Big Picture

What would you say to fans of the original TV series who are thinking of seeing the movie?
None of that mid-1980s stuff is scary anymore. It’s like everyone has plutonium in their back garden now. The original version is nothing if not a creature of its time,full of era-specific Thatcherism politics and a very real concern for nuclear weapons. But the Edge of Darkness remake has generic politics: without spoilers,what it comes up with could be plausible only to your most unshakeable 9/11-truther. Which is fine: the politics here are a pretext rather than a raison d’être.

Was Mel Gibson your first choice for the role,considering that he hasn’t done a lead role in the last eight years?
Mel was the only person we had in mind for the role. We didn’t have a second choice and I think we were very lucky to get him. He was probably a bit worried—anyone would feel a bit hesitant if they have not been in front of a camera for eight years. But I must say that once we got into it,that was it. He’s one of the best actors in the world. He’s a heavyweight actor,and we haven’t got many of those.

Also,the fact that Gibson is a director himself,did it help you in any way?
He made it very clear to begin with that he was only an actor on this because he didn’t want me to think that he would be breathing down my neck as a director,or a producer. Mel takes direction very well. He also likes to rehearse. We did about 10 days of rehearsal after which when we came to shoot it,he was very receptive.

What do you think will appeal to the audiences in India?
While on the surface,Edge of Darkness is a revenge thriller,it eventually evolves into something more like last year’s State of Play and The International,mixing action with suspense to create another tight government conspiracy thriller. People would like the emotional story,from the original,of Craven losing his daughter.

You have resurrected the Bond franchise twice. Do you plans of directing a Bond movie again?
No,no,no. I’m done!

You haven’t done a special effects movie in a long time. Is Green Lantern set to change that? Is it an adaptation of the original story?
Well yes,I had never done a superhero movie before but it’s the origin story. He’s a psychological character. His powers are psychological. They’re to do with will and the enemy is fear,as opposed to Superman who sort of runs into a phone box,gets the old spandex on and off he goes. So he’s a much more complex character. I hope I will bring a sense of reality to it so it doesn’t get in the realm of “comic book”.

Edge of Darkness releases in India on June 25