He’s constantly pulling levers to keep everything kind of bubbling along and that’s something, People don’t see him sweat, but I think he feels like he’s in the thick of it. I think it’s maybe part of why he made the film, is for people to understand that producing is a real job. It’s not just sitting back and collecting checks. It’s a lot of invisible things that people just don’t understand.

    MF: You mention in the film that the closest Lorne came to losing control of the show was in the mid- ‘90s, which culminated in the firing of Norm MacDonald. In discussing it with Lorne, did he express any regret in how that went down and being unable to protect Norm in the same way he has protected so many ‘SNL’ performers before and after?

    MN: I don’t think so. I love Norm’s comedy. But, let’s face it, Norm was asking for it and in the funniest way possible. Norm was warned again and again and again. So, I think Norm enjoyed poking the bear, and I don’t think Norm felt like Lorne was to blame for any of that. I think the other person in that equation was Jim Downey, the legendary writer who started in season two, and was on and off the show for decades, who I interviewed in the documentary. Jim, at that time, was running ‘Weekend Update’ with Norm, and the two of them were thick as thieves, and they were the ones who were enjoying poking the bear. When Norm got fired, Jim got fired too, but Lorne quietly got Jim back the next year. I think Lorne both felt a loyalty to Jim, and really wanted to protect Jim. Norm was going to be fine. Lorne told the bosses, “Okay, I’ll let them go,” and then quietly rehired Jim, and helped Norm land his next thing. Again, it’s something that made Lorne incredibly unhappy to have to go through, but he is the king of the long game. You may lose the battles, but he always wins the war.

    John Mulaney in 'John Mulaney: Baby J' Photo: Netflix.
    John Mulaney in ‘John Mulaney: Baby J’ Photo: Netflix.

    MF: Of all the interviews you conducted, who had the most insight into Lorne and was there anyone you wanted to interview but were unable to?

    MN: I mean, the only person I really wanted to interview who said no was Dan Aykroyd, and he had said he was just talked out from doing documentary interviews, which is fine. I get it. But at the same time, for a film like this, you could interview so many people, and I interviewed even more than I normally like to. I normally don’t like to interview a ton of people for a film because I want there to be a smaller chorus of voices. But even here, I could have interviewed another fifty people for this film easily. So, I wanted people from different chapters of his life, people like Howard Shore, who he met at camp as a 14-year-old to Rosie Shuster, his first wife he met in high school who became one of the original writers on ‘Saturday Night Live’. But one of my favorites was John Mulaney because he is both, such a great talker, but also a real student of Lorne’s. They’re friends, but I think John has studied Lorne, and I think when they’re together, John constantly peppers Lorne with questions, and he’s collecting as much information about Lorne as he can. So, I think he was ready to talk. I think he loved talking about Lorne. I think we did, like, a two-hour interview, and I said, “Well, I think that’s good,” and he was like, “Well, let’s keep going.” So we went for another hour, and then when we did the round table, he said, “Oh, I want to do that.” So, I got him together with Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, and Fred Armisen. But I think Mulaney was probably the MVP of talking about Lorne.

    MF: Finally, I get the sense from the film that Lorne Michaels is ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘Saturday Night Live’ is Lorne Michaels, and that there is no retiring for him. He’ll leave the show when he must and it may go on for a while, but that will be the end of the show as we currently know it. What is your sense of the future of the series and how long do you think it will go on without Lorne Michaels at the helm?

    MN: I think Lorne is not going to run the show for another fifty years, but he wants it to continue, and I think it will continue, just because, for no other reason, the IP of ‘SNL’ is very valuable, and people still watch and will continue to watch. It’s one of the last places where we come together to watch things. You know, it’s like sports and ‘Saturday Night Live’. There aren’t a lot of places where we all come together to watch things. So, I think there are a lot of reasons why it will continue. I just don’t think it’ll be the same, because, in part, Lorne’s not doing it, but also because I can’t imagine it continuing to be as wasteful as it is. I mean, Lorne says that in the film. It’s made wastefully, but that’s because by being wasteful, you get to discover more things. He’s producing way more than he needs for a week. So, if you’re able to throw out a third of all your work every week and just pick the best two thirds, it makes it better. But it’s also kind of crazy to know you’re going to throw out a third of all your work every week. I also don’t think there’s one person to fill Lorne’s shoes, which are impossible to fill. But I think the thing about Lorne is he’s managing two different ways. He’s managing down, which is him with the writers and the cast, and all of that, which he’s great at. You hear all those stories of how he works with cast members. But the other part of his job is he’s managing up. So, dealing with the network people, and the sponsors, and affiliates, and studios, and all of that, in a way that is invisible, and is a very different skill than dealing with writers. So, you know, part of me feels like it would take at least two people to do his job.

