Oscar Isaac Made ‘The Card Counter’ Because He Was “Desperate To Do A Character Study” After “Being In Green Screen Space Land”

Actor Oscar Isaac has been known to make character studies alongside large studio movies throughout his career; before “Star Wars,” he was making things like Zack Snyder‘s “Sucker Punch,” “X-Men: Apocalypse,” and Ridley Scott‘s “Robin Hood.”

READ MORE: Oscar Isaac On Returning To Superheroes In ‘Moon Knight’ After ‘X-Men: Apocalypse‘: “We’re Making Something That’s Quite Different”

However, while speaking to the press in Venice via Deadline, Isaac noted that he needed a break from green screen/blockbuster work to focus on something more character-focused, which led to making Paul Schrader‘s dramatic gambling pic “The Card Counter” that will be playing at the festival (our review here).

“I’ve been in green screen space land for quite a few years, and I was desperate to do a character study,” the actor said during a press conference at the Venice Film Festival. Sounding like he might have been slightly exhausted after making movies like “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” and Denis Villeneuve‘s “Dune” in such a short period of time.

READ MORE: ‘The Card Counter:’ Oscar Isaac Scorches In Paul Schrader’s Hypnotic, Slow-Burn Moral Thriller [Venice Review]

This hasn’t stopped the actor from making those kinds of effect-heavy projects, as he is currently shooting Marvel Studios‘ “Moon Knight” opposite pal Ethan Hawke, who he recruited in a coffee shop and will likely play the role of Marc Spector for multiple MCU projects beyond the Disney+ series.

READ MOREL ‘Megalopolis’: Francis Ford Coppola Eyeing Oscar Isaac, Cate Blanchett, Zendaya & More For Long-Awaited New Film

Issac also recently signed on to play Snake in Jordan Vogt–Roberts‘ (“Kong: Skull Island,” “Gundam“) long-gestating “Metal Gear Solid” movie for Sony Pictures, which will likely be another green screen blockbuster and could become another franchise as there are plenty of video games to adapt for sequels.

READ MORE ‘Metal Gear Solid’: Oscar Isaac To Star As Solid Snake In Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ Video Game Adaptation

Projects like Francis Ford Coppola‘s “Megalopolis” and “Francis & The Godfather” could help scratch that itch again as they seemingly will allow him to focus on the characters at hand, similarly to his work in “The Card Counter.”

Focus Features will release the new drama on September 10.