August 31st 2024.
British actor Nicolas Hoult, known for his role as Tony Stonem on the hit show Skins, has come a long way from his teenage years. He has taken on a new, dark role as real-life American neo-Nazi gang leader Robert Jay Mathews in the film The Order. While promoting the film at the Venice Film Festival, Hoult addressed the recent race riots in the UK and expressed his hope that the film will shed light on the issue and prevent similar events from happening in the future.
The 34-year-old star, who has since appeared in a number of Hollywood movies such as The Favourite and X-Men, admitted that his latest role is his darkest yet. He portrays Mathews, who led a militia engaged in numerous criminal activities with the ultimate goal of establishing an all-white homeland in the Pacific Northwest. The film also shares the same name as the group founded by Mathews in 1983.
The film's relevance in today's society is hard to ignore, especially after the recent race riots in the UK. When asked about this during a press conference, Hoult acknowledged that even though the film is set 40 years ago in America, it is still relevant today. He hopes that by shedding light on the instigators of such events, the film can help prevent them from happening again.
In order to prepare for his role as a neo-Nazi, Hoult had to delve into some dark and disturbing material, which he described as "not enjoyable." His co-star and producer Jude Law, who plays an FBI agent in the film, also had to do a lot of preparation. Law's character, Terry Husk, is an amalgamation of real-life law enforcement officers who worked on bringing Mathews to justice.
Law, who recently played Henry VIII in Firebrand, shared that he found it interesting to play a character who thought the battle was over, only to be faced with a new and possibly even bigger challenge. He also acknowledged the relevance of the film to current political and racial tensions, stating that "sadly, the relevance speaks for itself." Director Justin Kurzel also expressed his amazement at finding a piece of writing from the past that still has a conversation with today's politics.
The Order was inspired by a piece of neo-Nazi propaganda called The Turner Diaries, which has been linked to many white supremacist terrorist attacks, including the Oklahoma City bombings and the January 6 insurrection. The film also features a star-studded cast, including Tye Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett, and Alison Oliver.
Interestingly, Hoult and Law did not speak to each other for the first few weeks of filming, as per the director's request. Hoult revealed that they were meant to be "different forces" in the film, and they only interacted onscreen. He also shared that Kurzel gave them tasks to prepare for their roles, with Law following Hoult for a day to get into character.
Overall, The Order is a thought-provoking and timely film that addresses important issues of racism and extremism in a compelling and powerful way. It serves as a reminder that the fight against hate and bigotry is far from over, and we must continue to work towards a more inclusive and accepting society.
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