Dev PatelandJordan Peeleare already making plans to work together again.
Obviously, theres a serendipity in that, Patel says with a laugh.
Gilbert Flores/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Dev, what was the genesis of this story?
‘Monkey Man’ producer Jordan Peele and star/director Dev Patel.Gilbert Flores/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty
How long have you had this revenge action-thriller kicking around inside your head?
Then, my grandfather used to tell me these stories whenever he used to come into town.
There was this one character Hanuman, whos this half-man, half-monkey, kind of simian superhero.
Dev Patel in ‘Monkey Man’.Universal Pictures
And I was fascinated by it.
Growing up in the U.K., Id kind of run away from my culture in a way.
It was something that I would hide and maybe feel ashamed of, or worried about being bullied.
Dev Patel in ‘Monkey Man’.Universal Pictures /Courtesy Everett
Its got so many parallels to comic book iconography, like Superman and all those guys.
You took an ancient story and made a film that activates my Blackness on an unconscious level.
As an audience member, it makes you want to stand up in the theater and shout.
Dev Patel on the set of ‘Monkey Man’.Universal Pictures
He really did the thing.
We can make it so much more tangible, plausible, and relatable to todays world and politics.
Universal Pictures
Jordan, what was it about Devs vision that made you want to get on board?
PEELE:I came into the process when the film was already shot.
He had a version of it, and he was feeling defeated for several reasons.
I saw the film and immediately just wanted to jump through the Zoom and give him a hug.
It needs to be the version that you set out to make.
My goal would be just to help you realize that.
And he took that and ran with it.
PATEL:I am an annoying fan ofKey & Peele.
I think my producing partner Joe was kicking me under the table, like, Chill out!
There were many nights I would watch it with my family, and it brought us all together.
My dad was cracking up.
I think we really bonded and could relate.
I think he saw what I was trying to do, too.
PEELE:Ive always wanted to work with him as an actor and direct him.
Hes one of the performers that I feel is a hundred percent consistent in his roles and his effort.
PATEL:Well, theres a few not-so-good ones.
He hasnt gone and done someone elses action movie.
He saved that for his own.
Were you eager to pursue action roles before, and it just wasnt happening?
What was your journey with this genre?
PATEL:Yeah, I mean, this has been over 10 years in the making.
Early on, I could never get access to a role like this.
[But] to break the mold, you have to enter it.
For me, it was like, Okay, Ill show them what we can do.
Im going to give them some culture.
And Im going to use that as the tools of this revenge story.
In my head, I was like, No, I cant do it.
Ive got to wait forMonkey.
PATEL:A lot of it is just insane amounts of prep.
But the actor in me is very instinctual.
We kind of found our own visual language to give the action.
We spoke about the choreography: The films calledMonkey Man,and its about an underdog.
Hes using his teeth.
Hes a caged animal.
So, we wanted it to be jagged and ferocious.
And its true: You have one of those unique physicalities that is just beautiful to watch.
[Laughs]
PEELE:Call it what you will!
PATEL:Dynamism: I like it.
Ill take it, dude.
Why was it important to you to show this film into theaters?
PEELE:Well, thats my thing.
I just believe in the theatrical experience.
This is one of these films where were going to get an audible reaction.
And I love for an audience to get to feel the contagion of that.
PATEL:Its like that scene inPretty Woman.I remember when we got dropped by our studio.
You know when she goes in with the credit card at the end, back into the store?
It was like that moment.
Its like he was Richard Gere, Im Julia Roberts, and Ive got his Amex.
Dev, what do you remember most about filming that sequence?
PEELE:I love that one.
But with this broken hand, everything changed to one-handed choreo, which was difficult.
I was like, Its going to be great!
And they were like, Uh, okay!
PEELE:Youre a more charismatic man than I, to convince them of that.
[Laughs]
PATEL:We managed to do that, and it was a wild, wild fight.
He uses a kettle, plates, forks…
PEELE:A microwave door!
PATEL:Its fun.
I know you experienced some injuries on this film.
PATEL:First, it started with some broken toes.
And then, on the first action scene, it was in this bathroom where the M.O.
you’re free to imagine the stagnant water there, with the crew walking through it.
But I broke my hand.
I knew it was bad, but I didnt say anything.
The whole film was going to collapse.
He put the screw in, and he was like, You cannot put any weight on this.
No more than a couple pounds of pressure.
And I was like, You got it, doc!
Your bone is just gone.
I was like, I got you, doc.
and I just went straight back into the scene.
[Laughs] That was the film!
We just carried on going.
And you had no director to complain to as an actor!
PATEL:Yeah, I had myself in the mirror to answer to.
You could see everyone being like, Oh no.
PEELE:This guys insane.
The boss is crazy.
PATEL:That happens twice.
Two bites, same nose.
The first ones like a nibble.
So, what does a fake nose and fake blood taste like?
PATEL:Well, the fake nose tastes like a real nose.
You just dont bite hard.
It tastes like a sweaty stuntman.
PEELE:See, this is what Im saying.
From a performance standpoint, I dont know if another director is convincing Dev to do these bites.
PATEL:Even the other producer was like, Two bites, I think, is too much.
And Im like, Im fighting in a brothel with a dude with an ax!
I have handcuffs on!
Its already a whole thing!
PATEL:You would crush it, dude.
PEELE:Well, thank you for saying that.
My action film would probably not be as ambitious in this way.
It would be a different incorporation.
I mean, what I need to do is justcasthim.
And then Ive got an amazing action director in my lead role!
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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