Happy Sad Confused - Matt Smith, Vol. II

Episode Date: November 3, 2021

Leave it to the delightfully unique Matt Smith to choose "Indecent Proposal" as his comfort movie! That is just one of the many delights that await you on this return visit from the star of "The Crown" and "Doctor Who"! Matt re-connects with Josh on this episode to talk "Last Night in Soho" and what exactly was up with all those Star Wars rumors! Don't forget to check out the Happy Sad Confused patreon here! We've got exclusive episodes of GAME NIGHT, video versions of the podcast, and more! For all of your media headlines remember to subscribe to The Wakeup newsletter here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

D.C. high volume, Batman. The Dark Nights definitive DC comic stories adapted directly for audio for the very first time. Fear, I have to make them afraid. He's got a motorcycle. Get after him or have you shot. What do you mean blow up the building? From this moment on,

none of you are safe. New episodes every Wednesday, wherever you get your podcasts. Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, Sad, Confused begins now. Today on Happy, Say, Confused, Matt Smith goes dark, with Last Night in Soho. Hey, guys, Josh Harowitz here with another edition of Happy, Sad, Confused, and a returning guest, Mr. Matt Smith. You know him, you love him.

Doctor Who, the Crown, the list goes on and on. He is always fantastic in whatever role he pursues and certainly does it again with Last Night in Soho. This is the film, of course, from Edgar Wright recently on the podcast, a twisty, turny psychological thriller currently in theaters that I highly recommend. Anya Teller Joy, Thomas and McKenzie, and yes, Matt Smith in kind of a dark villainous turn without revealing too much. But he is always hugely entertaining to watch and hugely entertaining to chat with. Of course, a few years back, I had Matt alongside Claire Foy on the podcast for one of the all-time great happy-sac-confused chats. And then in recent weeks, I had Claire on by herself, and here we are now. It's Matt's turn to be front and center.

This conversation was recorded, me here in New York, Matt in Spain, where he is in the middle of this long shoot for the Game of Thrones prequel series for HBO, which is obviously a ginormous, taking. Apologies in advance. The connection was pretty shitty. Matt went in and out a bunch due to connectivity issues. We'll clean it up as best we can. So again, if there are little gaps here and there, you might, that's the reason why. But this chat, despite the little technical glitches, is a delight. Talk all about last night in Soho. Plus, you know, his upcoming turn in Morbius, his near turn in Star Wars, the rise of Skywalker. Haven't heard Matt ever. speak about this before and he was he was he was willing to chat about it a little bit so stay tuned for that plus matt on his comfort movie choice which is a much different one a much different kind of a

movie than has ever been chosen on happy sad confused so yes a lot of fun stuff there um other stuff to mention let's see oh well we have our sam hewin sketch coming soon on comedy central we've been teasing it on the Patreon page with some exclusive content. There'll be more exclusive stuff over there. If you want to check it out on patreon.com slash happy, say I confused. Also video versions of the podcast, including this chat with Matt Smith are available over there. What else? What else? Oh, my chat with Kristen Stewart dropping very, very soon on MTV News's YouTube page. I will of course send it out of my social media, but had a chance to have a long chat with Kristen about her amazing turn in Spencer as Princess Diana.

This one is, you know, sometimes the hype isn't really worth all the hype. This one, it's worth it, guys. She's amazing in this, and I really think she's certainly going to be up for all the big awards, and I could really see her taking home an Oscar. I know it's way early, and I know it's crazy to talk like that, but I don't know. If I were putting my money on anybody right now, I'd put it on Kristen Stewart. So we'll see.

Regardless, it's a great movie, a great performance awards. are silly in their own way but um but just further proof of how far she's come and um just happy for her and happy for us that this great film exists spencer coming soon um anything else i want to plug eternals coming this week there's some cool content that i've taped or will be taping rather soon for that so stay tuned on that front and yeah i think that's all the stuff i want to plug right now Let's get right to the main event, guys. This is me and Matt Smith. The new film, again, is Last Night in Soho.

