The Raven - Interviews

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IAR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Luke Evans Talks 'The Raven' and 'The Hobbit' Films

Actor Luke Evans has recently gained attention worldwide for his work in a string of period films including Clash of the Titans, Robin Hood, The Three Musketeers and director Tarsem Singh’s Immortals. Not to mention that he will soon be seen playing Bard the Bowman in director Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and The Hobbit: There and Back Again. But first, Evans will be starring in another period movie entitled The Raven, which opens in theaters on April 27th and features a fictional account of the final days of acclaimed author Edgar Allan Poe’s life.

In the film, Evans plays Detective Emmett Fields, a 19th century Baltimore policeman who makes a shocking discovery: the crime he is investigating resembles a fictional murder described in detail as part of a collection of stories penned by struggling writer and social pariah Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack). Realizing a serial killer is on the loose using Poe’s writings as inspiration for his bloody rampage, Fields enlists the author’s help in stopping the attacks. However, when it appears as if the murderer’s next victim is someone Poe cares about, the stakes become even higher and now the inventor of modern detective stories must call on his own powers of deduction to try to solve the case before its too late. The Raven was directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta), and in addition to Cusack and Evans, also stars Alice Eve (ATM), Brendan Gleeson (The Guard), and Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides).

I recently had a chance to speak with actor Luke Evans about his work on The Raven, as well as the upcoming The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and The Hobbit: There and Back Again. Evans discussed his new film, the work of Edgar Allan Poe, his initial reaction to the script and its fictional story, what he learned from working with John Cusack, the film’s locations, his character, director James McTiegue’s vision for the project, shooting The Hobbit films, living in New Zealand, Peter Jackson’s infectious passion, and being a part of the incredible cinematic Lord of the Rings universe.

Here is what the talented actor had to say:

IAR: To start with, before beginning this project did you know a lot about Poe’s life and were you familiar with his work?

Luke Evans: Well obviously I knew who he was. I knew how much of a contribution he’s made to American literature and the genres that he founded. I can’t say that I’ve read a huge amount of his work but after getting the job, like any job, you start doing research. With someone like Poe who lived such a long time ago there is so much information on him, biographies, and obviously his work, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

You mentioned reading some biographies, but since you are playing a fictional character in a fictional story, why did you feel that was important to do? Did you just want to get a sense of the man and his work, in order to understand the tone of the film?

Evans: Yes exactly, but also to understand the time he lived in, and where he lived, and the places he frequented. As much as I was playing a fictional character I had to understand Baltimore and what it was like in those days. So yeah, all of that information informed me as much as anything else.

What was your initial reaction to the script and the idea of doing a fictional story where Poe has to find a killer inspired by his work, rather than a biopic or a film based on one of his books or poems?

Evans: I thought it was genius. I thought what a clever idea. I mean people have always wondered what happened to him in those last days of his life. Nobody really knows for sure. I thought it was a very clever way of fictionalizing those five days and creating this gothic, suspense thriller. But also it is a great way to get Poe back into the minds of people and letting them know who he was. We owe a lot to his work and what he created. So I thought it was a very clever way of using historical character and his work to create a very dark gothic thriller.

The movie is almost “meta” in the sense that it places Poe in the type of story that he could have written himself. Do you agree with that?

Evans: Absolutely, that’s exactly how it feels. You can actually imagine a human being in this movie. It’s very macabre and lurid.

What do you think Poe would think about this movie and being a fictional character in this type of story?

Evans: I think he’d be very proud of the fact that John Cusack is playing him in the movie.

What was it like working with Cusack and watching him become Edgar Allan Poe in front of your eyes?

Evans: Yeah, he really did. I didn’t have to think too much about John being Poe he was just Poe. I mean when he was on set and the director said, “action” he was there. He was that tormented, lost crazy soul that was Poe. It was very easy for me to play off that. John is fantastic and he’s had such a great career. He’s dealt with so many different genres, comedy, drama, and thrillers. He’s so great to work against as an actor. I haven’t been doing this long so for me to have a chance to work against someone who is so experienced and a veteran of film as John is, he just takes it by the horns and you learn as you go and watch the master at work.

