Arriving on Prime Video on March 11 with all eight episodes of its first season is ‘Scarpetta’, the adaptation of Patricia Cornwell’s successful book series, starring Nicole Kidman as the forensic pathologist investigating a mysterious serial killer.
While so many others in the genre have seen their books adapted for screens both big and small in the past, Patricia Cornwell, a titan in the crime field, has resisted overtures to bring particularly her Kay Scarpetta book series out of the pages.
She was smart to wait for a team that includes Blumhouse, Jamie Lee Curtis and executive producer Elizabeth Sarnoff (‘Barry’), because the result is an impressive, layered take that spans two different time periods.
Sarnoff, working alongside a writing team that also includes Matthew Zucker and ‘Narcos: Mexico’ veteran Iturri Sosa, has found a way to crack the Scarpetta story, successfully evolving and updating the story while maintaining what works in the books. Juggling two different storylines that connect via the characters, it’s a balancing act that comes across well.
Leading a directorial group that also features Charlotte Brändström, David Gordon Green brings a stylish sheen to a show that could have ended up looking like a bland procedural but never does. Little touches such as showing cigarette butts littered next to a young Scarpetta’s parking spot give character clues and exposition without need them rammed home.
Kidman works well as the cool, sometimes icy forensic pathologist, while still finding space for her to react to big challenges. But by far the highlight of the series is Curtis as her flamboyant, narcissistic sister Dorothy, a showcase role that lets her do her thing but still fit perfectly in with the ensemble.
And credit also to the younger cast who play the characters 30 years prior –– they’re all excellent, bringing subtle nuance to the roles.
Prime Video was clearly impressed enough with the efforts of all involved to order up two seasons initially, so those who have a good time with the first run (and a finale that teases more) will be comforted in the knowledge that another will be on the way.
Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta (Nicole Kidman) returns to Virginia and resumes her former position with complex relationships, both personal and professional – including her sister Dorothy (Jamie Lee Curtis), with plenty of grudges and secrets to uncover.
(L to R) Ariana DeBose and Bobby Cannavale star in ‘Scarpetta’.
Moviefone recently spoke with Bobby Cannavale and Ariana DeBose about their work on Scarpetta, DeBose’s first reaction to the series and her approach to her character, Cannavale collaborating with his son Jake to portray the same role, and their experiences working with Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with DeBose and Cannavale, as well as Simon Baker, Hunter Parish, Jake Cannavale, showrunner Liz Sarnoff, and author Patricia Cornwell.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to this series and your approach to playing Lucy and the grief that she is going through?
Ariana DeBose: I thought that was just inherently very compelling. I’d never seen a grief process dramatized in this way, with the tech elements, as we call it. I hope viewers will watch and tune in and find out exactly what I’m talking about. It allowed for an interesting exploration. I don’t know that it’s ever been explored in this way. I like trying new things. So, when you get an opportunity to play a character that is so wildly layered, not only in her personality or her circumstances, but in this very specific emotional process that she’s going through, and it’s in a sandbox with these great people? Yeah, I think I’ll do that.
MF: Bobby, you and your son, Jake, both play the same character but in different time periods. Did you work together to create one seamless performance, or did it feel like you were both working on two separate projects?
Bobby Cannavale: You know, a little bit of both. I certainly didn’t want to tell him how to play the part. I think Jake’s physical mannerisms are a done deal. He knows how to look like me, and act like me. I guess what we talked about really was, where this guy was coming from before he met up with, Nicole’s character, Kay and how to incrementally find his way to a mutually respectful relationship with her because that is where they are 30 years later. So, we want that to grow incrementally. That’s why there is so much tension and static between them early on. I think that’s fascinating to watch. When we meet them 30 years later in the present day, they are harboring a pretty deep and dark secret. I think like calibrating where they are earlier in the show and making sure that we don’t get too far ahead for the audience, was something we did talk about.
MF: Bobby, what was it like for you to work with Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis on this project?