    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    What is the story of ‘Lorne’?

    ‘Lorne’ is an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the man who built the inimitable empire of comedy, shaping television and culture for generations. The documentary features exclusive footage, archival treasures, and candid interviews with the show’s most iconic cast members and writers.

    Who appears in ‘Lorne’?

    'Lorne' opens in theaters on April 17th.
    ‘Lorne’ opens in theaters on April 17th.

    List of Morgan Neville Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Lorne’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Morgan Neville Movies on Amazon

     

  • ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2 Interview: Ayelet Zurer

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    SPOILERS BELOW!!!

    Streaming on Disney+ is ‘Daredevil: Born Again‘ Season 2, which stars Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock / Daredevil and Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk / Kingpin.

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    Episode 5, ‘The Grand Design’, which began streaming on April 14th saw the tragic death of Fisk’s beloved wife Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer) at the hands of Benjamin “Dex” Poindexter / Bullseye (Wilson Bethel).

    Ayelet Zurer stars in Marvel Television's 'Daredevil: Born Again' Season 2.
    Ayelet Zurer stars in Marvel Television’s ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2.

    Moviefone recently had a chance to speak with actress Ayelet Zurer about her work on ‘Daredevil: Born Again’, Vanessa’s death, leaving the show, what playing the character has meant to her, Vanessa’s relationship with Wilson, what will happen to him now that she is gone, working with Vincent D’Onofrio and the rest of the cast, the reaction from the fans, and if we might see the actress appear in a flashback in the future.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.

    Related Article: Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio Talk Disney+’s ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

    Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) in Marvel Television's 'Daredevil: Born Again' Season 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Jojo Whilden. © 2026 MARVEL.
    Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) in Marvel Television’s ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Jojo Whilden. © 2026 MARVEL.

    Moviefone: To begin with, when did you learn of Vanessa’s death and what was it like filming her final scenes?

    Ayelet Zurer: I got some calls. I was parking my car, and I got a call from Dario (Scardapane) first and then Vincent. We discussed and they wanted me to know where the season is going and how they’re going to take it. It was brutal at first, but at the same time, I really understood why they needed it to really pull all the guns and make this season explosive, and they succeeded. Then, through the season, we had a lot of emotions because we knew every single scene will be maybe the last scene doing that, and we’ll never have that again. So, it was emotional in some ways, and I think it gave another layer to the whole thing. Then obviously, the last two episodes were brutal. It was fun but I was so emotional.

    MF: What has it meant to you personally to be a part of this series and to play this character and what are you going to miss most about playing Vanessa?

    AZ: I really love her journey, I have to say. I love the journey from ‘Daredevil’ the Netflix show where she’s just a person who’s meeting this man and falling in love with that extremist and saying to him that she’s intrigued by his brutality. Moving away from it, but then moving back into it, and then committing to it, and them having that deal of loyalty for truth, which keeps them together. Then lending that into season 1 of ‘Born Again’, where she’s the boss, she’s matured into that part, and she is now that seasoned woman who’s running the show. Also, the emotional complication between them because he left and what does that mean, loyalty for truth? Because that’s always been the theme for them. Then into this season where she’s realizing that she might not be enough and nothing will be enough for him, really. Power is never enough. Control is not going to be enough. So, I think something breaks inside of her, but at the same time, she’s staying loyal and very protective of him all the way until coming to where she’s not invited to be, to take aim, and to possibly take the bullet. She’s not taking a bullet, but she’s taking something else and going down. So, I think the arc of it all really plays so well and it’s just such a beautiful character, I think. It’s very poetic in my perspective and I’m happy for completion. It’s completed with a bow on top.

