Iconic director Ridley Scott has explained his reasoning for casting Adam Driver in both The Last Duel and House of Gucci. Over the years, Scott’s filmography has included some of the most iconic films of the last four decades, from Thelma & Louise, to Blade Runner and Gladiator. The 83-year-old Englishman isn’t close to slowing down behind the camera, however, and has directed two new historical dramas this year alone.
Driver, who rose to prominence in Hollywood in recent years after his role as Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, has become a choice actor for dramatic features too. The star has so far earned Oscar nominations for BlacKkKlansman and Marriage Story. In 2021, he stars in both of Scott’s feature projects. The Last Duel sees Driver play treacherous French knight Jacques Le Gris, who is accused of sexually assaulting the wife of his best friend (Matt Damon). House of Gucci, a historic depiction of the iconic Italian fashion empire, sees Driver team up with Scott once again, this time alongside Lady Gaga, Jared Leto and Al Pacino. It’s nothing new for directors to have frequent collaborators, but many may have wondered what has drawn Scott to Driver in particular, and whether the union will continue in the future.
At the premiere of House of Gucci, during an interview with THR, Scott was asked his reason for choosing Driver in both of his latest pictures. The director explained “It’s what I do,” referring to his method of “partner[ing] performers.” Scott said he believes he is “very good at casting” as a result of his years of experience, and that he always casts with a partner in mind. Speaking about Driver, the director explained he believed that “every actor or actress should be my partner,” rather than the “Svengali-an rubbish,” referring to a more puppet-master approach. Scott added that he likes to form a “connection” that can eventually cause a project to launch successfully. Read the director’s full quote below:
“It’s what I do, as my job I love to partner performers, and particularly talented performers… and I’ve discovered over the years I’m very good at casting, and I’m always looking for the partner in the process. I don’t believe in this Svengali-an rubbish. I believe every actor or actress should be my partner in the process. So it becomes that connection, if you get that connection, you’ve got lift of."
House of Gucci hasn’t yet released to general audiences, but star Lady Gaga recently claimed she had seen it and that it was “real f***ing good.” Despite impressing critics and gaining positive word of mouth, The Last Duel was unsuccessful at the box-office, with Scott calling the news “exceedingly disappointing.” The director is undeterred however, and is currently set to direct Napoleon biopic Kitbag, reuniting with Joaquin Phoenix after their previous work on Gladiator in 2000. Meanwhile, Scott also plans to revisit the historic Roman epic, confirming recently that Gladiator 2’s script is ready to go. This will likely see him once again team up with another of his "partner" performers: Russell Crowe.
The partnership of Scott and Driver has produced some gripping viewing across the two movies, so film fans will be hoping there is more to come from the pair. Scott’s approach to his cast is a positive one, and represents a much more equal and friendly environment for actors, as opposed to some of the more traditional drill sargent-like directors of old Hollywood. It’s clear that Driver was the right man for the job in both House of Gucci and The Last Duel, as the actor continues to cement himself as one of the most exciting new talents in the industry.
Source: THR
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