BC: The way I heard about the project was I got a text from Jamie Lee, and I didn’t know Jamie. She got my number somehow. She’s very direct and I like people like that, especially in this business. I said, “What is it?” She went on and on about Patricia and Patricia’s work, which I had not read. She encouraged me to read some of her stuff and I did, and then, it was a no-brainer. Jamie is so talented. She’s so enigmatic and you just want to be around her energy. Nicole, I had worked with on ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ some years ago and I was up for playing with her again. That’s not a hard decision to make.
MF: Finally, Ariana, what was your experience like working with Nicole and Jamie Lee to create the dynamic between those three characters?
AD: I will say every day I got to go to work, it was an exciting day because I knew I would get to be in the sandbox and just watch master’s at their craft and take notes. It’s like the finest form of flattery, right? When I watch something that I like, I put things in my toolbox. To share space and time and energy with them, it’s just a real gift. I think they’re the type of actors and artists that make all your chakras come alive when you’re in a scene with them. So, you’re going to sweat, but you’re going to have a great time. Ultimately, I think when you have the privilege to work with actors like Nicole, Jamie Lee, Bobby, and Simon (Baker), and really all the very fine actors in our cast, you come out better. Every day I got to go to work was like getting an education on the thing that I love to do.
‘Scarpetta’ premieres March 11th on Prime Video.
What is the plot of ‘’Scarpetta’?
Kay Scarpetta (Nicole Kidman) is a brilliant and beautiful forensic pathologist, the protagonist in a beloved series of crime novels. Inspired by former Virginia Chief Medical Examiner Marcella Farinelli Fierro MD (retired), she employs advanced forensic technology to unravel mysteries and solve crimes. Throughout the series, Scarpetta, of Italian descent, navigates her investigative journey across various settings, including Florida, Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina.
(L to R) Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Natasha McElhone and Dónal Finn in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.
You may be frustrated waiting for a third ‘Sherlock Holmes’ movie from filmmaker Guy Ritchie (at this point, you really shouldn’t hold your breath), but he’s no doubt hoping to tide you over with a new ‘Young Sherlock’ that spins the clock back to the detective’s days at college
Script and Direction
(L to R) Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Colin Firth and Max Irons in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Daniel Smith.
Series creator Matthew Parkhill has found a decent basis for the new series, seeing him team up with an equally fresh-faced James Moriarty, and spinning a tale of the Holmes family that forms part of the mystery.
Directorially, Ritchie brings something of his Sherlock-focused movies to the style of the show, though it also settles down from time to time.
Cast and Performances
Joseph Fiennes in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Daniel Smith.
Hero Fiennes Tiffin is a solid Sherlock, though sometimes overshadowed by co-stars Dónal Finn and Zine Tseng.
Tiffin at least escapes concerns of nepo baby casting, providing some charm and wit to the role, even if the family history angle isn’t completely helped by the addition of his uncle, Joseph Fiennes, playing his father. As his mother, meanwhile, Natascha McElhone is a little sidelined to begin with, but has a chance to shine later.
If there’s one performer with a reason to complain, it’s Colin Firth, who for the most part is reduced to being a blowhard, officious type you can tell is up to no good.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Zine Tseng and Dónal Finn in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.
The new show might not really satiate those looking for the combination of Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and the visual trickery of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock outings, but one out of three isn’t too bad.
And if we truly must have a Sherlock Holmes prequel, at least it has some spirit and offers decent entertainment value.
‘Young Sherlock’ receives 68 out of 100.
(L to R) Max Irons and Natasha McElhone in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.
What’s the plot of ‘Young Sherlock’?
‘Young Sherlock’ follows the origin story of the beloved detective in an explosive re-imagining of this iconic character’s early days. Sherlock Holmes is a disgraced young man –– raw and unfiltered –– when he finds himself wrapped up in a murder case that threatens his liberty.
Who stars in ‘Young Sherlock’?
Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock Holmes
Zine Tseng as Princess Gulun Shou’an
Dónal Finn as James Moriarty
Joseph Fiennes as Silas Holmes
Natascha McElhone as Cordelia Holmes
Colin Firth as Sir Bucephalus Hodge
Max Irons as Mycroft Holmes
Hero Fiennes Tiffin in Prime Video’s ‘Young Sherlock.’ Photo: Dan Smith.
