Rami Malek Produces ‘The Amateur,’ Flinches Like Joker, Talks Mr. Robot

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Rami Malek, who won an Oscar, has taken on the role of full-fledged producer for the film “The Amateur“. He credits this opportunity to his experience working behind the scenes during the editing process of Paul Thomas Anderson’s movie “The Master“.

Initially, Malek painstakingly worked on a crucial monologue, yet when he watched PTA’s 2012 drama, it was nowhere to be found. This setback sparked the thought of one day becoming a producer, enabling him to influence such decisions. Since then, he has garnered an Emmy from Mr. Robot, an Oscar for Bohemian Rhapsody, landed a role in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, and taken on the role of the antagonist in the last James Bond film produced by the Broccoli family, No Time to Die.

Malek’s previous achievements gave him enough recognition to finally realize his goal of making a movie, which eventually became “The Amateur” directed by James Hawes. This Gary Spinelli and Ken Nolan scripted spy thriller follows the story of Charlie Heller, a CIA analyst, as he seeks revenge for his wife’s tragic death due to terrorism, using methods that are quite unusual in this genre.

Malek shares with The Hollywood Reporter that he feels it’s remarkable to have made a film alongside Hutch Parker and Dan Wilson, which was backed by studios like Disney and 20th Century. Just a few years ago, he had doubts about this possibility ever happening.” (In reference to the April 11 theatrical release of The Amateur)

In the trailer for the movie “Amateur,” Heller is seen walking away from an explosion, and instead of adopting the typical unphased action hero stance, Malek opted to react with a flinch. This choice was motivated by the wince that Heath Ledger’s Joker showed after the hospital explosion in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” following a delay.

Malek remarks that if a character like The Joker shows even a hint of hesitation, the genuine feel of that instant stayed with him.

Malek and his co-star Laurence Fishburne found common ground in discussing the types of roles they frequently receive. For Fishburne, these often involve mentor figures like Morpheus from The Matrix or Furious Styles in Boyz n the Hood. In Malek’s case, he’s regularly asked to play brilliant characters such as Elliot Alderson on Mr. Robot and David L. Hill, the nuclear physicist, in Oppenheimer. Despite the intellectual bent of his current role in The Amateur, Malek dreams of venturing into more traditional action hero roles in the future.

Guillermo del Toro once complimented me by saying I have a unique kind of brilliance on camera, and I’ve decided to run with that. While those words weren’t mine, they don’t stop me from being open to taking on new roles – even if it involves wielding a gun. Such a role would be another challenge, and one I’d welcome.

Between 2015 and 2019, Sam Esmail’s hit series, “Mr. Robot,” starring Malek, eerily anticipated real-world events and skillfully intertwined our reality into its fictional narrative. The show was complex but primarily focused on Malek’s hacker character, Elliot, and his mission to dismantle the global elite due to their endless corruption and misconduct. As societal issues portrayed in the series remain pertinent today, there are discussions about whether another season or a film is possible for Malek.

Malek mentions they need to discuss it with Sam since they recently met in London. He expresses regret about the character and show’s conclusion, acknowledging some may view it as too soon, but emphasizes the importance of ending on a strong note, particularly for a TV series. In his opinion, they achieved that.

In their latest chat with THR, Malek explained the distinct approaches he took to portraying computer usage in ‘The Amateur’ versus ‘Mr. Robot’.

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Beyond being the main actor and producer for this project, you also played an unofficial role as the talent scout. For instance, you approached Rachel Brosnahan at the Met Gala, and reached out to Caitriona Balfe directly. Did you feel compelled to take charge since ‘The Amateur’ is your own creation?

As both the leading actor and producer, you also took on an unofficial role as talent scout. For example, you approached Rachel Brosnahan at the Met Gala and reached out to Caitriona Balfe personally. Given that ‘The Amateur’ is your own production, did you feel it was necessary for you to take the lead in casting?

Lastly:

In addition to being the main actor and producer, you also acted as an unofficial talent scout. You sought out Rachel Brosnahan at the Met Gala and contacted Caitriona Balfe directly. Since ‘The Amateur’ is your project, did you feel it was essential for you to take charge of casting?

I won’t boast about it, but I get your point. Our casting director, Martin Ware, put in a tremendous amount of effort to pull together the cast; I merely made a few calls. The role of a casting director is indispensable, which is why we’ve reached this stage where their work is now recognized with an Oscar category. It’s thoroughly deserved, so I wouldn’t dream of stealing that recognition from anyone.

Following our collaboration on a project in the Pacific, Tim Van Patten and I forged an enduring friendship. He has an impressive resume in directing shows like The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, Masters of the Air, and countless others. We often discuss our professional circles and those we aspire to work with, and if given the chance, why not contact these individuals and mobilize the elite talents? These are people you can easily connect with, who will push your limits and inspire you to strive for your personal best, day after day.

Talking about “The Pacific”, that’s where Jon Bernthal and I initially crossed paths. I vividly recall undergoing bootcamp with him years ago, and as I looked at him, I thought, “What an extraordinary talent, and the future of this man’s career will be nothing short of groundbreaking.” And it proved to be true. It’s hard to believe that there are still people who are just now discovering his abilities; they are impressive, to put it mildly. However, this is not exclusive to Jon. The entire cast possesses such talent. We often associate locations with being the most cinematic elements in our travels around the world, but for me, it was the individual brilliance that each actor brought to our shooting spots every day [at these locations]. This ensemble stands out among the rest.