Check it out in theaters while you can from director Edgar Wright. You know it's always a treat when Edgar's involved. And certainly having Matt in it only adds to the value proposition right there. Here's me and Matt Smith. Mr. Matt Smith is back on the podcast. I mean, it's not my silly little office. It's on sad, a sad little Zoom screen, but I'll take what I can get, man. It's good to see you.

It's good to see you, too, brother. Thank you so much for having me on. So I fondly recall always our get-together with the lovely Claire Foy in my office. Claire Foy, yeah. She mentioned that the other day to me I was talking to her, and she said she'd spoken to you recently. We did. We had a nice little catch-off. Yes.

She's cooler for, isn't she? What a cool cat she is. She's so damn cool. One of the great. Yeah. I was going to say, I mean, I was hypothesizing that our. weird chat a few years ago, the three of us was one of the weirder, sillier chats I've ever had. And I was trying to figure out if it was one of us, it was all three of us.

But she was similarly off her rocker when I chatted with her. So it's not your fault. It's, it's, it's, it's, it's clear. Let's blame her, frankly. Let's blame Claire. She's the mad one. She is quite mad, actually. Well, you know, we like the mad ones. Yeah, we were in quite a silly mood, weren't we, that day, I seemed to recall. It was quite, it was poised. You were at the end of the press tour, so I got you punched drunk in the best possible way, I think. I was going to ask you, because I remember you delighted in my silliness in my office. What do you, what do you bring with you to your environs when you go travel the world making your films and TV shows? Do you bring anything cool? I'm in my hotel now, as you can see, and no, not really. I mean,

you know, I bring Netflix with me, wherever I go. And, no, not much, really. I'm afraid I'm not that interesting. Just, you know, there's no country shoes. What about in the... I've got some Birkenstocks that I wear with my socks. And loads of track suits. I'm big on track suits.

It's all I sort of wear, really. Apart from that, not a great deal. I wish I could bring my dog, frankly. I got a dog in the last year. I've become that which I used to buy. Oh my God. So did I. I've become that guy used to my. It was a lockdown dog as well. Pathetic. What breed is your dog? Ours is a rescue pit mix and she is the sweetest Lucy. We're very proud of her. She just won Matt a Halloween dog costume contest. And again, a year ago, I would have made so much fun of what I am now. So what did she go out? She went out as a bumblebee, obviously. I'll show you a photo. Tell me about your dog. Show me a picture.

He's called Bobby. He's an Irish terrier. He's a lunatic, frankly. But, um, ah, he's cool. So Pits as well, because they're quite sweet dogs, aren't they? And they get a bad press in England, you know? They get a bad press everywhere, honestly. But I heard everything, too, and I was hesitant, but could not be a sweeter being on the planet.

than lovely Lucy. So how is yours bright into your life? Has it given you some sense of responsibility and newfound love? There's a degree of structure that comes with it, isn't there? And it's forced me to be organized. Obviously, being on a film set most of the time, you know, you've got to be organized.

But it's like, yeah, I've been sort of here filming for a few weeks now, so I miss him terribly. I'll be in a really pathetic way. I'll run up the stairs to see him. when I get back to my house. Again, you're talking to the converted. I get it. Yeah.

I mean, who you're back. It's you. And you're like, yeah, I'm back, man. Let's go for a walk so I can pick up your shit.

Yes. I do what. I do what. It's so funny you say this. I just recall part of my conversation with Claire, because she's considering getting a dog. I don't know if she's mentioned this to you. And she was saying,

she's gone past considering. And I've been encouraging her. I mean, she's getting one. I think it's all signed to know and delivered. I asked her, she was saying like, you know, the problem is the picking up the poop thing, but I guess if you love it enough,

and I asked her, and I apologize for this, Matt, I said, you love Matt, would you pick up his poop? Do you love him enough to pick up Matt Smith's poop? And she said, you know what? I think I do. I think I would. Oh, good old Claire for it. Listen, I'll take it where I can get it.

Hey, now you know, in a pinch. I'll take it where I can get. I'll remind her of that. Please do. So let's get the, I was going to say, let's get the stuff we have to do out of the way. But in this case, I love what we have to do, which is talk about last night in Soho. I love this movie. I love me some Edgar Wright.