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‘Man on the Run’ director Morgan Neville.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Morgan Neville about his work on ‘Man on the Run’, how he got involved in this project, McCartney’s post-Beatles career, the legacy of Wings, conducting the interviews, choosing to only use the audio in the film, and what it was like for him to spend time with Paul McCartney.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
Paul McCartney in ‘Man on the Run’. Photo: Prime Video.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about how you got involved in this project and what interested you in telling the story of Wings and focusing on this specific post-Beatles point in Paul McCartney’s life?
Morgan Neville: I got a call from Paul’s manager, almost five years ago, saying, “Would you be interested in working on a documentary that touches on the Wings era of Paul’s career?” Within three seconds, I said, “Yes.” I’ve been an obsessive Beatles and Paul McCartney fan my whole life and a big Wings fan. The first record I ever bought was a Wings record, so I go way back. But I also knew that this period of his life was one that people don’t know that much about. So, the film begins essentially the day the Beatles break up, and then Paul must figure out all kinds of existential questions about, “Who am I, who am I as an artist? What kind of person am I?” You know, in a very short period, he gets married, has a kid, adopts his wife, Linda‘s child, and the Beatles break up. Then he moves to a rural farmhouse in Scotland. I mean, this is all like within nine months this happens. So, that’s kind of the beginning that sets up this story. But what you see is that Paul really struggles through this time for all these different reasons. So, it was kind of understanding the human part of it that I find very relatable.
MF: What was it like conducting the interviews and can you talk about making the choice to only use the audio in the film?
MN: I did many interviews with Paul over many months. I never filmed them. I just did audio. Part of it was we could have more intimate conversations, I guess, and really try to take our time and talk. But the other thing I knew was that I don’t want to have 80-year-old people saying, “50 years ago this was a great thing.” Those types of films are very retrospective. Somehow, when you take those off camera, it just becomes a present tense story. So, you’re just kind of flowing through it, and all the voices from the archive voices to the new voices, just become this soup. I feel like it’s a bit of a trance that the film can put you in. It feels like you never leave that decade, really, the 1970s through the film.
MF: Finally, as a fan, what was it like for you to spend time with Sir Paul McCartney and really get to know him on a personal level because of this project?
MN: Totally surreal. I am a huge fan, but I think about 15 minutes into the first interview, I said, “Okay, I have to take my fan hat off and put my filmmaker hat on and just talk to him as Paul.” Then there are moments where my fan hat pops back on. But the amount of trust and space he gave me to make this film is kind of remarkable. So, I am I’m very grateful to him and grateful to consider him a friend.
Paul McCartney forms new band Wings after Beatles breakup. Archival home footage shows his life with Linda McCartney, who influenced his music. The film follows Wings from formation through the 1970s, during which McCartney wrote hit songs.
(Left) Daisy Head stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca. (Right) Amethyst Davis stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Daisy Head and Amethyst Davis about their work on ‘The Gray House’, the true story it is based on, their characters’ relationship, working with Mary-Louise Parker, and collaborating on set with director Roland Joffé.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Head, Davis, and Keith David.
Daisy Head stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
Moviefone: To begin with, Daisy, can you talk about the alliance that Elizabeth and her mother make with Mary Jane and the incredible work they do together against all odds?
Daisy Head: It was a remarkable trio, a very tenacious group of women. Obviously, Mary Jane had suffered so much adversity and just had such an extraordinarily harrowing experience for any human to have endured. To be able to unite and rely on each other’s bravery, courage, and strength in their quest for freedom and to preserve American democracy was really humbling to experience as a human being and portraying that character in that role within that story. I was in awe of these three women and everything that they sacrificed. Being able to play against Mary-Louise and Amethyst in the scenes was just an absolute privilege, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.
MF: Amethyst, in the series your character explains that she has lost her faith in God and that it is rage that keeps her going. Can you talk about that and how her rage gave her an advantage against the Confederates?
