Jeffrey Wright on `Quantum of Solace`, happy to return again as Felix Leiter
11-Nov-2008 • Quantum Of Solace
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Are you glad to be back in this role?
Jeffrey Wright: I was excited to be part of the first one and then to carry on the role and pick up where he left off was just a pleasure.
What changes should we expect from Felix in the sequel?
JW: Well, âQuantum of Solaceâ goes on to develop the relationship between Leiter and Bond.There is a kinship between the two of them that we continue to discover because they are similar in many ways. They are guys who are very much alone in their world. Itâs a murky environment in which they operate and there are few people that they trust. They found a trust in one another and we try to explore that further. Outside of MI6, Leiter is Bondâs only consistent ally. Heâs played a critical throughout the history of the Bond films.
Was there more to the development of Leiter than we saw on-screen?
JW: Leiter is a mysterious character and he moves in the shadows and I like that. The fact that the character is unknown gives him a mysterious quality. I enjoyed coming in during fragments of the film. Itâs Bondâs story and Felix is supporting.
How was working with Daniel Craig again?
JW: This is the third film that Daniel and I have worked on together and I enjoyed working with him as an actor and I enjoyed his company. We both look at acting in similar. Weâre serious about it and we enjoy it and when we work together, we try to create interesting scenes. People seem to respond to the friendship between Leiter and Bond and we try to build on that.
What do you think Marc Forster is doing different than what Martin Campbell brought to the first film?
JW: Marc comes from a different type of filmmaking to some extent with films like âMonsterâs Ballâ and âThe Kite Runnerâ but he brings his own signature to the Bond franchise in a way thatâs fresh and original. Thereâs a stylistic quality to this film that is contemporaryand edgy and thatâs a result of Marcâs vision. At the same time, he was going for realism in the acting surrounded by the high flying action adventure in the Bond films and the combination is quite stunning.
Will you come back and play Leiter in the next Bond film? In doing so, you would be the only person to play the role three times.
JW: I enjoy doing these films. They are big budget films, but there is a quality of humanity on the set that I like. There are very little egos involved and itâs a very comfortable environment to work in; and Iâve been a fan of the Bond franchise since I was a boy. As long they want me to continue as Leiter, Iâm open to keep returning.
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