Yeah. I spent some quality time with Edgar when he was here in New York recently. Talk to me a little bit about, he's the guy that's on so many actors, actors list. Was he in the secret Matt Smith director's list of people you were dying to work with? 100%. He was in my top 10. I'd tick one of them off, you know, only eight to go, nine to go, probably. So I, yeah, look, you know, A, he's a, he's a friend of mine, but I really, I truly think we're dealing with a sort of a generational talent. And he's, you know, I'm really proud, but he's a British filmmaker of such high regard, high quality, but also just to spend time with him and talk to Edgar about. film is sort of thrilling in itself because I think he's seen every single film that's

ever been made. I mean, you know, I looked at your list of of actors and actresses that have got that have picked their sort of comfort film and you sort of go, I bet Egg have seen all of them. Oh yeah. I bet he's seen every single one, you know. And even with music, there's a sort of encyclopedic forensic, ferocious quality to investigate and digest all of that stuff. So, you know, I learned so much from him technically, but also, I just think he's a sort of, he's a bit of a film wizard, really. And yeah, yeah, I'm really proud of this film and I'm so pleased I got to vote. I heard Thomason mentioned the other day that he gave her like a list of 50 movies to check out. Do you get the same list, a different list?

Is it, yeah, yeah, cool, you know, amazing 60s movies. And also he's got his list of a thousand movies, which I would urge anyone. who's listening if you've got any time and you're ever stuck on a Sunday afternoon and it goes from the 30s right through to present day and each decade's got some real pearls in there and some great you know i mean i spend my time sort of picking his brain on like you know 80s movies basically totally totally so let's talk about this character in particular which we can't reveal all the secrets of this film but jack is mysterious he's debonair he's seductive he's a little menacing how is he described on the page

and how did Edgar describe him to you when it was presented to you? I think you've just done him. Yeah, I think you've just done it really. I think hopefully sort of, you know, dances in all of those troops a bit. But, you know, I mean, also he's a sort of character really from a bygone era a bit.

You know, there was something interesting about when you look at Edgar's list of films that he gives you and stuff, there's a certain type of sort of actor that Jack is, I think, a bit. And, you know, those kind of boxy 60s suits. And he's done such a fabulous job of recreating London in the 60s as well. And, yeah, it was just, it was nice to, you know, play that sort of villainous cad, I suppose. It's funny, because, like, now that I'm thinking about it and the kinds of roles you've done

and the kinds of projects you've done, so much of what you've done is, like, feels like, what you imagine movie making to be, right? Like the transformation, the wardrobe, the accoutrements of the sets. Like, you've had that experience in different ways, whether it's currently doing your series you're doing now or it's doing Doctor Who, doing The Crown. These are all like, oh, wait, this is what I would imagine it is to make a movie or a TV show in the old-fashioned way.

Yeah, well, you know, I feel very fortunate to have, worked on those shows. I mean, it was wonderful doing, you know, to get to play the doctor was such a gift, really, because it's such a sort of bonkers part. And, you know, in the, and, you know, then I was very fortunate to work with Claire and yeah, you know, I feel, I feel I've had some, some, some luck when it comes to some really interesting projects, certainly. Talk to me a little bit about the, you know, there's obviously the filmmaking, at work here from Edgar is impeccable. It always is, but kind of what he does with the camera and this and kind of these scenes between you and Anya and Thomason and the camera moving around and

doing these switches where Ania and Thomason have to kind of switch. It sounds like it's a ballet. It sounds like it's a dance, a choreograph dance. Are you the one, because you've described yourself to me and others as Cluxie over the years. Do you feel like I'm going to be the one that's going to fuck up this beautiful master shot? Yeah, you know, because like Ania's sort of frustratingly brilliant at everything without with what seems sort of very you know she seems to sort of exert very little and achieve a great deal actually a lot of that stuff was us just hiding behind one another and sort of popping up it looks like sort of what and it is there is a degree of kind of technical wizardry going on but also it's a lot of smoke and mirrors and you know a bit of

puff puff bang there we are oh my turn i'm up then someone else is running around behind the steady can sort of trying to get him. How does it feel at the end of a shot like that? Does it feel exhilarating? Like, guys, we just did it. Yeah, it does. It does. And I, you know, I sort of love that part of the movie. I'm, it's, I was pleased.

