Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed on Finding Comedy Gold in Crime Caper ‘Deep Cover’ at SXSW London Premiere

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At a Q&A session after the world premiere of their crime-comedy “Deep Cover” at SXSW London, Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, and Nick Mohammed shared that they breathed life into the film through strong friendships and collaborative improvisation.

The action-comedy, orchestrated by the director of “Stath Lets Flats,” Tom Kingsley, and produced by Colin Trevorrow’s Metronome Film Co., tells the story of three improv actors who are secretly enlisted by an undercover cop to blend into London’s criminal network by posing as ruthless gangsters.

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In this action-comedy, directed by Tom Kingsley from “Stath Lets Flats” and produced by Colin Trevorrow’s Metronome Film Co., we follow a trio of improv actors who are hired by an undercover cop to penetrate London’s criminal underworld as phony gangsters.

The movie titled ‘Deep Cover’ made its debut as the main attraction for the opening night of the SXSW London Screen Festival. Starting from June 12, it will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Trevorrow shared the unique origins of the project, stating that the idea originated back in 2010 when he and co-writer Derek Connolly learned about New York City cops using fake actors as decoys. The movie is based on a script written by the team behind “Jurassic World,” with British improv duo Ben Ashenden and Alexander Owen moving the story to London.

Initially, Director Kingsley mentioned that the project seemed to have originated as a comedy. “Perhaps it began as pure comedy,” he explained. As time passed, however, and more prominent actors became involved, the scope of the project expanded significantly, he added, suggesting this growth was fueled by increased ambition and financial resources, leading to more intricate action scenes.

The strong camaraderie among the main actors is rooted in genuine friendship, as stated by Howard. “To be honest,” she said, “it’s a combination of the script’s flow, the atmosphere… and we simply enjoy each other’s company. I believe we’re all at similar life stages, and because we have children, we bond over that.”

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The close bond between the three principal actors is due to real friendship, Howard mentioned. “In truth,” she stated, “it’s a mix of the script’s feel, the ambiance… and we genuinely like each other. I believe we’re all around the same age, and since we have kids, we find common ground in that.

For Bloom, who’s typically recognized more for his dramatic and action roles instead of comedic ones, this was uncharted ground. He openly admitted, “I’m not known for comedy,” but he appreciated the thoughtful script and guidance that allowed him to discover the humor within his character’s serious side.

In the realm of action movies, Mohammed, known for his extensive comedy background from “Ted Lasso,” ventured into uncharted territory. “It was overwhelming,” he shared, being a devoted admirer of action films and blockbuster sensations. He found himself working alongside seasoned action stars who are certified by Hollywood.

The movie was self-made in London, which the creators are particularly proud of. Trevorrow acknowledged that it wasn’t an easy feat, “Given the current climate, getting films financed is becoming increasingly challenging,” he said. However, Amazon’s distribution collaboration and the hard work of the British film team made this ambitious project feasible at a reasonable cost.

Trevorrow noted that he’s had a great deal of luck collaborating with UK film teams over many years,” he expressed his thanks to the local film industry for their warm reception towards the project.

Kingsley underscored the significance of using genuine London settings for making the comedy seem more authentic and rooted in reality. “We aimed to make the film feel genuine,” he explained, adding that they preferred shooting on location in areas like Shoreditch and Barking instead of using studio sets because “the humor seems funnier when you truly believe in the situation’s importance.

The director expressed that he wanted London to have an edge, not overly idyllic or like a postcard, explaining this was necessary for some late-night shoots in industrial zones where additional safety measures were needed for the actors.

Although the movie was about spontaneity, it had a meticulously planned script. As Kingsley put it, “The script is so well-crafted, it’s like a fast-paced race – incredibly structured.” He clarified that while improvisation happened during filming, most of these unscripted scenes were left out because they affected the movie’s pace.

Howard commended the cooperative approach, expressing it this way: “We weren’t manipulated like marionettes… It was an extremely interactive and natural progression. So, improvisation served as a means for us to delve into the situation.

As the night drew to a close, I found myself reminiscing about the scarcity of comedies gracing our movie screens today. “In these modern times,” I mused, “it’s become quite uncommon to find ourselves in a bustling theater filled with laughter -a sight that used to bring me immense joy during my childhood days.” Tonight, however, is an exception, for this film may be streaming on Amazon, but the atmosphere here is truly unique.

The cast also includes British icons Paddy Considine, Ian McShane and Sean Bean.

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2025-06-05 10:17