    (L to R) Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) and Wilson Fisk / Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) in Marvel Television's 'Daredevil: Born Again' Season 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Jojo Whilden. © 2026 MARVEL.
    (L to R) Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) and Wilson Fisk / Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) in Marvel Television’s ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Jojo Whilden. © 2026 MARVEL.

    MF: Can you talk about Wilson and Vanessa’s relationship, and now that there is no one to hold him back, what do you think the future of New York City will look like with Fisk as Mayor without Vanessa by his side?

    AZ: Brutal. He’s going to explode, for sure. I think the audience will be expecting that to happen. I think in a way, subconsciously, because Vincent is playing big, and is large, and he’s also energetically big, and Vanessa is constrained. Her energy is very centered, and that together was balancing each other. So now, one power without the other to balance it is going to be explosive.

    MF: What has it been like working with Vincent D’Onofrio to create their relationship on screen?

    AZ: I mean, I love him to death. He is a friend. I think we created a relationship/friendship that is similar in some ways to the relationship of our characters in the sense that we have this loyalty and he’s always very protective of me. No matter what was going on. If there was a need for protection, he was always there. So, I will always remember that when thinking of him. I also think he’s a phenomenal actor. We worked well together. I think our chemistry together was profound and became easier with the years. It was so smooth, the listening and the reaction. It was great. I’m going to miss that.

    (L to R) Governor Marge McCaffrey (Lili Taylor), Wilson Fisk / Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), and Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) in Marvel Television's 'Daredevil: Born Again' Season 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Jojo Whilden. © 2026 MARVEL.
    (L to R) Governor Marge McCaffrey (Lili Taylor), Wilson Fisk / Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), and Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) in Marvel Television’s ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Jojo Whilden. © 2026 MARVEL.

    MF: In addition to Vincent and of course Charlie, you also got to work with new cast members Lili Taylor and Matthew Lillard this season. What was it like for you to have scenes with them?

    AZ: It was amazing. Lily is amazing. First, she’s brilliant. She’s funny, she’s smart, and she’s everything you would expect her to be. I think she’s a great casting in that specific role. Of course, Charlie has been doing an amazing job on this show, making it so real, down to earth, and so connected. Both Charlie and Vincent were always on top of the writing as well. They were always contributing, so I think that’s also something that’s really elevated the show in a way. I mean, everything is elevating the show. You have an amazing cast on that show, you really do.

    MF: While being very entertaining, the show also deals with some serious subject matter. What has it been like for you to have a chance to explore some of those themes in this series?

    AZ: Yes, the themes are interesting. The themes of what is good and what is bad? The mask you wear in life, and when you take off the mask, who are you? Faith, and love, I mean, it’s endless. I think it’s a beautifully poetic show in that sense.

    (L to R) Wilson Fisk / Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer), and Mr. Charles (Matthew Lillard) in Marvel Television's 'Daredevil: Born Again' Season 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Jojo Whilden. © 2026 MARVEL.
    (L to R) Wilson Fisk / Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio), Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer), and Mr. Charles (Matthew Lillard) in Marvel Television’s ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Jojo Whilden. © 2026 MARVEL.

    MF: What has your experience been like starring on a Marvel series and were you surprised by the fan’s reaction to the show?

    AZ: Wow, the fan reaction is amazing. I’ve never seen something so intensely loyal from the fans. It’s so interesting to see. I’ve never done this thing where you watch people watch the show. It’s kind of mind boggling, but I sort of became addicted to that because I am so intrigued by how they perceive certain things. So, I watch that sometimes and it’s so interesting. To be honest, the fans brought the show back in a way. They did. I mean, I will never forget the massive posters in New York saying, “Bring back ‘Daredevil’.” I think that loyalty is an outcome of a good show that really deals with some intriguing themes regarding humanity. But also knows how to have fun at the same time. It’s like the action is entertaining. It’s beautifully shot. The cinematographers and the directors on that shows are so talented. I’m going to miss this whole thing.

    MF: Finally, now that Vanessa is gone, does that mean you will never appear on the show again or is there a chance you could return in a flashback some day?

    AZ: I think the fans must ask for that. It comes down to that, really. But you never know.

    (L to R) Wilson Fisk / Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) and Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) in Marvel Television's 'Daredevil: Born Again' Season 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Jojo Whilden. © 2026 MARVEL.
    (L to R) Wilson Fisk / Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) and Vanessa Fisk (Ayelet Zurer) in Marvel Television’s ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Jojo Whilden. © 2026 MARVEL.