I was grateful for kind of Edgar for writing a dance. I thought, yes, cool. That sets me up. Where are you at on, I mean, I was talking to Edgar about this. It's kind of, it's really interesting that this movie comes when it does because we're so in this, like, nostalgia culture where, like, the 80s and 90s, which I know you and I kind of, like, grew up with

and we love that stuff, all being kind of rebooted and sequelized, et cetera. And this is kind of Edgar saying, like, well, nostalgia is fine and all, but let's not romanticize too much what came before. Yeah. Do you have similar kind of split feelings about nostalgia? No, I sort of, I'm afraid I'm a bit of a sucker for nostalgia.

I dwell and revel very much, particularly in like we're talking about the 80s. There's something, a warm, lovely fuzz that I get from watching any movie from the 80s, really. And indeed, musically, in the 90s, you know, I think the 90s were just fucking great, man. I feel quite lucky that I hit that at a good age. Right. Okay, so maybe this is a good point to get into comfort movies, since we're talking nostalgia in the best possible way. So, as you know.

So, yeah, what's, what's, what's, what's your comfort movie? Oh, man, people have been asking me this. The problem is like, I just, it's like a comfort movie for every kind of mood. Like, you could go, you could go, like, you could go like a Raiders of the Lost Ark kind of a thing, right? Something I've seen a hundred times. That's just a perfect movie. Yeah.

I mean, I grew up like, is Raiders, is, is raiders the one is where he has the fight in the car. Yes. Yes. Brilliant. What a brilliant bit of filmmaking, that is, by the way. There are like eight sequences and raiders that are just like gorgeous and just before you even know what filmmaking is, you know you're watching something special.

Yeah, yeah. So what did you think? When I said Comfort movie to you, did something spring to mind in particular? Yeah, I mean, like a few of them shrug to mind, to be honest. I mean, look, right? So I went for indecent proposal. Whoa.

yes yeah man would he love it any more just looking like a million bucks by the way and um piqued to me more

definitely yes yeah I fucking love that film man and then I'm like you know what how about ghosts as well that's got a

that's you know ghost is in there as well suavely just on fire thank you very much Demi again you know and I just I was totally in love with us

to be honest so for those that don't know let's brief them off the top of my head because you're springing this on me i believe it's adrian line directed it i want to say it's um robert redford woody harrelson to me more yeah and it's this provocative kind of what if a rich guy offers this couple what is it a million for one night with his wife who happens to look like demi more and yeah they take him up on it and the repercussions they're in lead to some complications did i get it in a nutshell yeah Yeah, that's very apt and very well done. I mean, he's playing snooker, Redford,

and he's like looking all cool, looking just totally Redford. And he's like, how about, okay, and he sort of presents him with this opportunity, a million dollars for one night with your wife, just one night. Like, man, I'm thinking about it, and you get this amazing black dress and goes on his boat. What is she sort of,

without ruin it for people who haven't seen it, Is this, this really, I think, I don't know, this is a great love story, you know? And you're really rooting for Woody to sort of win her back because she obviously falls for the chance of Redford and the great scene in the rain where he tries to punch Robert Redford.

I don't know, it's just, I'm, you know, I've shown that movie to a few people. But then, you know, it could also be like, sorry, I mean, I rewatched with Nail and I the other day. And, you know, that, again, just flawed me with its brilliance. So, so good. So quotable, Richard E. Grant had his best.

But let's go more into the proposal, just because that's an unusual pick, I will say, given what other people have selected. Because people don't necessarily go, like, sexy when they go for that. This movie came out in 93. How old were you when this came out? God, 93, I must have been, I wasn't, I mean, I was born in 82, so, what was I, 10, 11, 12, yeah, like 13, 14.

So did you remember, like, it kind of awakening something in Young Matt Smith? I mean, I think, you know, I think Demi awoke a lot, to be honest. But, you know, you know, I sort of also, you know, I love Woody in it as well. Yeah, it's, I remember being, I'm ghosts as well, to be honest with you. Maybe I watch it with my parents or something or my sister, I don't know. But it sort of does take me, I mean, yeah, my sister loves that movie. So maybe there's something in that it does, it sort of, it's not really a family movie, though, when I think about it, do you know what I mean?