What did you learn about the craft from working with John Cusack that you may be able to apply to your work on your next project?

Evans: When you watch somebody doing acting on film, I’ve noticed this a lot but I noticed it especially with John, is that he changes small things in each take. By his little changes they had a huge impact on how I responded to him. He knows what he is doing. He is very, very clever. I think that comes with experience and time. That’s one of the very important things I think with acting on film, you know film sees so much so quickly, the camera doesn’t miss anything so you can be really subtle and it comes off very large on screen. So I think subtly is something I noticed with John and changing things around and giving you something to work off of, which just shows his generosity as an actor.

What can you tell me about your role as Detective Fields? What was your interpretation of the character and how did you approach playing the part in the film?

Evans: He’s sort of the stoic straight man in this movie. He’s also very young to be where he is. He was the young detective on the Baltimore police force. He was much younger than you usually would be but he had been very ambitious and by getting to that place he had a lot of people waiting for him to fall inside the police force as well as Poe. When Poe meets him Poe immediately uses his intelligence and his age against detective Fields. That was something I really wanted to use with the character. That juxtaposition against Poe who as the film goes on looses his mind more and becomes more incensed by the situation. He begins drinking more heavily, and my character doesn’t drink. He’s very methodical, he’s never lost a case, he’s always solved them all but this one seems to be one that might actually crack him. So that was the challenge I think for me is that I had this character who was incredibly strong, very stoic, and we had to find a way for him to work with this person that he had very little respect for. They wouldn’t ordinarily be friends in life and they were forced into this thing where they had to find some equal ground and converse and work as a team to find this killer.

It also seems that Detective Fields grows to respect Poe as the film goes on and feels a great deal of loss when the writer meets his inevitable end. Is that how you interpreted their relationship?

Evans: Yeah, absolutely, I think there is a journey between these two characters. It’s about two people learning about the respect that they have for each other even though they might come from completely different walks of life. They did find a way to converse and work with each other. There is respect between the two of them at the end of the film because in a way you see my character understanding Poe at the end. It’s a great arc for two characters to go on.

James McTeigue is a great director and really has a good eye for action and suspense. Can you talk about his vision for the film and what it was like for you working with him on the set?

Evans: Well James is fantastic. He’s such a lovely man to work with. His research and work has him creating the backdrop of Baltimore. Where we shot shows you that he took some real time to get it right and the look of it and feel of 19th century Baltimore. He never really lost that, he was always on it, and he was very generous with his direction. He let us get on with her scenes and then when we needed a little bit of tweaking he’d come in and give us some advice and he’s a great man. He’s very subtle in his work and I like that. He’s not in your face the whole time. He lets you do your scenes and then he comes in with his notes. He’s a great man, and his previous work speaks for its self, he’s fantastic.

You mentioned the film’s setting in 19th century Baltimore and obviously it doesn’t look that way now so instead you shot in Budapest. Can you talk about how the movie’s location helped you get into the mood and the tone of the film?

Evans: Budapest has so many cobble streets, imposing buildings with high tenants that are made of stone and quite cozy. Because it’s in Baltimore, the architecture of the 1800’s burned done in the 1905 fire so there was none of that period left. So we had to find something else. James discovered Budapest and it was the perfect backdrop. There was so much there that would look like Baltimore of 1849 so that was great. There is nothing like hearing horses in carts pulling up cobble streets to out you in mood of the period.

Finally, while I still have you for a few minutes, obviously everyone is excited for the upcoming The Hobbit movies, have you completed your filming yet and what was it like for you to work on those projects?

Evans: Well I’m still here. I’m in New Zealand and its 11:00AM in the morning and I’m off to horse back ridding once shooting starts. I’ve had the best time. I’ve been here since last year, the end of July beginning of August. I’m here till July this year so its been a year of my life and its been fantastic. It’s been the best job ever.

Is it difficult signing on to project when you know that it will take you away from your home shooting in New Zealand for over a year? Is it daunting as an actor to sign on to a long project like that?

Evans: Maybe if not for the fact that it was The Hobbit and it was Peter Jackson but it was The Hobbit and it was Peter Jackson so …

…So a year in New Zealand is a good trade off, right?