    What is the plot of ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2?

    The second season sees Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) hunting Daredevil (Charlie Cox). Murdock goes underground and gathers allies to resist Fisk’s corruption and his Anti-Vigilante Task Force (AVTF).

    What is in the cast of ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2?

    'Daredevil: Born Again' Season 2 is available on Disney+.
    ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Season 2 is available on Disney+.

    Movies and TV Shows Featuring Characters in ‘Daredevil: Born Again:’

    Buy Ayelet Zurer Movies On Amazon

     

  • ‘Ballistic’ Exclusive Interview: Lena Headey

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    Opening in theaters on April 17th is the new action thriller ‘Ballistic‘, which was written and directed by Chad Faust (‘The 4400’), and stars Lena Headey (‘Game of Thrones’), Hamza Haq (‘Transplant’), Amybeth McNulty (‘Stranger Things’), and Faust.

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    Lena Headey in 'Ballistic'. Photo: Brainstorm Media.
    Lena Headey in ‘Ballistic’. Photo: Brainstorm Media.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Lena Headey about her work on ‘Ballistic’, her first reaction to the screenplay, the grief her character is experiencing after the loss of her son, why she blames herself, preparing emotionally for the role, working with actor and director Chad Faust, and having fun destroying a car on screen.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Headey, and director Chad Faust.

    Related Article: ‘Game of Thrones’ Star Lena Headey Boards Action Thriller ‘Gunpowder Milkshake’

    Lena Headey in 'Ballistic'. Photo: Brainstorm Media.
    Lena Headey in ‘Ballistic’. Photo: Brainstorm Media.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to Chad Faust’s screenplay and why you wanted to be part of this project and play this character?

    Lena Headey: Well, I loved his screenplay. I’ve known Chad for a million years, and he’s just a gorgeous human. I loved what he’d written. Initially, I think he’d written it as a father-son story. Then he was like, “I kind of started thinking about a mother.” So, from the jump, I was just fully in.

    MF: Can you talk about the grief character is feeling after the loss of her son and was it challenging to bring that intensity to the set every day?

    LH: Here’s the thing. I think challenging is a funny word when it comes to acting. That’s why we do it because it’s challenging. It’s delightful. For me, you get a script that’s kind of expositional, that’s challenging because you must find something to drive your interest and drive your emotional investment and curiosity. When you get a script like this, it’s just exciting. You just can’t wait to go to work every day because it’s all there. I just show up, be present, be courageous and vulnerable. That’s the joy but in the most enjoyable way. I think we’re all probably tiny sadists, but there’s nothing better than walking away from a day and feeling like you gave it. You gave it in the best way, and it’s up to somebody to do what they’re going to do with it afterwards. So, sort of feeling exhausted but high is, for me, the driver, and I guess for a lot of actors.

    (L to R) Jordan Kronis and Lena Headey in 'Ballistic'. Photo: Brainstorm Media.
    (L to R) Jordan Kronis and Lena Headey in ‘Ballistic’. Photo: Brainstorm Media.

    MF: Can you talk about why Nance blames herself for her son’s death?

    LH: Obviously, the loss of a child for any parent is the living nightmare, and I think it just hits Nance on every human level. Her deep desire for it not to be anything to do with her, to find someone else to put the blame on, but she’s ultimately carrying it. As we see during the movie, her discovery of the bullet and the ammo, and the fact that she is connected to all of this, unknowingly, unwillingly, is devastating. She is looking for someone to blame until there is nobody. Until the answers are, “This is life. This is what happens. He signed up to all those things.” Which, nobody wants to hear, and ultimately, it’s about war.

    MF: What was it like working with Chad Faust as both an actor and director?

    LH: He’s a wonderful actor too, which pretty much always makes a great director. He’s wonderful. He’s collaborative and present and doesn’t over direct any moment. He just lets it be. Then, he’s this kind of soft backbone to hold up everything. So, it’s a wonderful pre-experimental safe place to just be.

    'Ballistic' director Chad Faust.
    ‘Ballistic’ director Chad Faust.

    MF: Was there any one direction that he gave you on set that really helped you with a scene?