It's not like one you watch with your mum and dad, is it? No. Is it? You've never really done a movie. You've never done a movie that seems similar at all to a decent proposal to me. Are you itching to get into the erotic thriller part of your career? God, I'd love to do an erotic thrillers. Also, didn't they make, like, erotic thrillers in the 80s, which is brilliant.

Single, like, female, the hand that rocks the cradle. Yeah, of course, basic instinct. Then you get into the basic instinct kind of knockoffs. The, oh, there was the Madonna one, Body of Evidence. Do you remember that one? The body of evidence, there was disclosure, Sliver. Yes. Do you remember Sliver?

Of course I do. Billy Baldwin and Sharon Stone. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. See, I like, I'm all about those movies. I'm well into them. I used to go to my local video store, which was in like a sort of old shop and get them on VHS.

And he used to let me get 18s out. He was called Raj, the guy that owned the store. And I was only young. But, you know, that's why I used to rent all the, movies. Erotic thrillers. Who introduced you to movies? Like, who was like the person that was most influential in your life that kind of like helped you find your taste in movies you think? No, you know, blockbuster, I think. I mean, I was a total, you know, I was, I was an avid watching films instinctually, you know, and this is when I was a sort of sportsman and looking back,

Like, you know, you see there was a sort of an interest in storytelling or acting or, you know, being transported into some sort of other imaginary place, which you do as an actor, obviously, every day. But, yeah, I used to, you know, rake up a lot of fun at the local video store because they charge you every day. It was late. You'd get charged three quid. I got so many overcharges for videos. Like, I lost so much money. Like, it was insane. Yeah. It was the worst.

I was the worst. Yeah, I'd go back and pay like 30 bucks because I hadn't taken it back in like 10 days or something. You know what I mean? And it was like, but I kind of miss Blockbuster. Yeah. Well, there was something about, I mean, strolling down those aisles for 45 minutes

and kind of just figuring it out. It's not the same. I mean, I love Netflix. I love all that stuff. But, yeah, we're sounding like two old men right now, but it wasn't the same. Sadly, I am. But, you know, and going and like,

Like, that movie that you really wanted wasn't there because someone was borrowing it. And you had to go, oh, when it comes back, can I, can I get, you know, the silence of the lambs or whatever it is? Species. I'm really learning a lot about your sexual coming of age, I feel like. It's really telling. So, segueing into, okay, your. you're coming of age, you're finding your path. You mentioned being a sportsman.

Obviously, I know that was the first love before acting. Do you remember who the first person was that said, like, you've got some talent when it comes to acting? Did you have some early validation that encouraged you? Yeah, I had a teacher called Mr. Hardingham, who was being keen on me at a drama festival, and I just didn't turn up. I don't know.

I was the football and sport. I was a bit like acting. That's just, I don't know, isn't that? don't just isn't that for girls or something you know it was that sort of stupid and then he rang my mom and was like look doing this play called 12 angry men and i you know he's been he's good in drama class and stuff and i'd really love him to do it please can you try and get him to come to the rehearsals and my mom spoke to me since my mom's fault probably and mr harbingham's do you remember what it felt like to be on a stage those those early years did you find like

an immediate kind of like sense of excitement i did i love being in a theater I love the dark and the backstageness of it all. And I love the sort of, I still do love that about the theatre. It feels like you're going to war when you do a play. You know, it's why I think I, you know, I'd struggle. I prefer cities that have a big theatrical culture so I can go and get involved in that and be part of it and acting it and stuff, you know.

I was going to say I was among the many, many things that came about because of the pandemic. I was very much looking forward to seeing you and Claire here in Brooklyn. You were going to bring, you were going to bring lungs over here. To my knowledge, you've never, have you ever done theater here in New York?

Was that going to be your day? No, I was so excited to do it as well. I got a flat in Brooklyn, and I love New York. You know, I was, I was, you know, and Claire, yeah, I was really excited to do that. And now, sadly, I think that play will probably come over and be part.

performed maybe by two very lucky American actors. It's really great. It's a great play. It's worth of watch. So is there, I mean, obviously, you know, we've talked, we've gushed about your relationship and collaborations with Claire Foy. Do you guys plot out like 10 more two-hander's that you guys could wrestle with? I mean, I'm not sure she'd have me again, to be honest.

