Chiwetel Ejiofor is not just an actor; he’s an accomplished director, and next week, on August 16, his Sundance indie “Rob Peace” starring Jay Will, Mary J. Blige, Ejiofor himself, Camila Cabello, Gbenga Akinnagbe hits theaters in limited release (read our review). Out on the campaign trailer to promote the film, Ejiofor recently stopped by the Happy Sad Confused podcast to talk about “Rob Peace” and much more, including his double dip into the Marvel and Sony/“Spider-Man” universe.
But perhaps the most interesting tidbit was Ejiofor was almost part of the James Bond world with Daniel Craig for a minute circa 2014. HSC’s host asked if Ejiofor was playing the Bond villain Bloefeld for a minute. While he didn’t answer that question directly, Ejiofor essentially confirmed in his response that he had been in the conversation with producers for a bit.
READ MORE: ‘Rob Peace’ Trailer: Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Celebrated Sundance Drama Arrives August 16
“Look, inevitably, as you know, around the Bond franchise, there are several conversations that go on at any given moment,” he said carefully. “And at certain moments, you can intersect into that conversation in various bits, and because it’s just such a public space, any of those conversations get amplified to this other degree.”
“But there was an intersection of conversation that happened—and there are so many films that I’ve been at that kind of conversation—but the answer to your question is: not really, maybe, but it would have had to gone on for a few more steps… but there were some initial chats,” he explained.
Regarding his role as Baron Mordo in the “Doctor Strange” franchise, Ejiofor said that he hopes to return one day but suggested that there are no current plans for an immediate return.
“It’s a world that still holds a lot of excitement for me.” he said of the franchise, “I think there’s a beautiful open door there and just finding the moment to tell those stories where it’s genuinely the most exciting part of that story you can tell and focus a light on. I think it has the potential to be really remarkable.”
The actor also said Marvel revealed some of their long-term plans for his character Mordo when he was first cast, and while all of it was subject to change, he still believes there’s an “opportunity for different aspects of that to come to fruition.”
“To be honest, there were completely new areas for Mordo that didn’t exist in the conversation at that time which also have all this capacity and potential,” he teased. “It definitely depends, which I think is exciting, on the vision. An individual or the team’s vision for those stories as they move forward. I’m excited about [that].”
Lastly, Happy Sad Confused addressed some of the slight confusion over his casting in “Venom: The Last Dance,” the third and final installment of the “Venom” franchise (at least with Tom Hardy). How is it that he plays Baron Mordo in the Marvel universe and then plays a totally different character in Sony’s separate but still connected “Spider-Man” universe? Is he playing a Mordo variant? What’s the deal?
Ejiofor wouldn’t answer but suggested that the film would explain. “I feel that the best thing to do there is to just watch the film,” he said of ‘The Last Dance.’ “The important conversations happen once everybody can see the films and then engage.”
“Rob Peace” opens in limited release on August 16, and “Venom: The Last Dance” arrives on October 24. Watch the entire conversation below.