Amethyst Davis: I think that’s a turning point of the whole series. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to when something traumatic and devastating happens, and you start to lose your faith a little bit and you get reunited with something else. But it’s something that the journey of feeling trauma and dealing with it and seeing it with your own eyes, with your own family can really give you ammo to get ready to do things that you never thought you would do.
Amethyst Davis stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
MF: Amethyst, as an actor and as a human being, what was it like to act out some of the horrible situations in this series? Did it feel real at times, and how did that help inform your performance?
AD: I think sometimes, but no, it didn’t feel real. The more prepared I was, the more removed from it I could be. There was one scene that was a real small scene, no lines, and I really didn’t prepare that much because I just thought, “Oh, it was going to be a quick scene.” It was not a quick scene. I was not prepared, so then therefore, I’m in it. It’s me in this scene, and now we’re traumatized. No, we weren’t traumatized. We shook it off and we were all a close cast, so we were able to help each other out and hang out with each other. So, we were able to shake that off.
MF: Daisy, can you talk about the relationship between Elizabeth and her mother and what it was like working with Mary-Louise Parker?
DH: I mean, Mary-Louise, testament to her, she is such a remarkably talented actor. To be able to have a relationship on screen, but develop it off-screen as well was a true joy because it I felt like we had our own chemistry and our own bond off-screen. I was able to, in scenes just feel very comfortable and safe in her company. She is an extraordinary talent, and I’m so fond of her as a human being. So, it really helped strengthen the narrative of the story, because there was an incredibly tight bond between us as people. Which just made it easier, and I was able to generate that kind of strength of relationship much faster than if it was someone else. So, it was a great privilege.
Mary-Louise Parker stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
MF: Daisy, what was it like working with director Roland Joffé and watching him execute his vision for this project?
DH: I mean, he’s just remarkable. He is so talented, and his eye and attention to detail is literally unparalleled. I just felt so honored to have the opportunity to work alongside him for such a long project and fully trust in his vision and concept. Because even in some scenes, I would be concerned about how something was being portrayed and about whether I needed to do it. He was just like, “No, trust me, in the bigger scheme of things, don’t worry too much about this little thing.” I put my full faith in him. I mean, the finished product, the work speaks for itself. He is an incredibly, extraordinarily talented human.
MF: Finally, Amethyst, what was your experience like working with Roland?
AD: I was just so surprised at how much he respected my voice and my opinion as being a newer actor. Anytime I had a suggestion or sometimes they would even ask me things. They never made me feel like, “Oh, you’re just an actor,” or “Oh, you’re just a new actor,” or anything like that. They were very respectful and open, and I know that doesn’t always happen.
Mary-Louise Parker stars in ‘The Gray House’. Photo: Bogdan Merlusca.
What is the plot of ‘The Gray House’?
Based on a true story, the series is about the secret work carried out by Union spies during the American Civil War.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kelly Rowland and Cliff “Method Man” Smith about their work on ‘Relationship Goals’, Rowland’s first reaction to the screenplay and why she wanted to play the role, Smith’s experience appearing in a romantic comedy, and what it was like for them to work together.
(L to R) Kelly Rowland and Cliff “Method Man” Smith star in ‘Relationship Goals’.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Rowland and Smith, Robin Thede and Annie Gonzalez.
Moviefone: To begin with, Kelly, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and why you wanted to play this role?
Kelly Rowland: I love romantic comedies. when I was reading it, I knew I was immediately sucked in. Of course, I love Leah, but I loved all the characters. I felt like they all were just jumping off the paper. I could hear them in my head. I saw the space and the dance between myself and Jarrett, and it was just incredible. I love working with DeVon Franklin. I love working with Linda Mendoza, and this journey with Amazon has been incredible.
MF: Cliff, this is a different type of movie than your fans are used to seeing you in. What was it like for you to play this role and appear in a romantic comedy?
Cliff “Method Man” Smith: It was something that I saw coming. I’m not trying to toot my own horn or anything like that, but they kept putting me in a space of this sex symbol, so to speak. Right? A good-looking man, whatever. The roles that I played up until that point, didn’t reflect that. So, I had a feeling something like this would pop up. I’m just glad that it was with somebody that I trusted, somebody that worked just as hard as I did on their craft. I think that really showed in the scenes of us together, that she stole.