Evans: It is, you’re right. It’s an amazing country. The people are fantastic and I’m working on a job that I will never forget. It’s huge! I’m also working with someone who loves what he does. Peter LOVES what he does! So to be around somebody like that on a daily basis is fantastic and the cast is just a wonderful bunch from all around the word and we’re all here together. We’ve made this our home and it’s really been one of those jobs that you really feel very lucky to have been a part of.


Is Mr. Jackson’s love and enthusiasm for this material really infectious on set?

Evans: Yeah absolutely, he knows his craft so well and really enjoys what he does. He’s got energy, and I’ve never seen a man with so much energy. I don’t know when he sleeps because he works so hard, but he’s having the best time, these are his babies. I’m glad that he got to direct it and it’s going to be part of his legacy.

Has that really sunk in for you yet, the fact that you are now a part of the Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit cinematic world?

Evans: Yes, I think so. It’s sunk in and I think I’ve had almost a year for it to sink in. What is going to be weird is leaving this place and going back to my normal life in London. That’s going to be weird, not playing Bard the Bowman anymore. That will be strange. But I’m thoroughly happy and thrilled that I’m in this movie and going to be part of something really special.

The Raven opens in theaters on April 27th.

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Luke Evans Talks Tone, Gore And Character Dynamics In ‘The Raven’

As Detective Fields in The Raven, Luke Evans plays the straight man to John Cusack’s Edgar Allan Poe. The film is, in many ways, structured like a buddy cop movie – albeit with a historical figure in a period setting and lots and lots of blood. Nevertheless, two leads from opposite walks of life are forced to team up to solve a series of crimes. It’s not the easiest job to maintain the screen with a more flamboyant presence, but Evans rises to the occasion.

I hopped on the phone with Evans late last week to discuss his role, balancing fiction with reality and staying true to the gruesomely beautiful spirit of Edgar Allan Poe’s writing.

From V for Vendetta director James McTeigue , “The macabre and lurid tales of Edgar Allan Poe are vividly brought to life – and death – in this stylish, gothic thriller starring John Cusack as the infamous author. When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Poe’s darkest works, a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) joins forces with Poe in a quest to get inside the killer’s mind in order to stop him from making every one of Poe’s brutal stories a blood chilling reality. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues, which escalates when Poe’s love (Alice Eve) becomes the next target.”

Head inside for the interview. The Raven is in theaters this Friday, April 27.

The film is actually quite a bit different from the trailer that was initially released last year. Initially it indicated that the film might be tonally like Sherlock Holmes, but it’s not. It’s much darker.

Yes. There’s no bubblegum about this movie. We don’t veer away from an accurate portrayal of Poe’s works. They were bloody and very violent. And we had to honor his work by having as many macabre and bloody death scenes as we could.

What were some of the things you focussed on in terms of conveying your arc?

It was very clear from the outset that the dynamic between Poe and Fields was very important. You have Poe who is in quite a state in the movie. He’s an alcoholic, he’s dealing with the kidnapping of his lover and the fact that some insane kidnapper is taking the deaths from his books. As the film goes on you can see him losing the plot more and more.

Fields is a young detective who gained the bank of detective at a very early age in Baltimore. And there were a lot of people around him who did want to see him fail. And he had never failed a case before, so when he meets Poe it’s a challenge. At first, it’s a challenge to tolerate Poe at all. They come from opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of personalities and I don’t think he has any respect for Poe at the beginning of the film. But they have to work out a way of communicating and respecting each other. So there’s a nice arc when it comes to their journey.

Fields is very stoic and methodical. He doesn’t drink, his work means everything to him. He just wants to get the job done. And now he’s working with this very volatile character that he doesn’t know how to communicate with. That was an enjoyable dynamic to play against.

There’s quite a bit of action in the movie and your character goes through a lot. What was it like preparing physically?

There was plenty of horse siding so there was a lot of galloping about. I sort of came straight off the back of The Three Musketeers and Immortals so I was kind of fully fledged in the stunt department. I was ready for anything by the time I got to Budapest.

This project had been in development for quite a long time. When you first got involved was the script still in flux? Or was it pretty much the same as it is onscreen?

