With writer-director Nathalie Biancheri’s (Nocturnal) Wolf now playing in select theaters, I recently got to speak with Lily-Rose Depp and George MacKay about making a film that deals with species dysphoria (where some believes they are an animal trapped in a human body). During the interview, they talked about how the script was unlike anything they’ve ever read, how being nervous to do something is the reason to do it, being inspired by the challenge of taking on these characters, what was it like working with movement coach Terry Notary and how he taught them to act without human thought, and more. In addition, they talked about filming their first scene where their characters meet each other as animals and why they loved the sequence.
If you’re not familiar with Wolf, the film focuses on Jacob (MacKay), who believe he is a wolf trapped in a human body. With his family concerned, he’s sent to a clinic that deals with the issue, and he’s forced to endure extreme forms of ‘curative’ therapies along with the other patients. However, once he meets the mysterious Wildcat (Depp), and as their friendship blossoms into something more, Jacob is faced with the challenge of whether or not to renounce his true self for love. Wolf also stars Paddy Considine and Eileen Wals and you can watch the trailer here.
What was Lily-Rose Depp and George MacKay had to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about.
Lily-Rose Depp and George MacKay
- How this script is different than anything else they’ve read and if they were nervous to play the roles.
- On how they were inspired by the challenge of these roles.
- What was it like working with Terry Notary and did he give them the confidence to just go for it?
- How Notary helped them connect to the emotional side of the role.
- How Notary got them to act without human thought and the way that informed their choices with their characters.
- What was it like filming the first scene where their characters meet each other as animals?
- What was it like getting ready to start filming and then COVID struck and having to wait months to film?
