Jack O’Connell is venturing into unknown territory with Ryan Coogler and Sinners.
The actor, who is set to appear on the big screen in Coogler’s supernatural period horror flick, caught up with The Hollywood Reporter to discuss working with the Black Panther director and getting some new experiences under his belt.
Coogler’s film focuses on twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who return to their hometown of Mississippi in the 1930s to open a Blues club for the Black working people of the deep south. On opening night, the pair find — alongside co-stars Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Li Jun Li and Delroy Lindo — a greater evil looms over the evening. O’Connell stars as an ancient threat, Remmick, intent on luring others into a dark fate.
“It’s one of those scripts where it definitely requires more than one read, but I only had enough time to read it once. So I was really just fucking winging it, man,” O’Connell admits to THR.
The star, who first rose to fame on gritty British teen comedy-drama Skins, says meeting with Coogler was enough to sign him up for life. “The guy is special and amazing to work with from start to finish,” says O’Connell. “Right across the board, crew, cast. What he cultivates is something phenomenal. I’m very fortunate to be able to say that firsthand.”
Below, he discusses what fans have to look forward to with Sinners, why Coogler’s inclusion of traditional Irish dancing tempted him further and O’Connell’s booked and busy schedule with 28 Years Later and Godzilla x Kong in the pipeline.
So I watched Sinners…
JACK O’CONNELL What do you think?
I loved it. So impressed.
It’s amazing, man. It’s very transcending. It’s amazing how [Coogler] made all them elements work together, it really is.
Had you worked with Ryan before this? How did Sinners enter your life?
I’d not met Ryan. He reached out to me and it was all quite quick. So I got sent a script. I had to read it on a secure platform and then later on, was set to speak to Ryan about it. But it’s one of those scripts where it definitely requires more than one read, but I only had enough time to read it once. So I was really just fucking winging it, man. When I’d seen the traditional Irish music in there, that was the main thing I wanted to pick his brains about, to be honest, because I couldn’t believe that I’d read it. I couldn’t believe that. I wanted to know what type [of Irish music] he was going to go for. Was it going to be the traditional sound? Like Dubliners, how they would sound?
And yeah, I love Luke Kelly — this traditional Irish music legend. So I thought, you know what? Hats off [to Coogler]. My kids love Luke Kelly. My kids request Luke Kelly in the house. That music means a lot to me, my heritage. So to be having this conversation with a guy that’s thousands and thousands of miles away was incredible. For him to offer me that opportunity, I was like, “Say no more. Sign me up.”
Did you grow up doing Irish dancing yourself?
Yeah. [Laughs.] Up until I started playing football, so when I was about eight or nine.
When was the last time you’d done any sort of Irish dancing before Sinners?
Just in the pub.
What did Ryan tell you about the significance of its inclusion in the film?
I think because Remmick does come from a time way, way back, because of his nature and this, sort of, almost immortality, it was important for Ryan to attach him to something ancient, something historic. And it’s explained as well by Remmick, the Irish struggle and search for freedom… It’s touched upon. The sharing of cultures — what is shown in this movie — the migrating Irish and Scottish [people] that were bringing their traditional music with them, how that influenced this total melting pot in the American south. It all amalgamates into the music that we know today. It’s real fascinating. It’s great that Remmick gets to bring that flavor along.
I felt like I could imagine Remmick’s backstory so vividly, even though we didn’t see it. Did you paint one for him, or did Ryan tell you anything that helped craft this character for you?
One of the most amazing things about working with Ryan is you could probably fire any question at him with regards to the story or your character and he’ll find the answer, even if he doesn’t have it straight away. He won’t leave you until he’s either answered it himself or found the answer with you. And the unique thing about Remmick is his history. The clues in the script would suggest that it’s 600 years’ worth of life. So yeah, to develop that backstory would probably take a while. But it was great to bring [to the table] what I already know and understand and really love about Irish history.
Have you played a vampire before?
Nah. It was amazing. A lovely opportunity and I was quite shocked that it came my way.
Why?
I wouldn’t consider myself an obvious choice for the part.
What do you think Ryan saw in you that he liked for this film?
I don’t know, man, but I think he won’t mind me saying that when we first spoke, he was showing me some love over Starred Up (2013), this movie I made like 10 years ago. [It was great] that had spoke to him, and great that he watched it. I love that film.
Oh wow, so he’d done his research.
I’d say so.
What’s it like on a Ryan Coogler set? Can you share a glimpse into his work as a director?
Listen, I think these things really do start at the top, or on a Coogler set, at the front. Because it doesn’t feel like there’s a hierarchy, per se. Everyone’s in it for the story and for the message. There’s just no cut off. There’s no real divide between what he’s doing and what everyone else is doing. It’s a leading from the front type of attitude. And he’s always there, always on set, always by the camera, always in it. It’s amazing to work like that, it really is.
What is the message of Sinners?
I guess the clue is in the title, isn’t it? [Laughs.] Because we do deal with hedonism and what that gives rise to.
And had you worked with Michael or any of the cast members before?
It really was a special bunch. I don’t know if I had worked with anyone before this… Yeah, I’d not worked with anyone. Michael B., I’ve been a fan of his since The Wire. And I feel like he’s sort of my generation, isn’t he?
Michael B. Jordan (left) and Miles Caton in Sinners.
Warner Bros.
Sinners is a horror. Were there any moments on set where people were seriously quite frightened?
It was mainly whenever anyone had left Mike Fontaine’s trailer, because he was the prosthetics and make-up designer. So if you’re in Fontaine’s trailer, you’re probably in there for a few hours and nobody’s seen you for a minute, then you walk out, and the chances are your face has been totally rearranged or there’s half of it missing. Whenever anyone had arrived on set having spent a few hours with Mike, that was always harrowing, because of the blood and all the bells and whistles. Even some of my rigs… I can’t say too much without giving it away, but we go there for real.
How would you summarize Remmick’s mission?
Fellowship and love. Eternal, everlasting love — that’s the message.
I think it’s what makes villains interesting, when you can see an altruistic intention in their motives. He thinks he’s saving people.
When the antagonist, like Remmick, believes they are the protagonist!
Exactly. And I think Ryan has such an established fanbase, but this is his first time venturing out of existing IP. What kind of fan reaction are you anticipating?
I’m always into the depth of meaning. For me, there’s this huge meaning to be taken from the evolution of Blues music and what that music meant to where this film is set, and what it is now. To be honest, that was one thing that I was massively enthusiastic about when we were shooting it and the same goes for the Irish element too. The traditional Irish music that features is one of, I think, a fucking barrel of takeaways to be had from this movie.
I’m assuming if Ryan wanted to team up again, it would be a no brainer.
Oh, fucking… Yeah. Definitely, yeah. 100 percent. Coogler, man… The guy is special and amazing to work with from start to finish. Right across the board, crew, cast. What he cultivates is something phenomenal. I’m very fortunate to be able to say that firsthand.
What else are you up to at the moment?
Just staying at it, reading plays and reading theater, which I love and I’d love to go do soon.
Would it be your first time on stage?
[In a posh, English accent] No, darling. No, no, no, no. I started out as thespian! [In his regular accent] So I would love to go do that. A bit of 28 Years [Later, set for a Jun. 20 release]. Oh, I’m off to go and do Godzilla x Kong, that’s next.
What kind of roles appeal to you? What piques your interest?
The most rewarding are the ones that make you shit yourself a little bit at first, the ones that you don’t necessarily have a way in to immediately. Because of the amount of craft that’s involved in that.
Sinners is out in theaters on Apr. 18.