MF: Cliff what was it like for you to work with Kelly on this project?
CS: Super-duper excited. Notice that I put the “super-duper” in front of excited. Because I had seen her work in ‘Mea Culpa’. It was brilliant. She was so grounded in that movie. It was like you didn’t see Kelly Rowland up there, even though we knew it was Kelly, but it was a totally different person up there. I was like, “This is good.” I can’t wait to see what we do together. Then we did the chemistry read. Because you take a title like ‘Relationship Goals’, and you say it’s a romantic comedy, doesn’t that feel a bit on the nose? So, then you think, as an actor, “What could I or the person I’m with do in order to separate this from a stereotypical romantic comedy?” First off, it’s Black love. Period. You know what I mean? That happens with the work that the actors do. This is how you separate your romantic comedy from everything else, the interaction between two people. She loved me, man.
MF: Finally, Kelly, did you have fun working with Cliff on this movie?
KR: I did. We had the best time, but like he said, I knew it was right when we were bouncing off each other in our chemistry read. He had this one moment and I said, “Linda, it’s him.” I was so excited. It just became sweet, having this just banter on set. It’s been great.
‘Relationship Goals’ premieres on Prime Video February 4th.
What is the plot of ‘Relationship Goals’?
Described as ‘a funny and inspiring romantic comedy on finding lasting love and sustaining a healthy relationship at every stage of courtship.
Projects dreamed up by actors who really want to work together can run the risk of becoming bloated vanity projects. Yet ‘The Wrecking Crew,’ spawned from an idea by leads Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa, manages to avoid most of those traps by being exactly what you might expect.
Front-loaded with action and powered by the charisma of its main men, ‘The Wrecking Crew’ harbors no illusions as to what it is –– dumb, fun and full of chaos.
Writer Jonathan Tropper (‘This is Where I Leave You’), is more normally known for his cinematic work alongside Shawn Levy, but while his movies have been more emotional and spiritual, his TV work, especially ‘Banshee’ has more of a connection to this film.
The style here is adrenaline-fueled action comedy with a healthy dollop of comedy to leaven our heroes slaughtering squads of henchmen as they investigate their father’s suspicious death.
Though you could probably guess the entire plot before the credits have finished, it’s entirely disposable and not the selling point.
Director Ángel Manuel Soto keeps things light and nimble, and if it ends up a little overstuffed for such a slim premise, it doesn’t suffer.
This really is the Bautista and Momoa show, the pair sharing some crackling chemistry as long-estranged brothers –– one a taciturn Navy SEAL who prefers to go by the book, the other a maverick cop with a penchant for leather jackets and throwing empty beer bottles.
They really do pull this thing along on their shared shoulders, but the likes of Jacob Batalon, Stephen Root and Morena Baccarin all get decent material to work.
It’s often vulgar, violent and has a storyline you could note on a napkin, but ‘The Wrecking Crew’ also has throwback charm and action bedlam that adds up to decent entertainment value.
Two estranged half-brothers, Jonny (Jason Momoa) and James (Dave Bautista) are forced to reunite after their father’s mysterious death. As they set out to uncover the truth, buried secrets resurface and loyalties are tested, unveiling a conspiracy that can tear their family apart.
Together, they are ready to wreck anything that gets in their way.
(L to R) Jacob Batalon, Morena Baccarin and director Ángel Manuel Soto discuss ‘The Wrecking Crew’.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Morena Baccarin, Jacob Batalon, and director Ángel Manuel Soto about their work on ‘The Wrecking Crew’, Soto’s first reaction to the screenplay and the challenges of balancing the action and comedy, how Baccarin prepared for her action sequences, and Batalon’s experience improvising with Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.
Moviefone: To begin with, Ángel, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and the challenges of balancing the right tone beteween comedy and action?
