Eddie Redmayne’s Prosthetics in ‘The Day of the Jackal’ Were So Hot He Was ‘Oozing’ Sweat: ‘It’s Really a Trial and Error Experience’

As a seasoned movie reviewer with a penchant for unraveling the intricacies of character transformations and the artistry behind them, I must say that Eddie Redmayne’s performance as ‘The Jackal’ is nothing short of extraordinary in the eponymous series. The actor’s ability to immerse himself into diverse roles is a testament to his dedication and versatility.

Eddie Redmayne isn’t new to using prosthetics, but the diverse masks he wore as a ruthless assassin in “The Day of the Jackal” turned out to be his toughest physical metamorphosis so far.

The first episode of the series premiered in the U.K. on Sky on November 7 and will be available on Peacock in the U.S. on November 14. This initial installment begins with Redmayne secretly gaining access to corporate headquarters, where he’s disguised as an elderly German janitor, for the purpose of eliminating a specific target.

For that one scene alone, the actor spent four hours in hair and make-up to age and change his face (a process overseen by make-up designer Melanie Lenihan and prosthetics designer Richard Martin) and donned a foam suit to bulk out his body. To top it off, the scene was shot during a blisteringly hot day in Hungary and there was no air-conditioning in the studio. “My overwhelming memory of those days was Richard coming and doing pin pricks through the prosthetic and this sweat oozing out the top,” Redmayne recalls with a laugh.

The actor, known for his roles in “Fantastic Beasts,” “The Theory of Everything,” and “The Danish Girl,” has spoken about the unique difficulties of acting while covered in rubber and foam costumes. He explains that there’s little time to prepare with these costumes because they are expensive and time-consuming to apply. Additionally, he notes that they can be extremely uncomfortable, often leading onlookers to assume it’s a prosthetic performance. However, having gone through this process himself, he acknowledges that both Colin Farrell and Gary Oldman, in their respective roles, also had limited preparation time while wearing such costumes. He describes the experience as more of a trial and error process.

To fully bring the character to life after putting on the prosthetics, various other aspects must align seamlessly. As Redmayne explains, “Even with an excellent prosthetic, if it doesn’t harmonize with the voice, you’re in trouble.” To play the role of the caretaker, he had to learn German and worked with a local dialect coach. “Once you’ve mastered speaking German,” says Redmayne, “you need to lower its pitch to match the fact that this character is a 70-year-old chain smoker.

In addition to serving as an executive producer on “The Day of the Jackal,” alongside Lashana Lynch, Redmayne took part in various other aspects of the series’ production. This included the design phase, which provided him with the opportunity to give viewers a glimpse into the prosthetics process by integrating it into the narrative. He wanted the audience “to peer behind the scenes, so that when the Jackal removes his prosthetics, it’s not just a fantasy, but actually takes about an hour in real life.” Additionally, he utilized a polystyrene bust of his own face that Martin had created to adorn a dressing table within the Jackal’s hidden lair.

Eddie Redmayne’s Prosthetics in ‘The Day of the Jackal’ Were So Hot He Was ‘Oozing’ Sweat: ‘It’s Really a Trial and Error Experience’

Redmayne, who admired the 1973 movie version featuring Edward Fox, initially felt apprehensive about taking on the role of the Jackal. However, his reservations vanished once he read the opening three episodes. He found it incredibly hard to put down, unable to stop reading. While the series, derived from Frederick Forsyth’s classic 1971 novel, has been updated to seem and feel current, it maintains the authentic, vintage charm of the original production.

The actor praises the detail in which his character prepares, saying it’s fascinating to observe. You can see every step of his planning process, each part carefully arranged like the gears of a Swiss watch. Watching this gives me a sense of release, and I get excited when things don’t go as planned. Redmayne hints that he might have some similarities with the character in terms of meticulousness and obsession, which he also applied to his role as a producer.

Behind the jackal, there’s Bianca – a seasoned detective who’s relentless in her pursuit of an untraceable killer, sometimes compromising her personal ties. Interestingly, while Redmayne seems like the villain compared to Lynch’s hero, one captivating aspect of the tale is that both characters dwell in a murky realm. In fact, Redmayne manages to make the ruthless Jackal seem somewhat compassionate.

He notes that unlike the original story where it seemed to be a straightforward battle between good and evil, this new version presents both characters as two sides of the same coin. They mirror each other in their obsession, ruthlessness, talent, but also in their moral ambiguity and the unclear nature of their choices. This complexity made the narrative more intriguing for him.

In contrast to the character Redmayne portrays that often grapples with moral ambiguity, Newt Scamander, the magizoologist from the “Fantastic Beasts” series, is quite straightforward. Eddie Redmayne has been a part of three films in this Harry Potter spin-off, but at present, there are no plans for additional installments according to him. When asked about future movies, he firmly yet politely declines further discussion, echoing the evasive nature of the Jackal. However, such decisions lie beyond his control and should be addressed by one of the executives at Warner Bros. Discovery.

2024-11-08 19:17

Eddie Redmayne’s Prosthetics in ‘The Day of the Jackal’ Were So Hot He Was ‘Oozing’ Sweat: ‘It’s Really a Trial and Error Experience’

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