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As casting director, his instincts are sound.
In James GunnsThe Suicide Squad, he plays Abner Krill, a.k.a.
And meanwhile, across the world, Im a part of another film thats opening.
Im having a strange experience, but its really lovely.
You and James Gunn go way back, and he wrote the part of Abner for you.
I dont know if thats because Im such a specific throw in of individual.
My voice is particular.
Its such a miracle that people in the last several years have begun to think of me for something.
Its like winning the lottery as an actor.
Your first film role was inThe Dark Knight.
Youve been in the MCU in theAnt-Manmovies.
And now youre in this new phase of the DC movies withThe Suicide Squad.
Those are the three pillars of modern superhero cinema.
As someone whos on set, theres much more in common than there is different.
People working both in front of and behind the camera who are stars of what they do.
How wonderful that experience continues to be.
Now obviously styles differ from person to person, but I find much more simpatico than different.
What about the process of making a gigantic superhero film?
My first day on set, it felt like close to a thousand background actors, no joke.
I was watching Chicagos financial district basically being completely shut down so this massive movie could be made there.
This beautiful blending of digital and practical effects was really eye-opening.
I mean, he built a full jungle on a stage.
He built an entire beach outside of Pinewood Studios with a working ocean.
That scale, Id never experienced before.
When Denis and I madePrisonerstogether, I found myself often in the dark.
I mean, its a little embarrassing, to be honest.
The character of Abner is very much defined by his relationship with his mother.
I know that in between shooting this movie, and it coming out,you lost your own mother.
Its been over a year, and it sucks.
I wish that she could experience the movie.
She always wanted me to play somebody that was more likable.
And what I love about Abner is his breakthroughs are because hes seeking a purpose for his pain.
And I think a lot about how much I wish I could have sat in a theater with her.
She had a really great laugh, and I can just hear the moments that she would have …
I mean, her laugh was so great and loud, it embarrassed me sometimes.
When I was doingThe Glass Menageriein Chicago, she came to the show.
I remember her laughing and me being a little embarrassed because I could hear it from the stage.
The mourning process is so nonlinear.
I think I feel great about everything and sometimes it just catches me off guard.
I finally went the other day in Malta.
And your question was what I kept thinking about, sitting there holding my wifes hand.
It was in the funny moments where I was like,Oh man.
On a lighter note, you also adopted a cat you met onThe Suicide Squadset.Bubblegum.
I miss her so fucking bad, dude.
And shes already traveled from Panama to the U.S. and she didnt seem to love intercontinental travel.
So I think keeping her back home is fine, but I do miss her.
Shes such a special cat.
Ive had cats for years.
I lost my cat Amelie in 2018.
She fit in my shirt pocket when I first got her.
Then she passed away, and we were on the lookout for a new cat.
She was really hungry and really beat up.
And I fell in love and now shes mine.
Well, shes not mine, Im hers.
And the cat was so patient with them, and would play chase with them.
And she comes when you call her.
Rare is the cat who will do that.I know.
Shes never a Fuck you cat.
I loved Amelie, but she was the most Fuck you cat I ever had.
Anybody came near her, she was like, Dont even think about it.
Her full name is Abner Bubblegum Polka-Dot Cat, but we just call her Bubblegum.
Ive taken a lot of pictures of my own pets.
And we put her in it and she was totally feeling the vibe.
And, yeah, shes a wonderful cat that has totally done so much for me.