Ángel Manuel Soto: I think the first reaction when I read this screenplay was that the action and the comedy was very well laid out. Jonathan Tropper is an amazing writer, he has mastered that, but what really convinced me to take this movie on was that the action and the comedy, the way I saw it, those were honestly masks that our characters were putting on to hide their childhood trauma. I saw that as an interesting approach to add some subtext to the humor and the action. Also, given that I love of these high testosterone, alpha male driven action movies that avoid emotion, with this movie, the cathartic moment between the brothers, it embraced their vulnerability. I felt like it’s an important aspect of human nature that needs to be further exploited so that we can see that yes, you can be a bad ass, you can be funny, and you can be crass, but you can also have a heart. For me, that was very important because in this world that we’re living in, being able to find points of connection, even within our differences, I think it’s an important topic to tackle. But also finding a story that might inspire people to make amends with other folks or their family members. I feel like that was cool and just the fact that on a different level, it also talked about the displacements of the indigenous people of Hawaii, which is something that I can talk personally about as well because we face the same issues in Puerto Rico. It felt like a great excuse to be able to talk about a topic that affects millions of people worldwide.
MF: Morena, can you talk about preparing for your action sequences and having the chance to go toe to toe with Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista in those scenes?
Morena Baccarin: It was so fun. It was one of the things that really attracted me to this part was she’s so bad ass in her own way and they don’t expect it or nor do you see it coming. In the preparation for this movie and how she dressed. We wanted to make sure to not reveal that she had a ton of tattoos, or she was as bad ass as she was until the moment it comes out. I was a little surprise. But I have to say prep wise, it was minimal in the sense that we shot all my driving action sequences in a studio in a car that was static, which had its own challenges. I didn’t know simple things like your thumbs stay up when you’re driving that fast because you don’t ever want the wheel to really turn and break your thumbs. I had an amazing stunt performer who was a driver, and she taught me so much about making it look like I was really driving. It’s counterintuitive, but if you’re in a car and you’re turning, you got to remember that your body goes the opposite direction when you’re driving then when you’re in the passenger side. So, little things like that were helpful, and I could have used maybe five more days for that, but I didn’t have it. So, if you see something that looks wrong, it’s not my fault.
MF: Finally, Jacob, can you talk about your onscreen chemistry with Jason and Dave, and did you improvise a lot in those scenes? What was it like riffing with the two of them on set?
Jacob Batalon: I think we improvised a lot. I think I barely said anything on the page. But at the same time, Ángel allowed us to go off and they’re fun. I am literally like their little brother in a literal sense because I’m short compared to them. But they also love to get into the game and play around and joke with each other. I think that made it easy. Again, everyone’s so professional and so fun that it just seemed very simple to go in, do our thing and just make it fun.
Two half-brothers, a loose cannon cop (Jason Momoa) and a disciplined Navy SEAL (Dave Bautista), must work together to unravel a conspiracy behind their father’s murder in Hawaii.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jonathan Tropper about his work on ‘The Wrecking Crew’, developing the script with Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista, writing for them specifically, the buddy cop genre, balancing the comedy and action, director Ángel Manuel Soto’s contributions to the script, and how he feels about actors improvising on set.
Tropper also discussed his work on the upcoming ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’, what it’s like writing a ‘Star Wars’ movie, what fans can expect from the new film, and what will surprise them the most.
‘The Wrecking Crew’ screenwriter Jonathan Tropper.
Moviefone: To begin with, I understand that you developed the idea for the movie with Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista. Can you talk about that and what it’s like writing specifically for them?