The same thing, more or less. It was pretty much the same. They had taken the time and done their re-writes and gotten everything in line. By the time it got to production the script was in a really good place.

This film deals with a real person. But you’re playing a fictional character. What was the atmosphere like on set trying to create that balance, making a fun romp and while honoring this real figure?

I think John [Cusack] did a fantastic job in playing Poe. He put so much work intro researching Poe’s history and his life. The people who were in his life and how he dealt with them. He really worked very, very hard. And being on set actually performing against John playing Poe was very, very fun. You feel like this man was literally living in the skin of Edgar Allan Poe and it was quite brilliant for that reason.

In terms of respecting Poe as inhuman being, I think John did a great job. But at the end of the day this was a fictional film. This was a gothic thriller. It’s all fictional, and if you’d ever read any of Poe’s books – they’re very explicit and very gory. And Poe never veered away from any of that blood and gore. And we don’t stray from that in the film.

The great thing about this movie is that you don’t need to know anything about Poe’s work to see it. It’s a fictional thriller that will hopefully make people want to read Poe, maybe they’ll discover that he was the godfather of the murder mystery, science fiction and all those things. It’s quite impressive really.

Which Poe piece is your favorite?

“The Pit And The Pendulum” is a favorite. They’re very hard to read, in that poetic beautiful writing. You sort of have to turn the lights down and just read it. Once you get into the flow of Poe’s writing it’s just beautiful. And of course “The Raven”, it’s just so incredibly well known and so beautifully written.

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Luke Evans Talks THE RAVEN, Filming at 48 Frames Per Second on THE HOBBIT, and More

Opening this weekend is director James McTeigue‘s (V for Vendetta, Ninja Assassin) The Raven. If you’re not familiar with the film, the story takes place in 1840s Baltimore where a series of grisly murders appear to have been inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe (played by John Cusack). Poe and a detective (Luke Evans) must team up to find the killer before he takes out the woman Poe loves (Alice Eve). The film also stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen, and Brendan Gleeson. For more on the film, here’s the trailer and 40 images.

Last week I did an exclusive phone interview with Luke Evans. We talked about how he got involved in The Raven, his research, what it was like to work with John Cusack, the graphic violence in the film, how much changed during filming, his process as an actor, his favorite movies, and more. In addition, with Evans currently filming Peter Jackson‘s The Hobbit in New Zealand, we talked about how that’s been going, how long he has been filming for and when he wraps, filming on the RED Epic in 48fps, and future projects like Amateur American and more. Hit the jump for what he had to say.
Collider: How are you doing?

Luke Evans: Very well, very well.

Where are you right now?

Evans: I’m in New Zealand and it’s 10:30 Thursday morning.

That’s crazy.

Evans: That’s really crazy.

I usually try to start every interview off with a fun question. I’ve asked you the Karaoke question before, so I will not do that. My new question I’ve been asking people is: Do you have a favorite movie, a favorite director, and a favorite actor? Or if not one favorite, do you have some favorites?

Evans: Yeah I do have some favorites. I don’t have one specific favorite. I do have a few. You want me to name them to you I suppose?

Well, if you don’t mind, yes.

Evans: Well, directors: Quentin Tarantino’s a big one. Spielberg. All the biggies. Clint Eastwood. And actors: Anthony Hopkins, Leonardo DiCaprio, ah God, the list goes on. It’s very difficult to categorize a couple of names, you know.

No, totally.

Evans: And movies is a hard one. I’ll leave the movie one out ‘cause that’s just too difficult.

I understand. How did you first get involved with The Raven? Was it a project you went after, or did it come after you?

Evans: No it was something that I was aware of. I’d read the script, they’d sent the script. It was cast by two lovely ladies in London, who had cast me in my first ever film, Clash of the Titans. Elaine Grainger and Lucinda Syson were the casting directors in London and they’d cast me in two other movies and this was it, this was the third movie of the batch that they’d cast me in. So that’s how I was brought on board. To meet James, I was in London for a few days between shooting Immortals and Three Musketeers. And, yeah, I went and met him and got myself on tape, and the rest happened after that.