    LH: No. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I’m a parent, and I also write and direct. So, we were kind of 50/50. I would bounce things off him. I think being a mother is very powerful, especially in something like this. So, all the things were just deeply instinctive. I don’t think we discussed a huge amount. He would just let me go.

    MF: Finally, there is a scene in the film where you destroy an expensive sportscar with a crowbar. Was that a fun scene to shoot and did you only have one take to get it right?

    LH: It was fun. I think that was half our budget, that car. So, they were like, “Don’t mess it up.” Yes, it was obviously really good fun, and much harder than it looks. Those early ’90s cars were made tougher than today’s cars.

    'Ballistic' opens in theaters on April 17th.
    ‘Ballistic’ opens in theaters on April 17th.

    What is the plot of ‘Ballistic’?

    A mother (Lena Headey) who works in a munitions factory discovers her son was killed in combat from a bullet made in her own factory.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Ballistic’?

    (L to R) Lena Headey and Enrico Colantoni in 'Ballistic'. Photo: Brainstorm Media.
    (L to R) Lena Headey and Enrico Colantoni in ‘Ballistic’. Photo: Brainstorm Media.

    List of Lena Headey Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Lena Headey Movies On Amazon

  • ‘Normal’ Interview: Bob Odenkirk, Lena Headey and More

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    Opening in theaters on April 17th is the new action thriller ‘Normal’, which was directed by Ben Wheatley (‘Free Fire’), and stars Bob Odenkirk (‘Nobody’), Lena Headey (‘Game of Thrones’) and Henry Winkler (‘Barry’).

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    (L to R) Bob Odenkirk and Lena Headey star in 'Normal'.
    (L to R) Bob Odenkirk and Lena Headey star in ‘Normal’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Bob Odenkirk, Lena Headey and Henry Winkler about their work on ‘Normal’, developing the screenplay, the characters, working with each other, the action sequences and collaborating with director Ben Wheatley.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Odenkirk, Headey, Winkler, and Jess McLeod.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Nobody 2’

    Bob Odenkirk in 'Normal', a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
    Bob Odenkirk in ‘Normal’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Bob, can you talk about your first reaction to writer Derek Kolstad’s pitch for this movie and what were some of the elements you helped add in the development process?

    Bob Odenkirk: Well, Derek had written an outline for this story, and I liked it because it was unlike a lot of action films. It had story to it. It had character to it. It was almost like three movies in one. The first film is a mystery suspense with comedy, but it’s kind of like a Lake Wobegone town, if you know that reference from Garrison Keillor’s ‘Prairie Home Companion’. It’s a small town in Minnesota. There are funny characters in there, squabbling and being stupid. Then it turns into this action film and then it has horror elements in it in the later part of the film. So, again, unlike a lot of action stories, it had texture and it had character, and some depth to the characters. That’s just different. I mean, that’s not actually something you see in a lot of action films, outlines, or scripts.

    Henry Winkler stars in 'Normal'.
    Henry Winkler stars in ‘Normal’.

    MF: Henry, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and what excited you about playing a character like this?

    Henry Winkler: Okay. Bob is a friend; he and Naomi is beautiful wife. We have had pasta together. He called me up, he said, “Henry, I’m doing a movie. Would you be part of it?” I didn’t have to read the script. I just said yes. I went up to Winnipeg. I played the wonderful mayor of the town. He is the interim sheriff. Little does he know there is chaos below the surface. He said, “We’re going to have a confrontation. I’m going to put you in the most comfortable position to have that confrontation. I’m going to put you in a blizzard.” That’s how it goes.

    Bob Odenkirk in 'Normal', a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
    Bob Odenkirk in ‘Normal’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    MF: Lena, can you talk about your character’s role in this town and how she feels about the new Sheriff?

    Lena Headey: I think Bob just wanted someone who would wear a pair of overalls. I love Moira. She’s kind of a little weird. She’s a little eaten by life and when Bob’s character rolls up, there’s a recognition between the two of them and suspicion. Yet, a kind of emotional deficit where they don’t discuss anything they truly like to discuss. So, they kind of skirt around like two snakes a little bit, figuring out who the other is.