Jonathan Tropper: We all worked together on a show called ‘See’ on Apple TV, and that’s where I really discovered them. ‘See’ was a pretty serious drama. I mean, it was an action show, but it was a lot of drama. Their roles were very heavy and very dramatic. But the minute the camera stopped rolling; they were just so funny. The banter between them, their appreciation for comedy, and their love for comedy. They both have this desire not to just be seen as monolithic action heroes, but to also do human characters and do comedy. So, we had talked a lot about that, and we had also all discovered our mutual love for the action movies of the late ‘80s and the early ‘90s, in particular Shane Black’s movies. So, we’d always talked about stuff like that. Then we went our separate ways after the show and staid loosely in touch but forgot about it. Then Dave put out that Tweet, which started the whole ball rolling again. I don’t remember who reached out to who first, but I remember in speaking to Jason, he already had a strong idea of wanting it to be estranged brothers, he wanted them to be dealing with daddy issues and he wanted it in Hawaii. He wanted to really show the underbelly of Hawaii and not to show the touristy version of Hawaii. So that was already in place. Dave had some ideas about his character as well. I took that whole thing and then began creating the story. I went out to Hawaii and Jason knows a lot of people out there. I was able to meet a lot of people, see the important places and learn some of the history so that I knew how to weave in what I needed to weave in. It just felt very organic, and it happened quickly. From the time Dave put out that Tweet, to the time we were out there pitching it and selling it and then writing it and making it. As far as movie development goes, it happened fast.
MF: The movie gives off major ‘Lethal Weapon’ and ‘Tango & Cash’ vibes. Can you talk about your love for the buddy cop genre and other films that influenced you?
JT: I think ‘Lethal Weapon’ was a big influence for us, for sure. I think that’s the one where we all kept saying “’Lethal Weapon’ in Hawaii, right?” We all talked about that and ‘48 Hrs.’ and even movies like ‘Running Scared’. I know Ángel our director has mentioned that movie once or twice. But it’s movies that retain the grit of an action drama while you’re doing comedy. There’s just a great dissonance to the comedy being put in this gritty setting, which is something I’ve loved about all those movies. It’s life or death stakes. It’s gritty, it’s dirty. The action is, incredibly visceral and at the same time, it’s funny. So, I think there’s a rich history. We certainly didn’t invent or even reinvent the genre, and we kind of leaned into the tropes of it. We just wanted to celebrate it.
MF: Can you also talk about the tone of the script and finding the right balance between action and comedy?
JT: For me, it always starts with character, and these are two brothers who have a share trauma that goes back to their childhood that instead of bringing them together has torn them apart. So, that’s the beating heart of the movie. I think Jason and Dave’s performances really do convey that. For me, that was always the most important part, the comedy, you could always dial that up or down in the dialogue and in the set pieces, but to me, the most important part was to make sure the beating heart of the movie was the relationship between these two brothers. So that’s where I put my primary focus and having just worked with those guys for a long time, I kind of know the rhythms of their speech. So, it was fun to write for them but that was the easy part. The important part was just tracking their emotional journey together.
MF: I was surprised by how funny Jason and Dave are in the movie? Did you realize how funny they were, and did you play into when writing the script?
JT: Yeah, that’s what I discovered on set when we were doing ‘See’, was like they were doing such heavy dramatic stuff, but the minute the camera stopped rolling, they’re funny guys. They love being funny. They don’t want to be seen it as monolithic action heroes. They want to be seen as actors. They love comedy and I know Dave’s also doing a lot of drama now. I think, like everyone else, they just want to be pushed creatively into areas that they don’t normally get to do. Jason’s been doing a bunch of companies lately, but I think together the distance between the two characters leads to a lot of comedy.
(L to R) Jonathan Tropper, Angel Manuel Soto, Jacob Batalon, Lynn Harris, Jeffrey Fierson, Morena Baccarin and Jason Momoa attend the Amazon MGM Studios ‘The Wrecking Crew’ New York red carpet screening event on Thursday, January 15, 2026 in New York.
MF: Actor Jacob Batalon has said that he improvised a lot on the set of this movie. As a screenwriter, how do you feel about actors improvising and not saying the words you wrote?
JT: I’ve been lucky that in most cases, they follow the basic rhythms of the script, but bring their own imprimatur to it. Jacob is a funny guy, and I’m always happy to take credit for good improvising. If it doesn’t work out, and sometimes it doesn’t, then it’s the editor’s job and the director’s job to figure out what works and what doesn’t. But the kind of improvising Jacob was doing, I never could have written for him because I didn’t know him. I didn’t know his voice. I don’t have his history. But he was doing something that was authentic to who he is and who that character was and so it only made it better, I think.
MF: Can you talk about working with director Ángel Manuel Soto and did he have ideas that you added to the script?