When you’re playing in the world of Poe, did you feel the need to do a lot of research and learning about the period? How much research do you put into the era when you’re doing a period piece?

Evans: Well what’s great about when you do something that has an essence of history or factual evidence or anything like that, which this movie does, even though it’s a fictionalized story of the last five days of his life, they are talking about a real person. There is so much information and fantastic biographies out there on Poe, and obviously his work. So I had plenty of reference. I read some of his more famous works and I read a fantastic biography, Peter Ackroyd’s Poe: A Life Cut Short, which is fantastic, just really, really great.

Talk a little bit about working with John Cusack. Did you guys develop a rapport off set? Were you able to enjoy hanging out?

Evans: Yeah, we were. John’s such a versatile actor, he’s worked on everything. He does comedy, drama, thrillers; he can turn his hand to any sort of genre. When he took on the role of Poe, you can see from his performance in the film that he really did his work and he did a huge amount of research on the character of Poe and his personality and in the way he spoke and all the idiocracies that made up Edgar Allen Poe. And as an actor—I still think of myself as new to this film business, it’s only been like 3 and a half years, maybe 4 years—to be able to be able to work opposite somebody like John is a gift. It’s just a gift. It’s like sitting in a Master class and watching how slight nuances in their performance can change the whole scene. So for me it was a real pleasure to work with him. The guy is great on and off the screen. We had great dinners when we weren’t working, good chats. He’s a real great guy. I hope we get to work together again one day.

One of the things I admire about the film is there is some blood and guts, especially with the fact the Poe wrote a lot of pulp, he was a blood and guts guy. There is always the PG-13 neutering of a lot of different stuff. Are you happy that the rating is an R and that they are not shying away from blood in the film?

Evans: I think it’s absolutely essential, out of respect for Poe’s work, that this fictionalized story of those murders were told in the graphic portrayal that they have been. I think that it would have been such a—it would have been dishonorable if we had done anything but make it an R and allow people to squirm in their seats.

When you first got the project, I would imagine the script looked a certain way. And then obviously when you’re on set, things change during the rehearsal process, or things change on set. Can you talk about, with your character, how much changed, if anything, from when you first got involved to what audiences are going to be able to see on screen?

Evans: Not a huge amount, not a huge amount changed. I think the only thing that might have changed slightly during was just the emotional journey that my character took and where we took him. Myself and the director, James, talked an awful lot about how his character is juxtapositioned against the Poe character, and how one is still a straight man and who’s trying to keep the crazed, incensed Poe character on the straight and narrow, trying to keep him from losing it and not being able to be an asset to finding this killer. After that, I don’t think the script changed a huge amount while we were working on it. Obviously as the film goes on your character develops and sometimes things need to be tweaked and certain lines don’t really benefit the character anymore, so yeah they will sort of edit as we were going along, but nothing crazy.

A lot of people like the Clint Eastwood method of two takes, and some prefer the David Fincher method of fifty takes. What do you prefer for the amount of takes, and what are the most you’ve ever done?

Evans: Oh, I think I’ve done about 30-35 takes in one go. You know, sometimes the scene needs that amount of takes, often action shots and fight sequences need a lot of takes because you’re moving so fast and the camera has to follow you and has to be in a certain angle when the blade flies or the arrow flies, and if it does work exactly, take after take, they’ll finally get it. And when they do the cutting they’ll find one. I understand, certain scenes have to have a lot of takes. As an actor I think it’s quite nice to have a handful of takes, because you don’t want to do it once or twice, I think once or twice sometimes is quite terrifying because you don’t really feel like you’ve given them what you want. I like a handful of takes where you can try it a couple times and change a few different things. Lets find a level ground in the middle there.

You mentioned at the beginning when we first started talking that you’re in New Zealand. Lord of the Rings are some of my favorite films of all time, and I am so, so excited to see Peter Jackson’s take on The Hobbit. How has it been going for you and how exciting it’s been for you to be involved in such a production?