    (L to R) Brendan Fletcher, Bob Odenkirk and Reena Jolly in 'Normal', a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
    (L to R) Brendan Fletcher, Bob Odenkirk and Reena Jolly in ‘Normal’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    MF: Bob, what is Ulysses’ reaction to meeting Moira and discovering what is really going on in this small town?

    BO: She is the smartest character in town. I mean, arguably Henry Winkler’s character is very smart too, but not really. He’s just got it an antenna for things, but Moira sees Ulysses and fully grasps the danger of Ulysses, but just the way he sees the world and the details that he sees. So, they really connect and kind of right away. They’re both people who are, in the case of the character Moira, she’s a bartender, and she talks about, you know, “I spend a lot of time listening to people, and I can pick apart what they’re saying, and I can understand the subtext, essentially.” Ulysses, as you see in the movie ‘Normal’ is also somewhat removed from the world around him and is always observing on a very high level. I think that’d be a good team if they weren’t opposing forces.

    (L to R) Lena Headey and Bob Odenkirk in 'Normal', a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
    (L to R) Lena Headey and Bob Odenkirk in ‘Normal’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    MF: Lena, what was it like working with Bob on your scenes?

    LH: I was only there for a few days, and I was a little nervous because you’re going onto somebody else’s job and story and character and you’re stepping on for a few days. So, it’s always that thing of like, I hope I bring it. But Bob and Ben were both super collaborative and warm and open.

    MF: Bob, what was your experience like working with Lena?

    BO: I mean, one of us got a master class in acting and I think it was me. She always brings it, you can be sure of that and nobody else could have played this character, Moira, like Lena did. I mean, the depth and the texture and the smile in her performance, and the smile for the audience. They know the purpose of her character right away, which is to cut open the story and lay it bare for you.

    Henry Winkler in 'Normal', a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
    Henry Winkler in ‘Normal’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    MF: Henry, you mentioned you and Bob are friends and you have some intense scenes together. What was it like for you shooting those scenes with Bob?

    HW: As an actor your job is to separate the friendship and the reality of where you are, what’s going on in the world, and bring it right in to telling the story, to take the audience with you so that they have a really good time. So, that was not difficult and then when you are in a scene with him, he is so present that you literally just have a conversation with this guy, the interim sheriff, who is figuring out the real problem under the town’s energy.

    Ben Wheatley, director of 'Normal', a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
    Ben Wheatley, director of ‘Normal’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    MF: Finally, Henry, as a director yourself, what did you learn from working with director Ben Wheatley and watching the way he makes movies?

    HW: First, Ben is very easygoing and he’s just this big hulk of a guy. He comes up to you and he goes, “Do you think you should bring that down a little? Do you think your energy might be a little high?” Any actor who thinks they can do it without a third eye, is a liar. You need somebody who’s got the vision, and Bob and Ben knew exactly the story they wanted to tell. My job is not just to play the mayor, but my job is to fulfill their vision.

    (L to R) Bob Odenkirk and Jess McLeod in 'Normal', a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
    (L to R) Bob Odenkirk and Jess McLeod in ‘Normal’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    What is the plot of ‘Normal’?

    Ulysses (Bob Odenkirk) comes to the sleepy town of Normal, Minnesota to serve as the temporary sheriff after the passing of the original sheriff. A bank robbery in Normal leads Ulysses to find that a criminal underground reaches throughout the entire town.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Normal’?

    'Normal' opens in theaters on April 17th.
    ‘Normal’ opens in theaters on April 17th.

    List of Ben Wheatley Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Normal’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Bob Odenkirk Movies on Amazon

     

  • ‘Thrash’ Interview: Phoebe Dynevor, Djimon Hounsou and More

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    Premiering on Netflix April 10th is the new survival thriller ‘Thrash’, which was directed by Tommy Wirkola (‘Violent Night’), and stars Phoebe Dynevor (‘Inheritance’), Djimon Hounsou (‘Guardians of the Galaxy’) and Whitney Peak (‘Trap House’).

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    (L to R) Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak and Djimon Hounsou star in 'Thrash'.
    (L to R) Phoebe Dynevor, Whitney Peak and Djimon Hounsou star in ‘Thrash’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Phoebe Dynevor, Djimon Hounsou and Whitney Peak about their work on ‘Thrash’, Hounsou’s first reaction to the screenplay, the relationship between Dynevor and Peak’s characters, and the challenges of filming in water.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.