I think she's had a feel really. Yeah, we live really close to each other as well. So she can't get rid of me. But no, I mean, I'd love to work with Claire again. But she's, you know, she's off being Claire Foy, taking it over the world. You both are. Is there a specific play that you'd like to bring to the stage here in the States in New York? You know, I've never, it's a bit boring, but I've never done any Shakespeare,

I think, Richard III. I'd quite like to do a bit of Shakespeare in New York. I don't know why, but I've always thought, oh, yeah, it could be fun. And there's a cool theatre, I think, down near the Bowery, which i always walked past and think that was kind of interesting so maybe one and i and i kind of like it down there where do you live i'm in bustling i'm in bustling midtown so i grew up in the city so i've i've lived in every part of manhattan at this point um and i'm not cool enough to pull off downtown anymore i'm just not i just what why why so midtown what is that a less

cool sort of zone midtown is good well i grew up on the upper west side so i'm like within walking distance from where I grew up and where my mom still is. So got to keep it close to mom. I'm centrally located. I can get everywhere. I've got Central Park two blocks away. Good for Lucy, the dog. I have no complaints.

I'm happy. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you wouldn't. I have to say, if I lived in the city, I'd want to live in Manhattan. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I mean, we looked at Brooklyn a couple years ago, and it would have been delightful. But I'm, you know, I think I'm going to live and die here.

Manhattan. I think this is where I am. Cool, cool. So that's you. You never go to L.A. I've never, I was going to ask you, ask you, like, you're, like, I know, no, I've never lived in L.A. I've certainly, I have family out there and I obviously go out there for work quite a bit. What is your relationship to the States? Like early on when you were starting to get some notoriety, you must have come to L.A. and New York. And what was your goal or hopes? Like, did you want to stake a claim there in the beginning? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I did. actually, and then I did, you know, part of me wishes I'd, I still might, you know, I think everyone should live in New York once, you know, isn't in that song about sunscreen?

What's it called? Check it out. Check out that song. He's like, wear sunscreen. Oh, yeah, yeah. Yeah, but leave before it makes you hard. Leave in LA once, but leave before it makes you soft. So, you know, yeah, and I mean, I first came to New York when I was, on the, the sort of promotional trail for Doctor Who, it was me and Karen Gillen and Arthur. We just had the, it was like we were like in Oz or something. We just could not believe our luck. And we just went out and got smashed and did hell out press and just,

I'd say, you know, we had the best, best time. I have such fun memories with Karen. So, you know, maybe one day, maybe I'll, you know. So prior to Doctor Who, here's something. something I came upon. Is it true that you were in Martin McDonough's in Bruges and didn't sadly make the final cut? Was that a, was that a blow to poor young Matt Smith? What happened? Yeah, it was. But he was such a cool guy, Martin, that he wrote me a letter and squared paper. And it was handwritten and it was like, oh, man, you know, I'm sorry. But the truth is, I played a young

Ray Fines. And it's like when you watch the movie, and the scene was me going in and sort of cutting someone's head off when he was younger in a in a police station and the truth is you know raf gave such a consummate brilliant performance you just didn't there was there was no way of making him any matter because rave just nailed it didn't it but um yeah you know it was uh sadly i didn't make a final cut but i was i was i was yeah i was just because i love rave he's one of my favorite actors so it was yeah he's right of passage for any for any actor any actor worth yeah to be cut at some point right you've got to cut you've got to be cut out of something haven't you now now speaking of that i have rumor control for you one thing that i have not gone to the bottom

of matt you okay what happened there was an announcement you were going to be in the rise of skywalker matt did you ever shoot any star wars scenes what happened no i didn't i didn't there was you know there was there was we were close to me being in it but then it just never ever quite happened. I think, I think the, the thing they were thinking of before, eventually the part became, you know, it became obsolete and they didn't need it. And so I never got to be in Star Wars. There we are. Wait, what? Here's conjecture. Was this Palpatine's son? Was that who you were, you were playing? I could not possibly say. I could not possibly say, but it was a pretty groovy thing. It was a really groovy part and concept. It was a big thing. Yeah, it was like a big

