Exclusive: Nonso Anozie talks Jack Ryan: Shadow RecruitBy Wilson Morales
January 14, 2014
Coming out this week is the latest installment in the Jack Ryan franchise, a reboot called ‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,’ which is directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Peter Andersson, David Paymer, Colm Feore, Nonso Anozie and Branagh as well.
Based on the Jack Ryan character created by bestselling author Tom Clancy, the film is a contemporary action thriller set in the present day. The original story, written by David Koepp, follows a young Jack as he uncovers a financial terrorist plot.
For Anozie, who plays a covert operative assigned to assist Ryan in Moscow, the role is another big part for the British actor, who is known for his role as Xaro Xhoan Daxos in the HBO series Game of Thrones. Since appearing on HBO’s hottest TV show, he’s played the role of Samson in the History Channel’s television miniseries The Bible, worked with Harrison Ford and Viola Davis in 2013’s Ender’s Game, and most recently starred with Jonathan Rhys-Meyers in NBC’s Dracula series.
Blackfilm.com recently spoke with Anozie as he talked about his role in Shadow Recruit, his career thus far, and working with Branagh again in his upcoming film, Cinderella.
How much fun did you have working on the set?
Nonso Anozie: It was good. It was my second time working with Kenneth Branagh. The first time I worked with him was at the National Theater in 2003, which was over 10 years ago. He had said then that he wanted to work for me again, saying, “’Whenever I’m doing something, you’re going to be in it.” Ten years went by and I was like, “Yeah, Right” He literally called me for this part and it was nice to work with him again. It was nice working with Chris Pine and we had a good time doing the scene that you will in the film. It’s actually a good movie. The film harkens back to ‘Patriot Games’ and ‘Clear and Present Danger.’ It’s those good old fashioned action movies with the unsuspecting hero taking on the ordinary guy in extraordinary situations. I think Chris Pine does a great job in the movie.
What role do you play in the film?
NA: I play the role of Embee Deng, who’s basically there to meet and make sure Jack Ryan has a safe and good time while doing his job in Moscow. Embee may not be what he seems to be on the outside.
Had you been a fan of the previous films or read any of the Clancy books?
NA: Yes. I had seen the previous movies with Harrison Ford. I’m a very big fan of that kind of movie. I’m also a fan of the Tom Clancy novels and films such as The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, and Clear and Present Danger. Just watching them growing up and being in this type of film was a real thrill for me. It’s like a teenage fantasy coming true. You get to shoot guns and break glass over people’s heads. It’s fun and the action takes you back to being a kid. This is the type you did when you were playing Cowboys and Indians. It was preparing you for this.
You just finished doing a season on NBC’s Dracula. What was your role on the show?
NA: I played R.M. Reinfeld, who is Dracula aka Alexander Grayson’s lawyer set in 1896 in Victorian London. I play an American lawyer who works on the alter ego of Dracula. Reinfeld knows Grayson’s secret that he is Dracula, a vampire. He’s very loyal and accomplished and the right-hand man of Dracula. He goes about in the daytime and does the stuff that Alexander can’t do and deals with all legal matters. He’s a very interesting character to play. As soon as I saw the script and this intelligent, cool, quick witted character, I knew I wanted to the play the role. When I told them I was interested, they told me that they didn’t need to see me again because the part was mine. We filmed in Budapest and it was great working with Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, and Katie McGrath. It was a dream. All of us cliqued as a family. We worked on scenes together and we had fun. It was really great.
Between Game of Thrones, Ender’s Game, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit and Dracula, what’s it like working on these projects that already come with a fanbase?
NA: It’s quite interesting. A lot of people have mentioned that to me and how I’m doing these genre projects, and it’s really not by choice. I go with what I like. If I like the script, I go for it. If I have a good feeling about the character, I will go for it. I don’t do everything that comes my way but I do get excited about things that are slightly out of the ordinary. It’s just a blessing to see the way things are going right now. After ‘The Grey’ came out, things started happening one after another. I have other things in the pipeline.
Was your role on Game of Thrones a turning point in your career?
NA: Absolutely! At the beginning of 2012, only the first season of Game of Thrones had been shown on TV. I filmed six episodes of the second season and it hadn’t aired at that time. There was hype about it and it was successful after the first season, but by the end of season 3, we’ve seen that the series is now the most successful TV show that HBO has had. In three seasons, it’s the most downloaded show in history. When you think about that, with it being a cable TV show, to get those kind of numbers, it’s ridiculous. When you’re featured heavily in a series like that, I was given a guest leading character for the season. It’s different from getting a good part in a film. People will see a film once, but when you’re in peoples’ homes every week, it makes a big difference. When you’re one of the few black people on the show makes it more visible as well.
What are you currently working on now?
NA: I’m shooting ‘Cinderella’ with Mr. Branagh again. This is a movie that will be a classic. They are pulling out all of the stops for this. Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham Carter are fantastic in different ways. I’m working closely with Cate Blanchett in the film and we have a couple of scenes where we butt heads because I play the captain of the guards who is the head of the Army in the fantasy. I’m the best friend of the prince. I play his advisor. I’m the guy he comes to talk about girls and eventually about Cinderella. I’m the guy that wants him to find his true love and everyone else is an obstacle to that. It’s really been a great experience and to have a part like that is a godsend. It will be a while before it comes out, but when it does, it will live in the minds of people of children and adults for years to come.
Branagh is pretty amazing when he does any work of Shakespeare, and if you had to work with him on any of those projects on stage or film, which would you choose?
NA: I played Othello on stage and would love that role or Macbeth, one of those two. Laurence Fishburne did Othello on film, but would love to Macbeth and he would be perfect to direct it, and he just did the play himself. It’s the shortest tragedy of all of Shakespeare’s tragedies, but the most explosive. More happens in a short time. The other plays are done to nearly three hours, whereas Macbeth is manageable at two hours without any editing. I would love to play that.
Do you have any other film coming up?
NA: Yes. I’ve another film called ‘Get Santa,’ directed by Chris Smith and starring Jim Broadbent. It’s a Christmas comedy, which is the first time I’ve done one. I’m excited about that.
