Great actors are known for diving into roles headfirst, fully becoming the character they portray. For some that means you adopt the mannerisms and characteristics all throughout filming, but even for those that don’t go “method,” playing a role means really becoming that person during filming. And for Topher Grace, playing one of the most infamous racists in American history affected him so much that he had to find solace in a unique way.
In a new interview with IndieWire, Grace, who plays the repugnant David Duke in the upcoming Spike Lee film “BlacKkKlansman,” admits that the role left him depressed. He was so depressed that he worried that he was going to be a terrible husband and partner. So, what is a man to do when he needs to decompress after a long day of playing a racist in a film? Well, obviously, you re-edit “The Hobbit” trilogy.
That’s right, Grace decided the best way to relieve stress during the production of “BlacKkKlansman” was to take Peter Jackson’s ‘Hobbit’ trilogy and re-edit them into one 2-hour film. And why did Grace chose “The Hobbit?”
“I think that maybe ‘The Hobbit’ should’ve been one movie, and many people would agree. Money drives a lot of those franchises. It’s better when the art leads,” explained the actor.
Topher Grace isn’t a newbie to editing, either. The actor has long been known to take controversial genre films and re-edit them in his spare time. Most famously, Grace decided to take the “Star Wars” Prequel Trilogy and condense that into one film. He’s also done some editing to “Boogie Nights,” among others.
Ultimately, the actor says that it’s a way for him to releax. “It’s not that I ever want to edit professionally,” he said. “It’s like doing woodwork in my garage.”
“I don’t know what other guys do. Go fishing? For me, this is just a great way to relax,” he continued. “There’s something really zen about it.”
Sadly, it doesn’t appear that fans will ever get a chance to see Grace’s version of “The Hobbit.” When he re-edited “Star Wars,” he did show it off to a few select audiences, but given copyright laws, it’s highly unlikely his hobby will ever earn him any money or additional fame. Instead, it’s an interesting talking point, and perhaps an idea for those film fans looking for a hobby.
If it helped Grace forget the stress of yelling racist slurs and portraying one of history’s most hated men, then imagine what re-editing films could do for a regular Joe coming home from his 9 to 5?
“BlacKkKlansman” premiered earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival and will hit theaters nationwide on August 10.