It’s rare these days to spyAndy Serkison a movie set when he’snotin a motion-capture suit and/or performance-capture rig.
Klaw, a mercenary who ended up on the wrong side of that film’s murderous robot.
He survived (barely) and is now back to antagonize the heroes of Marvel’sBlack Panther.
How long have you known that you were going to be part of this movie?
We were providing services for that.
And I thought, Oh, alright, thatd be fun.
Image via Marvel Studios
Its just really great being back.
What has Klaw been up to sinceAge of Ultron?
Serkis: Well hes just basically been causing mayhem in the world, on minor and major levels.
Image via Marvel Studios
Hes a smart guy in the sense that hes a businessman as well as an arms dealer.
He manages to cover his tracks.
Hes got the smarts, but hes also a little whacked out.
Image via Marvel Studios
Is there a different level of connection that youre able to get with this character?
Is there a difference from motion capture?
How did you come to that particular voice?
Image via Marvel Studios
[laughs] Hed fit in the White House quite perfectly.
[laughs] I didnt say that!
… or, in fact, in Britain at the moment.
Image via Marvel Studios
No, it was quite a smart decision, I think.
It gives him a real edge.
Are Klaw and Killmonger working together against TChalla?
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Serkis: Klaw doesnt really trust or work with anybody; he is his own man.
He does deals with people, he interacts, but he doesnt form allegiances or alliances with anyone.
Ultimately, hes a lone wolf.
He has these pop-up groups wherever he happens to be in the world.
So he and Killmonger arent working together, as such.
Are we going to see a closer iteration of Klaw to the comics?
Serkis: Weve established the character and our version of Klaw inUltron.
He obviously had his arm chopped off and he has a weapon, which we will discover.
What kind of balance are you able to find with Klaw to make him a full character?
Serkis: I think, hopefully, hes quite grounded.
I think hes not the one color, hes different shades.
He turns on a sixpence.
He can be, outwardly, friendly to some people or funny or amusing, and then turn.
He definitely feels grounded; theres a darkness to him that grounds him.
What stands out aboutBlack Pantherand how Ryan Coogler works?
Weve kind of faced each other there.
So there really is a great deal of play in this, which is really exciting.
In the scene youre working on, what is Klaws first reaction to seeing TChalla walk in the door?
Serkis: Hes aware that … its not a great surprise.
How does your on-camera work compare to recent work youve done behind the camera?
I dont like to split my skills.
I love coming in and just digging straight into the character and getting into it.
Lots of actors do direct themselves in movies, its just not my thing.
I like to concentrate on one or the other and just bury myself into that world.
In the movie version of Klaw, will we see a longstanding connection with Wakanda?
Serkis: Hes got a very specific relationship to Wakanda.
Hes got a bit of a love/hate relationship with it, really.
He certainly has discovered things about it that nobody else has, and we discover that in this movie.
Hes one of the few people whos been into Wakanda and he reveals quite a lot about it.
Does he have a personal relationship with TChalla?
Serkis: He doesnt really have a personal relationship with anyone, but theyve definitely crossed paths.
Serkis: In this one, theres quite a lot more humor, actually, which is great.
Its very interesting the way Ryan and the writers have put it together.
Does Klaw recognize himself as a villain, or the hero of his own story?
Its very, very simple.
Its quite clear to him where his moral compass is.
What he doesnt like is hypocrisy; he absolutely despises hypocrisy.
So uncovering that is definitely part of the way Im playing him.
Can you talk about what Klaw is doing in South Korea?
Serkis: At this point in time, Klaws been caught.
Hes being held and interrogated.
Theyre trying to, basically, work out what hes trying to do.
Are you able to use the comics as source material for your performance?
What kind of research did you put into Klaw?
I kind of looked a lot into that, to be very superficial about it.
Serkis: I dont know if Klaw thinks of himself as a leader.
Hes just a solo operator, ultimately.
Hes a mercenary, literally.
I dont think he ever feels like hes leading a gang or a mercenary army.
He picks people up when and where he needs them.
