Watch EW’s video interview with the stars of director George Miller’s latest film.
“It gives us perspective.
It’s also something we share.
Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton in ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing.'.MGM
We listen to a story, and we share it.
It’s an empathy machine, narrative.”
But this is the mythical land of the Old Testament and theThe Arabian Nights, not a history textbook.
Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba on set with director George Miller for ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing.'.Elise Lockwood/MGM
“This was a short story so rich in content and full of paradoxes,” Miller tells EW.
“One of the principal characters played by Tilda is a creature of reason.
The other played by Idris is driven by emotion and desire.
Idris Elba tells Tilda Swinton stories in ‘Three Thousand Years of Longing.'.Elise Lockwood/MGM
One is mortal, the other eternal.
They encounter each other in a hotel room in modern day Istanbul but the narrative spans 3,000 years.
How do we know what is real or not?
What are the gestures that define love?”
Elba adds, “George fell in love with this short novella two decades ago.
I can say with confidence that story resonated with him.
He wanted to honor it, but also expand on it and give his George Miller magic to it.
I actually didn’t read the novella I didn’t want to be tainted or influenced by it.
Any literature about djinn was off the table for me.
I didn’t want it to pre-empt my character-building.”
A chance encounter at an awards show made clear that they were both interested.
“He’s a real master he operates on every single level,” Swinton says.
But still it’s got 3,000 years’ worth of footage in it.
He was all over every single detail, and for so long.
We talked about the film for about four or five years before we shot it.
We didn’t waste a second.
He was first in the door, last out the door."
Miller was also open to collaboration.
“We shot that sequence on this very beautiful and well-crafted set.
It was incredibly practical, not much green screen.
All those incredible characters and instruments were all very much there.
It was like stepping back into time.
I had to learn Aramaic, which was tough but a great experience.”
I would maybe wish to be a racehorse, or a bird."
Elba’s answer: “Lately we’ve been seeingthese incredible images of our galaxy.
I would love to go visit!”
Watch EW’s full interview with Elba and Swinton above.Three Thousand Years of Longinghits theaters on August 26.