Evans: It’s been immensely exciting. It feels like all the work I’ve done so far has been building up to this job and to work with the master himself on a project which has been his baby since a long time ago. I feel very lucky to be here, you know. I’m watching this being made, and then watching Pete do his thing. Because you only have to read any articles about the boys who were in the first 3 movies and how they talked about the experience being in New Zealand and working with Pete and the long period of time that you spent here. I was just very jealous of them, in a healthy way, but it was something I was envious of. And now I’m here, and now I’m actually one of those boys. I’ll always remember this as one of those experiences in my life. It’s been fantastic, absolutely fantastic. We’re here ‘till July, so I’ve still got a few months left, some insane, tense months as well. So, yeah, it’s been great.

When did you arrive in New Zealand? Because I know you’re in both parts, was this one of these things where you’re committing to being there for eight months, have you been able to leave? What’s this production schedule like?

Evans: I’ve been here since last August; I arrived August the 1st last year. But, you know, on a movie of this scale there is a lot of down time, so I’ve had chances to go home a couple of times. But this block, I’ve been here since February and I’m here ‘till the end, so this is the longest stretch for me.

I’m going to ask you a nerdy question: One of the thing I’m so excited about is that Peter Jackson is shooting The Hobbit movies on the Red Epic, with the 48 frames a second, rather then the 24.

Evans: Yeah.

I’m not sure if you’re a film nerd like me.

Evans: It’s the first time it’s ever been done. And it’s, well, even if you’re not a nerd you can absolutely see the difference, it’s extraordinary.

Have you been looking at any of the playback on any of the monitors? Because one of the things I think casual fans will not realize what 48 frames a second does is reduces the motion blur. Have you seen any of the action without the motion blur and what does it look like through your eyes?

Evans: Yeah, I’ve seen myself in action and it’s incredible. It really is. It’s the closest to your own eye speed that we’ve ever seen on screen. And it takes a little while, when you first put the glasses on, to just appreciate what it actually is that’s going on. Because you’re eyes are not deceiving you, there is no blur. It’s absolutely so effective, especially for the lack of blur, which is something that we’ve always had to deal with in shooting in 3D, and now we don’t. So, yeah, we’re making history with technology as well as with film.

You have a few other things; you filmed Ashes and No One Lives and you might be doing The Amateur American. Can you talk about these other films and what you might have coming up after you wrap on The Hobbit?

Evans: Well, there are those movies, they are the ones that I know will be definitely coming out. Amateur American is definitely there and I’m very interested in it, but there are several other projects which have come to me in the last six months that I’m now focusing on as well. But right now, I finish in July and then I’ll make my decision. I’ve still got three months left, it’s a long time, and then we’ll work out from there where I want to go. There’s a few things floating about now, just working out the next step, the correct step to make as an actor after doing a movie like The Hobbit. I think I’ll probably do some down time, first of all, just to acclimatize back to the real world after I leave New Zealand.

In the last few years your career has taken a huge trajectory upwards, being in a lot of high profile projects, can you talk a little about what it’s been like for you? For most people it might be like winning the lottery.

Evans: Yeah, you could say that, because it was never really part of my plan to be in films, it was really sort of a dream, like a dream job. When it happened and the ball dropped and started rolling very fast, it too a few jobs before I took a breather and sort of put everything into perspective. It has been an incredible last few years of my life. My friends back at home are still in shock as to where I am and what I’m doing and that it actually is happening to me and not somebody else. But, no, it’s brilliant, it’s brilliant, it is like winning the lottery, and I’m having the best time. I mean who wouldn’t? This is the best job on the planet.

The Raven opens tomorrow at theaters everywhere.

collider.com/luke-evans-the-raven-the-hobbit-48-fps-interview/161582/

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Luke Evans Shares How He Prepared His Role In ‘The Raven’

“The Raven” is out today. It stars John Cusack, playing legendary poet Edgar Allan Poe, but it is not his true story. It’s an imagined murder mystery that Poe gets swept into. Luke Evans plays Detective Fields, a character that never actually existed.

So, we asked Luke how do you prepare to play a fictional role in a movie partially based on real people and history? Luke told us: “There’s a lot of reading to be done, even if you are playing a fictional character you can reference so much historical information about them. It was so much fun to do, the crew and the cast were so lovely.”

ryanseacrest.com/2012/04/27/luke-evans-shares-how-he-prepared-for-his-fictional-role-in-the-raven-audio/