Does Charlie often find himself underestimated, yet leverages his unique creativity as a result? Does this scenario resonate with you too, where you excel when you feel undervalued?

As a gamer, I’ve always been intrigued by the creative process behind films, particularly editing. I wanted to find an understated yet engaging way to dive into this world. My passion for filmmaking grew significantly during my time on the set of ‘Mr. Robot’, working alongside Sam Esmail and every department head, with a special appreciation for Tod Campbell, our cinematographer. From the very first step onto that set, I was captivated by cinematography and framing, eager to learn more about these aspects of filmmaking.

I’ve never considered myself as the ideal candidate for creating something, guiding it, scripting it, and performing in it all simultaneously. While that opportunity may present itself one day, for now, I’m thrilled to have made a start by producing a film alongside Hutch Parker and Dan Wilson, with industry giants like Disney and 20th Century Fox involved. Honestly, there were moments when I thought this might never be possible. Yet, perhaps, in part, I’ve been somewhat self-doubting so as to push myself beyond the expected bounds, both personally and from others’ perspectives.

In our conversation last November, we discussed Charlie’s reaction to the explosion and you mentioned that it resembled Heath Ledger’s Joker following the hospital explosion in The Dark Knight. Was this a source of inspiration for your decision, or did you recognize the connection afterwards?

I recall our discussion about that topic. It generated quite a buzz and stuck with me for a while afterwards. Great job! If we consider your performance from an acting standpoint, I often found myself wondering how one could physically enact such a scene with something seemingly exploding in the background. It seems like a nearly insurmountable task just to walk away casually. Pondering on this, I thought about the training required for such a feat, and then I considered Nolan’s films’ practical approach, where everything is filmed in-camera. So, yeah, seeing The Joker flinch authentically left an impression on me.

I’ve observed actors I deeply respect contemplating how numerous takes they needed to avoid blinking, not looking away, or casually throwing a grenade as if it were a tennis ball. This made me ponder the opposite and what could elicit laughter instead. The incongruity in a flinch is somehow amusing because it’s so improbable. It seems logical, and that’s the genuine emotion we aimed to reverse into every element of this narrative.

Our protagonist exhibits characteristics typical of someone dealing with grief, displaying periods of anger, denial, and eventually acceptance. James Hawes and I were careful to include these elements in the narrative. We wanted to embed these driving forces within a gripping espionage thriller, pushing our character into the most dangerous, creative, intellectually stimulating, ethically ambiguous situations he’s ever faced.

Our main character is clearly grappling with grief, experiencing bouts of anger and denial before finding acceptance. James Hawes and I made sure to incorporate these aspects into the storyline. We aimed to integrate these emotional catalysts within a pulse-pounding espionage thriller, propelling him towards the riskiest, most innovative, morally questionable situations of his life.

Charlie realizes from the start that he’s not cut out for being someone who carries a gun, but do you think you might be able to take on the character of an armed assassin if you felt strongly about it? Would that be a role you’d consider in the future?

Laurence Fishburne has often been given the role of a mentor in films due to his reputation from his youth, and Guillermo del Toro described me as having a unique brilliance on screen. While these aren’t my own words, they don’t prevent me from taking on roles that require a tougher image, like wielding a gun. In fact, I find such challenges appealing. It’s possible that my character, Charlie, could develop and resemble Jon Bernthal’s character, The Bear, in our film – more professional and experienced over time. Therefore, playing a different side of Charlie is something I haven’t ruled out.

Are you more adept at portraying characters through computers compared to others? I understand that there are limited approaches in this field, but have you made any conscious efforts to vary your performance, perhaps by adjusting your body language or other aspects, since the role of Elliot?

James Hawes and Martin Ruhe, our cinematographer, came up with a unique shot concept, which they labeled as “cheeker.” This shot would provide a partial view of me on screen, offering just a glimpse from behind the shoulder. Additionally, reflections in Charlie’s glasses were included to help identify the scene more accurately. To ensure authenticity and minimize post-production work, we made an effort to keep those reflections as true to the camera angle as possible. Since I have poor eyesight and rely on glasses for vision, we ensured that Charlie always had his glasses with him during the film, almost like they were essential equipment for an action hero. Losing his glasses would leave him in a difficult situation. Therefore, it was crucial to get even the smallest details right, as these subtle aspects contribute to the character’s authenticity and reality. So, Charlie needs to pack his glasses for his global adventure across continents. (Laughs.)

It’s hard not to notice this, but it seems like the world is yet to be fully saved. Consequently, the world continues to need the genius within Elliot Alderson’s mind. How about we discuss the possibility of another season or even a full-length movie?

Discussing the matter with Sam would be necessary as we recently met in London. He’s currently working alongside Julia Roberts and an exceptional cast for the show “Panic Carefully”. Our time together during this project was remarkable for both of us, and I still cherish those memories. I’ve mentioned Tod Campbell before, but the entire acting group, including Christian Slater, are friends I believe I’ll have for a lifetime. The ending of that character and series was unfortunate, though some might argue it came too soon. However, it’s always better to end on a high note, particularly with a TV series. In my opinion, we achieved that.

It’s possible there are connections between Elliot and Charlie, but they are two distinct individuals. I hold a deep affection for Elliot, and cherished the opportunity to bring that character to life. That period in my career was particularly meaningful. I felt that Mr. Robot offered something exceptionally fresh and innovative, potentially redefining the kind of content we could present on television. Similarly, I hope The Amateur makes a comparable impact.

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The Amateur opens in theaters nationwide on April 11.

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2025-04-10 01:25