Johnny Flynn on His New Drama ’Prayer for the Dying’ and Musical Friendship With Co-Star John C. Reilly: ‘We Actually Sang a Lot Together’

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Johnny Flynn‘s acting journey spans various time periods, starting with Regency England (“Emma,” “Vanity Fair”), followed by WWII (“Operation Mincemeat”), contemporary Glasgow (“Lovesick”), mid-century Italy (“Ripley”), 1971 David Bowie (“Stardust”). Now, this multitalented artist embarks on a new journey to post-Civil War America in “A Prayer for the Dying.” This film is an adaptation of Stewart O’Nan’s novel and is directed by Dara Van Dusen. The story takes place in 1870 Wisconsin, a small town inhabited by Scandinavian settlers who grapple with a chilling, contemporary issue: a pandemic and wildfires. Johnny Flynn portrays Jacob Hansen, the local sheriff and community leader, while John C. Reilly takes on the role of the town’s doctor. Anton and New Europe Films manage worldwide rights for the film, and they will unveil a new sales promotion at EFM.


What drew you to “A Prayer for the Dying”?

This unique project and its captivating tale seemed almost one-of-a-kind, deserving to be shared. Surprisingly compact, the book was quickly devoured within a day – an unusual occurrence for me, given my leisurely reading pace. Yet, it held me enthralled.


Even though it’s set in the late 1800s, what was it about the story that resonated with you?

The novel carries a sense of immediacy and emotional resonance regarding modern problems, leaving you with the realization, “Indeed, these are familiar themes.” It’s incredibly relatable, almost as if humanity is colliding with an uncaring, unfeeling world.

It’s actually based on the book of Job.

Is your character Job-like?

To me, the tale of Job stands out as one of the most perplexing and enigmatic stories within the Bible. As a leader of a community, he was expected to endure everything that happened to him in an incredibly harsh manner, yet he maintained his faith and leadership, rather than giving up and only focusing on himself. This resonates with me in our current world, as it’s challenging to navigate how we should lead ourselves amidst the overwhelming tragedies occurring globally. Job faced this exact situation, continuing to serve his family and community despite being hit by one catastrophe after another. It seems that this is what some people are expected to do in today’s world.

What was the experience like collaborating with Dara Van Dusen, who is embarking on her first feature-length directing project in this movie?

Dara was deeply cherished by me, as she’s carried this tale for years and has collaborated with the novelist for about a decade. He placed an immense amount of trust in her, which she felt was a great responsibility. Remarkably, Kate McCulloch, our DP, and Dara shared a sisterly bond off-screen. They both attended film school together.


What kind of relationship do you have with your co-star John C. Reilly?

For quite some time now, I’ve been an ardent admirer of John and his artistry. You see, he’s undeniably a brilliant comedian, but what truly captivates me is the raw vulnerability he infuses into his serious roles. Working with him was an incredibly powerful experience, and beyond being just a colleague, we became good friends. We shared a deep bond over music, often singing together at my place. He’d drop by, and we’d spend hours brainstorming potential band names.

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2025-02-13 15:20