You've worked with some of the most acclaimed indie directors in the business -- Malick, Nichols -- and now you're transitioning head first into the world of big budget tentpoles by joining Bryan Singer and the "X-Men" franchise. Was this move something you always envisioned? How has the change been?
I never even imagined that I would be in the position I am now, or even the industry I am in now doing films and acting. It still hasn't set in. I'm still waiting for reality to come crashing down on me. There's no franchise I'd rather be a part of and doing sort of as my first foray into larger budget stuff than "X-Men." When you go back and look at all the movies -- the history of X-Men is so rich and the characters are so rich and they have such depth, and there's such depth to the stories. I feel like most franchises and superhero films don't have that. I think that's why this franchise is not just special to me, but also just so special in general. I'm so lucky and grateful to be a part of it.
How does this iteration of Cyclops compare to some of the other characters you've taken on?
It's quite similar actually. It's a nice progression with the roles I've played in the past. It's forced me to use everything I've learned playing all the characters I have. My character is angry and a bit lost, which I feel like is where I've met a lot of my characters -- in these sort of young life transitions where they're struggling to figure things out about themselves. He's now learning about being a mutant and trying to handle his superhero powers. The arc for the character is really cool for me -- it's not like I'm just stepping into it and I'm a superhero and it's cool and all that with the suit. You kind of see the progression of this character -- where he comes from, what he has to overcome and where he goes at the end of the film. It's a great arc.
And, like "Stanford," it's a pretty incredible ensemble.
You can't even begin to comprehend what working with this cast is like. I remember shooting for the first week, getting off for a week, and then coming back and they were shooting with Oscar Isaac and Michael Fassbender, and it hits me that I'm really going to be working with the greats. I came back from having a week off and it's my first scene to shoot with James McAvoy, and let me tell you something -- James McAvoy is my idol! We get along great, and I've told him how big of a fan I am, but just to even be working with him -- just to meet him and talk to him is amazing. But having a scene where I'm one on one with him -- my god, it's insane! We were shooting in the X Mansion and I walk on set and there's 300 people on set, everyone's walking, it's like being in the heart of New York City or something, there's a hustle and bustle. I walk in and I look down and I'm standing on the X of the X Mansion and that's when it really settled in like, "****, I'm in an X-Men movie!'"
I sincerely hope it ain't those Mystique/QS costumes.
