Edi Gathegi Talks Criminal ActivitiesPosted by Wilson Morales
November 22, 2015
Currently playing in theaters, VOD and iTunes from RLJ Entertainment is the thriller Criminal Activities, starring John Travolta, Michael Pitt, Dan Stevens, Christopher Abbott, Rob Brown and Edi Gathegi.
The film is directed by actor Jackie Earle Haley in his directorial debut, with a script from Robert Lowell.
Four friends stumble into a deal too good to refuse. But when the investment goes bad, they learn that part of their funding came from a notoriously ruthless crime boss… and it’s payback time. Now, they must successfully kidnap a family member of a rival kingpin in order to erase the life-threatening debt. In way over their heads, if they can complete the assigned task without screwing up, they just might escape with their lives.
For Gathegi, who plays a gangster named Marques, playing the bad guy in most of his project has become the roles he’s having fun with. The Kenya native was widely seen as the bad guy Laurent in ‘Twilight’ and ‘New Moon,’ then went on to play another bad guy (Darwin) in ‘X-Men: First Class,’ and since has played a host of other shady characters on the small screen. He’s currently on NBC’s ‘The Blacklist’ playing Mr. Solomon opposite James Spader.
Blackfilm.com recently spoke with Gathegi on his role in “Criminal” as well as “The Blacklist.”
Without giving much away, how would you describe your character?
Edi Gathegi: He’s someone that you don’t want to mess with. Jackie Earle Haley is a great actor and John Travolta is a movie star. I wanted to be involved in something that had talented people that I can learn from.
Having worked on other projects that had a big cast, what new thing do you learn from working with an ensemble cast?
EG: I think that’s the beauty of our industry in that it allows you to meet so many different people with different personalities. Everything is a case by case basis for me and a new experience. There are some similarities in the fact that you are working in this medium that everything is different.
How was working with the cast?
EG: The cast is dope. Everybody is young and hungry as far as the young actors go and they are bringing in their A game. It was fun to be on set with them and then go out and hang out with them. Some of these guys still remain friends. It was a good time.
What’s good reason to see the film?
EG: It’s a good story well told. If you want to be entertained, this is the type of film that will do it for you.
You’re having a good year overall, having appeared on TNT’s Proof, which sadly did not get renewed and currently on NBC’s The Blacklist. Can you talk about playing Mr. Solomon?
EG: Joining The Blacklist is a good experience. I’ve known Harry Lennix for years as well as some other people so it was like a homecoming to join my friends. Playing this sadistic bad character is fun. I’ve been having a good time on The Blacklist and I hope they keep me around for a while.
Is there more to Mr. Solomon that we have yet to see?
EG: I guess that remains to be seen. I can’t really say what’s installed.
What’s more fun to do, movies or TV?
EG: TV has been really generous to me and I’m enjoying my experience being on it now.
