“It’s delivered in a way thats quite aggressive,” Malek tells EW.
20th Century Studios (2)
This article contains spoilers forThe Amateur.
Just like his character inThe Amateur,Rami Malekwas not prepared forLaurence Fishburneslapping him (twice!)
Laurence Fishburne improvised slapping Rami Malek in ‘The Amateur’ scene.Credit:20th Century Studios (2)
during a particularly intense scene.
The only problem is that Heller is a data analyst with no field experience.
When he hesitates, Henderson slaps him hard twice before Heller gives up and puts the gun down.
Laurence Fishburne and Rami Malek face off in ‘The Amateur’.20th Century Studios
“I can’t make you into something that you’re not.
You’re just not a killer, Charlie.”
“It was shocking,” directorJames HawestellsEntertainment Weekly.
“It’s a small room.
There’s not so much you could do in that set in terms of blocking.
The slap was entirely Laurence’s invention and decision, and it was shocking to be there.”
“I’m just too focused on doing the work,” the actor explains.
“I remember saying, ‘Rami, are you okay?’
And he was like, ‘Yeah, yeah.
Rami Malek stars as Charlie Heller in ‘The Amateur’.20th Century Studios
Let’s go.’
That’s what I remember.”
“There were wide shots, there were close-ups,” the director says.
Laurence Fishburne stars as Col. Henderson in ‘The Amateur’.Jonathan Olley/20th Century Studios
Obviously, it’s possible for you to’t not do it on the reverse shot."
And it’s delivered in a way that’s quite aggressive.
He is a true professional, and anyone would say that about Laurence."
When it came to acting opposite Fishburne, Malek praises his performance as “no acting required.”
While the slap was not in the script, Hawes now can’t imagine the scene without it.
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“But it had a danger to it.
And also, strangely, I felt it had a care to it.
He wanted to prove the point: ‘you might’t do this.
Stop now before it just gets worse.’
And it is a seminal moment in the beginning of their relationship.”
Fishburne looks back on it as “one of the great scenes” of the movie.
“He pushes him and challenges him on his intention,” he says.
And what will it cost you?
The Amateuris now in theaters.
