When were you confident that, “It’s gonna be O.K.. I can pull this off”? Was there a moment on set? Was it in rehearsals?
I think it was probably by on the third day of shooting.
Do you remember what the scene was, or what you guys were shooting?
I don’t remember specifically but I remembered thinking, “You know what? This is it. This is my time to not worry about anyone else but yourself.” In a sense, where you can’t let anyone else affect what you’re doing or your decisions that you’re making for your role in particular. Taking into consideration, of course, Jon’s direction and what they want, but it’s in your hands. And that was a turning point for me. I was just like, “All right, let’s do this.”
When did you guys actually shoot the movie?
I was out in Malaysia from April 2017.
So you had quite a while to wait for it to come out then.
Mm-hmm.
How did “A Simple Favor” come your way? Had Paul been tipped off to your work on “Crazy Rich Asians”?
No, he hadn’t seen anything, but we had wrapped. I had just gone for a week in Bali and then got back to Singapore. I had been auditioning for some other roles as well. And I was pinned for a particular project. I get this email [from my agent] and he’s like, “Paul Feig knows you’re pinned for a project. And so, wants to meet you immediately when he wakes up.” So, I’ve I got the whole day to read the script, jumped on Skype with Paul and he’s the most lovable human being ever. And found out that his wife was a big fan of the “Crazy Rich Asians” book and knew that he was trying to find somebody to play Sean Townsend. And she was like, “Oh, you should check out this Crazy Rick Asians [guy]. He’s Asian, looks like a fantastic leading man. Figure it out.” And so, I sent tapes. I flew to New York to meet him and do a director’s session. All the traditional hoops that you have to jump through. I did a chemistry test with Blake back in L.A. And then made that fantastic movie in Toronto four weeks later.
For much of the film, the audience is guessing whether you or not are potentially involved in Blake’s disappearance. How did Paul want you to play that?
So, my reference was really Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Suspicion,” where throughout the entire movie until the end you don’t know what his motives are, or what he’s actually doing. You don’t know what side of the fence he sits on. Is he on Emily’s side or Stephanie’s side? Is he playing both of them for some sort of weird reason? It was that very much kind of stoic character with very much a suspicious air to him.
Were you trying to hint at things or no?
There are moments where we’d either prolong a look. You know what I mean? So it’s very much that Hitchcock style of negative time where it’s just like he’ll be looming in the background or something or a look will just be that little too long to [make you] think, “Hold on.” Because then that gets the audience like, “Wait, what’s…?”
You’re now filming “Last Christmas” in London with Emilia Clarke. I’m assuming you didn’t have to audition for that as well.
Luckily, no. But I think that’s because Emilia is so amazingly brilliant in being such a lovable human. She’s just like, “It’s all good.” She’ll get along with anybody, and Paul knows me from “Simple Favor” and we’ve become extremely great friends. I’m like his honorary nephew. I love him so much.
Is it a romantic comedy, is it comedy, is it more drama? Because Paul’s obviously been trying different things.
I can’t tell you anything. But essentially, it’s a lovable romantic comedy I would say. So once you put into the Christmas realm, that evokes some like “Love, Actually” kind of [comparisons]. It’s a whole genre unto its own.
And at the same time, you’re doing a Guy Ritchie movie.
Guy Ritchie film, “Toff Guys.” Total opposite of end of the spectrum.
And that has a huge ensemble cast.
It’s massive, yeah. The general plotline really is Matthew McConaughey character is in the illegal marijuana business. He’s trying to sell his business off to the highest bidder and get out of the game.
Who do you play?
I play someone who’s interested in his business.
Do you get to do an action sequence?
There are a few action sequences.
Have you done any yet?
Perhaps a couple. [Laughs]
Was that fun?
It’s amazing, and this character couldn’t be more different from any other character that I’ve played. So it’s like a proper East End derived character as such, F-bombs, the whole shebang. it’s back to “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch” kind of days.
Do you know what you’re doing after this? Are you taking a break? Another Bali trip? [Laughs].
I wrap “Last Christmas” in February. There’s some particular projects that I really would love to be on, that shoot kind of March-ish, first quarter.
And then there is the “Crazy Rich Asians” sequel, “China Rich Girlfriend.” Have they told you when that’s going to shoot?
Well, Jons’s gonna be filming “In The Heights” the entire year pretty much. They haven’t said anything. They have to figure out the story first. I don’t think they’re in any rush.
But you sound like you’re gonna be booked for a while anyway.
I hope so. Yeah, I’m in love with making movies, it’s amazing.
“Crazy Rich Asians” and “A Simple Favor” are both available for digital download.