What was it aboutLouder Than Bombsthat really intrigued you?
I really liked my characters plight, more than anything.
And he almost infantilizes himself.
Credit: Jason LaVeris/Getty Images
He feels like maybe hes become a parent prematurely.
What was it like working with Joachim Trier?
I know this was his first English language film.
Hes not just fluent in English but also incredibly well-versed in American culture.
The movie felt like we were making an art film with house money.
It seemed like we could try different things.
It didnt feel like we were just trying to get in and out of a location.
Its partly the circumstances of the production and partly [Triers] nature.
… Its kind of an American story, but made by an outsider who likes American culture.
Its that interesting perspective that I think makes the movie really unusual for an American audience.
You shot this when you were on a break from shootingBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,right?
I think theres probably an ending sequence ofBatman and Supermanthat accounts for my ability to do this movie.
So what was that like?
I had a month and a half off forBatman.
I mean, theBatmanshoot was something like 150 days, maybe more, I dont know.
So all of the actors had chunks of time off.
And yet my job doesnt really change that much.
So it kind of seemed similar to me.
Is that overwhelming, or do you think about that at all?
Well, I dont really have to necessarily account for what is expected.
And as an actor, those are the most comfortable and convenient characters to play.
That wasnt the case with this character.
What are some of the contradictions you see in Lex Luthor?
He has a kind of charming public persona, and then a deeply private rage.
So stuff like that was very interesting as an actor to explore.
Theres been some talk thatZombieland 2is still in the works at Sony.
Yeah, itd be wonderful to do.
Its also a strangely beloved movie, so its a thing you have to get right.
What can we expect from the Woody Allen project you worked on?
Youre a longtime fan of Woody Allen, even before you worked with him.
What is it about his work that you admire?
It almost feels like retroactively surprising that it all comes together, because theres such an ease.
He has a very kind of practical nature, even though hes doing something that is artful and creative.
Theres a practical kind of approach to it.
Have you ever talked about that with him or brought that up?
No, but I can imagine that by virtue of his iconic status, which is probably unparalleled…
Which is probably what I was trying to do.
So I deserved the letter, and I would never burden him further with a discussion about it.
Louder Than Bombsopens in select New York and L.A. theaters on April 8, before expanding.