JT: Ángel is a very powerful creative force. He comes in with a lot of ideas, and he’s also willing to go the distance on ideas before he figures that out if they work or not. So, there was a lot of work with Ángel, and I even went out to New Zealand to do work with him. But there’s a lot of trying things and there’s a lot of exploring things. I know Ángel saw a lot of similarities between Puerto Rico and Hawaii in terms of their histories. It was important to him that we capture some of that in the script. So, I think the real work for me began then because writing the first draft was almost too easy. When he came on board and started pulling threads and trying to really find what he wanted. It led to a lot of great stuff, and it was a lot more work. I’ll also tell you that I had written that whole car chase with the helicopter and everything. But then he sits down and goes, “Well, let’s put these guys on a motorcycle,” and he came up with a whole addition to it. The whole middle section of that action set piece was all his idea. He has a good eye for action. I think this script was important to him for a lot of reasons.
(L to R) Ryan Gosling and Flynn Gray on the set of ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’. Photo: Shawn Levy/Instagram.
MF: You wrote the upcoming ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’, directed by Shawn Levy. What was it like for you writing a ‘Star Wars’ movie and getting to “play in that sandbox”?
JT: It is every bit as exciting as I hoped it would be, and it is also a lot more work than I thought it would be. It was really one of the probably toughest, most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had. It’s just so much bigger than anything I’ve done because of the history, because of the mythology, and because of the apparatus that comes with it. It was always exciting and had a million pinch me moments but at the same time, it was a lot of work.
MF: Finally, what should ‘Star Wars’ fans expect from the new film, and what do you think will surprise them the most?
JT: I would say that fans should expect something new and different, but in very much the spirit of the original ‘Star Wars’ movies. We really wanted adventure, excitement, wish fulfillment and the joy that we felt as little kids seeing those first versions of the movies. Anything that grows for generations develops a lot more mythology and weight in history. I think we just wanted to go back to the joy and excitement of how it felt when we were kids seeing these movies.
Two half-brothers, a loose cannon cop (Jason Momoa) and a disciplined Navy SEAL (Dave Bautista), must work together to unravel a conspiracy behind their father’s murder in Hawaii.
(Left) Sophie Turner in ‘Another Me.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox. (Right) Lara Croft from the ‘Tomb Raider’ video game.
Launched in 1996 on Sony’s PlayStation console, the ‘Tomb Raider’ series has gone on to be a huge selling title across various platforms, earning more than $95 million by last year and spawning a massive amount of merchandising.
The series gives the player control of fictional British archaeologist Lara Croft, who travels around the world searching for lost artefacts and infiltrating dangerous tombs and ruins.
That most recent title came from MGM and Warner Bros., but though there had been talk of a sequel, with first ‘Meg 2: The Trench‘s Ben Wheatley and then ‘Lovecraft Country’s Misha Green attached to make it, development stalled.
Amazon, of course, bought MGM, but the rights to the ‘Tomb Raider’ games had already lapsed from the studio because of the lack of forward movement on the new movie.
With the rights firmly in Amazon’s grip, the plans have now shifted to building out an interconnected Lara Croft universe boasting a new game release and what will probably be another movie reboot but is currently focused on a TV series (unrelated to the one already on Netflix).
Who is who in the new ‘Tomb Raider’ TV series?
Jason Isaacs in ‘Words of War’. Photo: Decal.
Martin Bobb-Semple is Zip, Lara Croft’s long-standing tech support and friend, while Isaacs is Atlas DeMornay, Laura’s uncle. Bill Paterson is playing Winston, the longstanding Croft family butler.
Weaver, meanwhile, will be Evelyn Wallis, a mysterious, high-flying woman who is keen to exploit Lara’s talents and Paterson Joseph is Thomas Warner, a senior government official brought in to clean up an almighty mess.
The rest of the cast includes Jack Bannon, John Heffernan, Celia Imrie, Sasha Luss, Juliette Motamed and August Wittgenstein.
When will the ‘Tomb Raider’ series hit screens?
With production just now kicking off, there’s a chance the show could be ready for late this year, but 2027 seems more likely.
