{"id":73871,"date":"2015-11-22T14:24:44","date_gmt":"2015-11-22T14:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2015\/11\/22\/edi-gathegi-talks-criminal-activities\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T03:36:11","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T03:36:11","slug":"edi-gathegi-talks-criminal-activities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/edi-gathegi-talks-criminal-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"Edi Gathegi Talks Criminal Activities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Edi Gathegi Talks Criminal Activities<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

November 22, 2015<\/p>\n

\"Criminal<\/a><\/p>\n

Currently playing in theaters, VOD and iTunes from RLJ Entertainment is the thriller Criminal Activities<\/strong>, starring John Travolta, Michael Pitt, Dan Stevens, Christopher Abbott, Rob Brown<\/strong> and Edi Gathegi<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The film is directed by actor Jackie Earle Haley<\/strong> in his directorial debut, with a script from Robert Lowell.<\/p>\n

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\u2026 and it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\"Edi<\/a><\/p>\n

For Gathegi, who plays a gangster named\u00a0Marques, playing the bad guy in most of his project has become the roles he’s having fun with. The\u00a0Kenya native was widely seen as the bad guy\u00a0Laurent in \u2018Twilight\u2019<\/strong> and \u2018New Moon,\u2019<\/strong> then went on to play another bad guy (Darwin) in\u00a0\u2018X-Men: First Class,’<\/strong> and since has played a host of other shady characters on the small screen. He’s currently on NBC’s ‘The Blacklist’<\/strong> playing Mr. Solomon opposite James Spader.<\/p>\n

Blackfilm.com recently spoke with Gathegi on his role in “Criminal” as well as “The Blacklist.”<\/p>\n

Without giving much away, how would you describe your character?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Criminal<\/a><\/p>\n

Edi Gathegi:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

Having worked on other projects that had a big cast, what new thing do you learn from working with an ensemble cast?<\/strong><\/p>\n

EG:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

\"Criminal<\/a><\/p>\n

How was working with the cast?<\/strong><\/p>\n

EG:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

What’s good reason to see the film?<\/strong><\/p>\n

EG:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

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?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Edi<\/a><\/p>\n

EG:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

Is there more to Mr. Solomon that we have yet to see?<\/strong><\/p>\n

EG:<\/strong> I guess that remains to be seen. I can’t really say what’s installed.<\/p>\n

What’s more fun to do, movies or TV?<\/strong><\/p>\n

EG:<\/strong> TV has been really generous to me and I’m enjoying my experience being on it now.<\/p>\n