story detail, like a, you know, transformative Star Wars story detail, but it never quite got over the line. No, I can't deal with this. I'm going to have nightmares about this now. Yeah, I mean, it was like a, you know, it was a big shift in the, in the history of the franchise. Yeah. I need you to stop talking. You're getting me angry or every successive word. Yeah. Yeah. There we are. Did you ever get into my costume? Was there a costume test? Like how far away you go? No, there was no costume. There was no costume. There were a couple of meetings to talk about it. And, um, okay. The good part is you still have your Star Wars eligibility card. So, ends a long career. Well, maybe I can come back. You never know. I mean, if, you know,

God, to come back with that, like, right? This is the worst possible time for the phone to cut out, just so, just so you know, the worst possible time. Oh, God, I hope, sorry, it's because I'm in Spain and the internet's really shoddy in our hotel in the middle of Karese. Sorry, my friend. That's okay.

Speaking of Spain, another thing you can't, you can't discuss, but we're very excited for you. You're embarking on a huge new adventure. The Thrones universe, was, came calling. Yes. Was this a, is this a no-brainer of a thing when it comes around? It's just too good a thing to pass up. Like, what was enticing about this one, when this started to be talked about?

Well, it took, it's a part of the sort of interesting and dark and disturbed part to play, I think. And I thought, oh, you know, it'd be interesting to try on a blumwig as well, all that. And, you know, flying some dragons. and get involved in some sword fights. Yeah, how are the dragons treating you? So, yeah, you know. Yeah, Caraxis is pretty good, you know. He's big and red and angry.

I mean, that's the way you like your dragons, right? He's a really angry dragon. Mine's the angriest. Mine's, yeah, I mean, mine's the angriest of all the dragons. There is no angrier dragon than Gracese. He's a real moody bastard. Look, you don't want,

if you're going to have a dragon, you don't want the sedate chill dragon. You want the badass dragon. No, it's sort of like my dog. You want it with a bit of pep and personality. You know? Is there, I would imagine on a set like this, there are two ways to feel.

Like an immense pressure because you're succeeding Game of Thrones or no pressure because you know everybody is going to be there and ready to receive you. Is it a little bit of column A and column B or like, what's the, of being in something of this scale? It's definitely both, Josh, yeah, because obviously, you know,

it's impossible for this show to ever really succeed in the way Thrones did. Thrones became a sort of cultural phenomenon for many people. And, you know, it's never ever going to quite scale those heights in the same way, because that was its own unique thing. You know, whether people are ready to receive it or not, it or not, who knows? You never know, but we, we, you know, we sort of make it in earnest and we try our best to deliver something that is, you know, an entertaining world with dragons and sword fires. A hell of a cast, too, I might add. Oh, great cast. Speaking of great casts,

I've just watched today the latest trailer for Morbius. Yes, I've got to see that. I've not seen it Yeah, because it came out today, didn't it? It just came out. Look, it looks great. Not enough Matt Smith in the trailer. I'm just going to say it right now, Matt. Yeah, that's what my friend texts me. He's like, oh, yeah, I saw Morbius.

You're not in it. Damn, really. He's like, are you actually in this movie? I'm like, yeah, I've got loads of stuff in it. Oh, no, you've been engrused again. Same thing. Oh, no. Well, no.

Actually, I've not, because I've seen it. So I've definitely not been in bruised. I'm in there. So I don't know why I'm not. allowed to be in the trailer. Blimey. Well, that's good though. That's exciting. It's, uh, I love, you know, it's sort of going back to the, the sort of movie, comfort movie thing. Lost Boyd was floating around there as well. And interview with a vampire was floating around there as well. I love classic vampire movies. Who's, who's more eccentric? You or Jared Leto? You both have

different eccentricities, I would say. I'm going to go with Jared. I'm going to go with Jared. He's pretty out there, man. He's cool, though. I like Jared. He's too cool for me. I'm intimidated. Something about your coolness.

