IN Dark Phoenix, which is now in Philippine theaters everywhere from 20th Century Fox, the X-Men face one of their gravest and most personal challenges to date. It’s the 1990s, and even as the team attempts to embrace a newfound heroic status and acceptance within society, their close bond is about to be shattered when Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) merges with a strange, extraterrestrial force, one that boosts her already strong abilities to previously unknown levels. Years of repression are torn asunder as Jean begins to find herself and master her new powers, even as those around her start to wonder if she’ll be a threat to the world, and a mysterious alien with an agenda (Jessica Chastain) exerts influence.
Michael Fassbender has been playing Erik Lensherr, the troubled, driven mutant also known as Magneto, since 2011’s X-Men: First Class. In that time, he’s seen the character develop as a leader in his own right, and struggle with the treatment of mutants by society in general. Fassbender, nominated for two Oscars in his career to date, has appeared in such films as Macbeth, 12 Years A Slave and the more recent Alien entries.
Here, he talks about the character-based focus of the film, Erik’s development through the years and the comfort level between the actors on set.
What brought you back to the film series?
I loved the journey up to Dark Phoenix and specifically wanted to come back because Simon (Kinberg) was directing. I wanted to lend whatever I could bring to the table for him. He was such a fantastic collaborator and engineer of First Class, Days of Future Past and Apocalypse, and to see him get in the director’s chair, I was really excited for him.
This is Simon’s directorial debut. How was he as a director?
He was very relaxed, very confident; it seemed like he’d been doing it for years. He’s been on so many massive films and been an integral part in so many of them. He’s also a very smart man, he’s the kind of guy that doesn’t speak unless he’s educated on something or has knowledge on it. He observes, he listens—all the ingredients to make a great director. I think he bided his time and felt like he was ready to have a go at it.
Where do we find Erik in the new movie?
He’s finally become the cult leader that was always alive in him! (Laughs) He’s formed Genosha, so he’s managed to create this community, independent state/nation where mutants can live in harmony and without attack, and anyone who agrees to pitch in and do their part are welcome there. It’s self-sufficient, it’s off the grid, and it’s his struggles through the series, certainly when I was playing it, culminating in this physical place. Since his family has been ripped away from him, from what happened to him as a child and then, of course, with his wife and child later, well, that sense of death is always with him. But this is a mature Erik; he’s more at peace, and he only leaves this haven out of loyalty. It’s like an old Western, he’s got to go on his mission.
This feels like Simon driving it to be more character-based. Was that your feeling?
I think he wanted to strip everything down, boil it down to the bones…even visually, the way he shot it, a lot of it is handheld, and I’m not wearing any Magneto costumes. The helmet is there, but everything is pared down to be a character exploration.
Did the others look enviously at you in your turtleneck and jeans?
I don’t know! I certainly was very thankful that it was an easy in-and-out for me, especially if you look at what Nicholas [Hoult] goes through each day as Beast! Compared to him, I definitely got an easier route.
There’s a line in the film about there always being a speech from Xavier. Did it feel like Simon playing with the tropes of the genre?
Exactly. We’ve all heard the ideology, whether they’re playing chess together or Charles is talking to him telepathically, there’s this back and forth. It was a nice little tongue-in-cheek moment in the script, which is kind of like the Indiana Jones moment where he just pulls the pistol and shoots a guy instead of getting into hand-to-hand combat. That was fun!
Jessica (Chastain) joined the cast this time. Did you get to act with her at all?
It was great to have her join us. We didn’t really have a lot of scenes together; just a few moments together in the final act of the movie. She’s present with Jean, and so to be fair it mainly was acting beats that I had any interaction with her character. There’s a very technical aspect to it, you’ve got to make sure that the timings are right and knowing that a lot of things are going to be added in later, it’s making sure those rhythms are correct. It’s a very technical exercise, more than anything else.
Is it something that you’re used to these days?
Absolutely. When I started doing effects movies, you had to imagine what they were going to put in later, there was some storyboarding stuff, but now they’ve got pre-visualization stuff that they show you on a laptop, to see what it’s going to look like and the geographical elements. Of course, you know it’s going to be a lot more fantastical when the team has spent some time on it. I enjoy the technical challenges; it’s another thing that needs to be learned, and it’s something that is fun to explore. It’s not only being in time with the actors. It’s also being in time with the stunt team; if you’re on wires, it’s the riggers… everybody is communicating in the same rhythm. It’s like a dance and I enjoy that.
How is the feeling on set? Still having fun? But is there more focus these days?
At the beginning you’re really trying to bond with everyone, you’re getting to know each other and those sorts of silly games. I know they can be a little annoying if people are trying to gather order on set, but they’re also very important for the actors to get to a personal level with one another, to be comfortable with one another, and to have that camaraderie. We trust each other, we depend on each other, and we all like each other. So, it’s just the maturation of that relationship, I think.
Are you ever tempted to separate yourself, to go Method with Magneto’s feeling of isolation?
It depends what my mood is on the day.
Absolutely there are times where I’ll just go away and find a corner where I can just be by myself if I need to be in more of a meditative state. We’re all at ease with one another; we all know each other very well, and it’s whatever each of us needs to do. There’s always a respect there about whatever the other person’s process is and if anyone is ever struggling on camera, or in a moment, we’re all there for each other 100 percent and we want everyone to be the best on these sets.
What is the overriding theme of the movie this time?
I think the seed of talking about female characters and power was there from the beginning. Simon had unfinished business after The Last Stand, and you could tell from Apocalypse that he was putting this story in place, setting it up. So, the germ of that was there and the timing, as it happens at the moment, just seems to be in sync with what’s going on in the real world. But Simon’s always been of that mindset, the equality across the board for both the female and male characters.
Were you glad not to be the threat this time?
I was a little bit jealous, to be honest. “What? Somebody else is causing trouble?” Of course Apocalypse already stole that from me in the movie before, so I was getting used to it!
Do you see this as a potential swan song for the current team? Would you come back again if asked?
I have no idea! It’s not my issue to deal with, I’ll leave it in the hands of people who’ve got it. I’m not spending much time thinking about it, I’ve had a great journey on these four films, I’m happy. If something comes up that looks interesting, I’m always willing to read and take a look, but I’m perfectly happy.