Currently in theaters from Sony Pictures is “Men In Black: International,” the spin-off feature and fourth overall film in the franchise starring Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson with F. Gary Gray directing.
The film also stars Emma Thompson, Kumail Najiani, Rafe Spall, Liam Neeson, and Rebecca Ferguson.
The spinoff sees Agent M (Thompson) joining the covert MIB organization dedicated to policing the alien population hiding in plain sight on Earth. She is partnered with Agent H (Hemsworth) in the London bureau to stop a potential global catastrophe.
For Thompson, who reteams with Hemsworth after appearing in Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame, gets to headline a major studio film. Her previous film credits include Dear White People, Selma, Creed & Creed II, Sorry to Bother You, Annihilation, and Little Woods, which was released earlier this year.
Blackfilm.com recently caught up with Thompson as she discussed her role as Molly aka Agent M and working with Hemsworth again.
You’re starting to get a lot more high profile studio films. So for this movie, how did it come about for you? Was this something that they came to you for or did you have to audition for the role?
Tessa Thompson: I didn’t audition for the role. I got a phone call. Sony Pictures and F. Gary Gray were going to make another film of the franchise and wanted me to sit down with F. Gary and that Chris Hemsworth was in consideration and considering the script. They liked really liked the idea of teaming up with me again, and it was a sure bet for me.
Does it makes it easier when you have a co star who you already have chemistry with?
Tessa Thompson: Yeah, I think so. There’s sort of a shorthand in working together. And luckily, I think Chris and I have a natural chemistry which we had from the moment that we met, but I think that only depends when you get to know each other and there’s a sort of safety between us. We can just sort of try anything and I think some things work or don’t work. It makes everything quicker.
Molly is the new agent in town. From the beginning, she’s always wanted to be an agent. So how would you best describe her?
Tessa Thompson: She’s a young woman who saw an alien when she was a young child and saw this organization do something with her parents and she grows up isolated and having this experience with getting a peek of the truth of the universe, and it forever changes her and her whole life. It’s sort of everything that matters to her but what I love about Molly is that she is so fiercely curious and determined and that’s so fantastic.
Did you watch the previous Men in Black films and were you a fan of them?
Tessa Thompson: I watched all three films. I was 14 when the original film came out and I just love that film. I’m still a huge Will Smith fan but particularly then because I had watched every episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and the introduction of him in the film and taking you into this world, because we know that there’s more to it than we realize. And I love that.
You’ve done the Avengers and Thor, but for this film, you get to do more on a bigger scale. Along with Chris, you’re the center. Is this new for you?
Tessa Thompson: I love to take projects on, frankly, that scare me. Where I feel like I have the opportunity to break new ground. But to be honest, and I think the approach I take is to find something that is truthful and honest and something that people can relate to that you can get behind.
How was it working with Chris again? Is the chemistry from your previous collaboration still there?
Tessa Thompson: I think we pick up where we left off in terms of working and we both just love to really have a tremendous amount of fun on set. But of course, because we’re taking on this iconic franchise, we had to sort of figure out tonally where this film lives. How do we satisfy the roles that have been created but also make it fresh and new and something that speaks to us? Hollywood use to pair actors in the past and they would make tons of films over decades and I love that idea. I think getting to see two people change and shift together is so fun. I would love to continue to do that with Chris because he’s such a good partner.
What do you think makes this franchise popular enough to come back?
Tessa Thompson: We live in a time right now inside of Hollywood, where there’s so many sequels and movies being made from looking at old property. I feel like you have to have a really compelling reason to do that. And not to politicize this movie too much. But you know, there’s always women in Men in Black but never at the forefront of any of these stories, or gotten to have real substantial screen time in the film. They wanted to make this film, Sony, as a producer for many years. And before this conversation we’re having now about representation, they always saw this young girl that had this experience and it changed her trajectory. For me, it’s inspiring. A new generation gets to see this film with a woman at the forefront. So I think that that’s one compelling reason and that I think they’re just great movies, the original ones that hold up, and I think I think there’s enough any sort of want to see what’s happening inside of that universe some years later.
When you’re working on projects, whether they’re big or small, what do you take from each director you can take on to the next project?
Tessa Thompson: I think working with different directors, and it’s one of the joys I’m currently working on with season three of Westworld. We have a new director for every episode, I think it just helped me have more dexterity, because every director has a different pace and different way of working, When I’m working with Taika Waititi, I can expect that when I’m on the set that he would play music in between takes and his approach to the work, although he’s very serious, it’s very irreverent.
With F. Gary Gray, he would inspire you to improv. For example, we do the scene as it is written, and then he would say, “now it’s your take.” He had specifically about the action that because he really comes from an action space. That inspired me to really work in a new way physically. You’re flexing new muscle. One of my favorite things about what I get to do is real collaboration with directors and really coming to understand their vision so that I can execute it. That’s sort of my favorite thing to do. So every new project, sort of presents me with new challenges via the director, and I always take away things in my toolkit.
Trailer 2
International Trailer
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