    Related Article: Director Neil Burger and Rhys Ifans Talk Action Thriller ‘Inheritance’

    (L to R) Djimon Hounsou as Dr. Dale Edwards and Whitney Peak as Dakota in 'Thrash'. Photo: Ben King/Netflix © 2026.
    (L to R) Djimon Hounsou as Dr. Dale Edwards and Whitney Peak as Dakota in ‘Thrash’. Photo: Ben King/Netflix © 2026.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Djimon, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and your character, and did you understand his motivations and how you wanted to play him immediately?

    Djimon Hounsou: Yes. My first reaction was a yes. My first reaction was, hopefully, we can bring some awareness about how we’re affecting climate change. That mixed with a bit of a fictional story and a dynamic that plays with these two young ladies. It made it a potentially fun movie and realistic in so many ways as well.

    Phoebe Dynevor as Lisa in 'Thrash'. Photo: Ben King/Netflix © 2026.
    Phoebe Dynevor as Lisa in ‘Thrash’. Photo: Ben King/Netflix © 2026.

    MF: Phoebe, can you talk about the urgency of the situation your character finds herself in at the beginning of the movie, and what she’s willing to do to protect herself and her unborn baby?

    Phoebe Dynevor: I think that was the magic of the character and the script for me was this idea of a mother’s instinct and doing whatever they can to save their child. We pictured that (famous) image of the woman holding up the car to save her child. Lisa has no choice but to go. But you can’t control labor, you can’t control when your child is going to be born. It happens and she must face it. So, it’s really about survival and her baby, their survival together. There’s a lot of challenges she must face. It’s like one thing after the next and then balancing the levels of childbirth and how the contractions get more intense, and her surroundings get more intense too. So that was fun to play.

    Whitney Peak as Dakota in 'Thrash'. Photo: Netflix © 2026.
    Whitney Peak as Dakota in ‘Thrash’. Photo: Netflix © 2026.

    MF: Whitney, can you talk about the friendship that forms between Lisa and Dakota, and what it was like creating that on screen with Phoebe?

    Whitney Peak: I think, in a weird way, yes, Dakota does bond with Lisa, but I think a big part of it is how much she relates to Lisa’s baby, in a weird way. Because there’s that scene where Lisa’s talking to her baby, and she’s saying, “It’s not safe yet. It’s not time to come out yet so stay inside.” I think that’s been Dakota’s internal monologue the entire time. I think that relationship really does help her heal herself in a lot of ways.

    Phoebe Dynevor as Lisa in 'Thrash'. Photo: Ben King/Netflix © 2026.
    Phoebe Dynevor as Lisa in ‘Thrash’. Photo: Ben King/Netflix © 2026.

    MF: Finally, Phoebe, what was it like for you to constantly film in water and how challenging was the production?

    PD: I was once told by an actor to never shoot in water and now I know why. It was a challenging experience, but it was in a great way. We shot in Melbourne in the middle of winter, so it was cold, but it was fun. The rain and the wind, that was all real, that was all happening. Those were machines that would pump that into our face, so we were acting against those challenges too. But for most of the shoot, we were in a tank with the whole crew. So, everyone was in their wetsuits. We were all in it together. It wasn’t like the actors were going through it and everyone else was just watching. It was very much a team effort.

    A scene from 'Thrash'. Photo: Netflix © 2026.
    A scene from ‘Thrash’. Photo: Netflix © 2026.

    What is the plot of ‘Thrash’?

    When a Category 5 hurricane decimates a coastal town, the storm surge brings devastation, chaos, and something far more frightening: hungry sharks.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Thrash’?

    • Phoebe Dynevor as Lisa Fields
    • Whitney Peak as Dakota Edwards
    • Djimon Hounsou as Dale Edwards
    • Alyla Browne as Dee Olsen
    • Stacy Clausen as Ron Olsen
    • Dante Ubaldi as Will Olsen
    Phoebe Dynevor as Lisa in 'Thrash'. Photo: Ben King/Netflix © 2026.
    Phoebe Dynevor as Lisa in ‘Thrash’. Photo: Ben King/Netflix © 2026.

    List of Movies Featuring Sharks:

    Buy Djimon Hounsou Movies On Amazon