Your coolness I can handle in a weird way. I don't know why. I think it's a nerdy cool. He's just too cool for school. I don't know what it is. Yeah. Well, he's Gucci cool, isn't he? It's a rare. That's a rare breed.

Are you referring to the movie? Have you seen him in that trailer for Gucci? That's insane. I haven't. I haven't seen that. I'm looking forward to that bit of Ridley, a bit of Gucci. Yes, sign me up. So was this one an easy one to say yes to?

Because you've been rumored for other comic book properties over the years. Have there been ones that have been tempting? And what made this one to jump at? Vampires. Vampires. I love vampires. Like vampire movies are right up there with my favorite movies.

And sort of, you know, because there's a touch of the sort of erotic thriller about them, which we've discovered today, Josh, is my. sort of niche and I've always wanted to you know be a vampire in my life and but so you know as I can't do that the idea of playing one was just really thrilling and obviously Jared is a fantastic actor and I really like the director Daniel and so you know those those sort of four elements I thought yes let's do this so are you are you just starting on on Thrones

right now or is this the next like year of your life what's the no we we we've we've been doing it since march and i finish in january it's been it's tough it's a long shoot yeah i would imagine yeah i would imagine that's i mean you by now you know the the ebbs and flows of a long shoot like what are your coping mechanisms to kind of like keep yourself we talked in the beginning of like you don't bring the creature comforts with you so how do you how do you stay sane over a year of a shoot. Have you figured it out yet? Get a dog. Get a dog. But leave the dog at home.

Well, when I'm in Spain, I mean, I nearly bought him. But then I was a bit like, you know, the idea of putting him in the hold felt a bit. No. I mean, has your dog got on a plane yet? No, no, no. She's too big. Yeah, she can't do it. Really? I mean, because if I was, if I came to do a play in New York or something, I mean, I'd have to bring a dog. It's like, you've got to be really fucking organized, haven't you?

It's like, oh, no, I can't do that because I've got a dog. So, you know, at me kind of pain, I watch a lot of the American office, which I love. Oh, nice. Yeah, that's like a friendly sort of background. And I don't know, really, you know, I just keep, you just slog through, man. Well, it's interesting. You just, a belated happy birthday to you. It wasn't a momentous.

but we're getting to the end of the of the happy go lucky times now responsibility in the form of the dog in form of a big number we're growing up together we're gonna just have to warn responsibility i suppose at some point i know i know like when the fuck did that happen i know not to end this conversation on a bummer note but just it's like i'm fucking 40 next year man like what's the actual fuck look next year turn 40, celebrate in New York, bring the dog. We'll all party. My dog, your dog. Bring Claire along. She'll pick up your poop if you need to go somewhere. Yeah, I'm going to remind her about that. Please do. Wow. It's always good to catch up with you, man. I'll let you go just because the connection is kind of shitty. But hopefully we've spread the good word on last night in Soho. I honestly adore this one. And it gave me a good excuse to catch up with you, man. I hope you're well.

really nice to catch up to talk to Josh and listen man when I'm in the NYC let's think of up big laugh right please do

thank you for having me and so ends another edition of happy, sad confused remember to review rate and subscribe to this show

on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts I'm a big podcast person I'm Daisy Ridley and I definitely wasn't

pressure to do this by Josh I'm Amy Nicholson, the film critic for the LA Times. And I'm Paul Shear, an actor, writer, and director. You might know me from The League, Veep, or my non-eligible for Academy Award role in Twisters. We love movies, and we come at them from different perspectives. Yeah, like Amy thinks that, you know, Joe Pesci was miscast in Goodfellas, and I don't. He's too old.

Let's not forget that Paul thinks that dude too is overrated. It is. Anyway, despite this, we come together to host Unspooled, a podcast where we talk about good movies, critical hits. Fan favorites, must-season, and case you miss them. We're talking Parasite the Home Alone. From Greece to the Dark Night. We've done deep dives on popcorn flicks. We've talked about why Independence Day deserves a second look.

And we've talked about horror movies, some that you've never even heard of like Ganges and Hess. So if you love movies like we do, come along on our cinematic invent. Listen to Unspooled wherever you get your podcasts. And don't forget to hit the follow button.