So, let’s start by asking a bit about Everett Ross in the comics.
Is that accurate to what you’ve been doing?
Martin Freeman: No, it’s not.
[laughs] No.
It was my desire to not be …
I had early conversations with Ryan about that.
Image via Marvel Studios
Both of us were very keen that that wouldn’t be the case in this, you know?
How would you describe the direction you’re pushing him in?
Freeman: He is the coolest man in the room.
Image via Marvel Studios
[laughs] He has some authority.
He’s good at his job.
I think we’re going as realistic as it’s possible for you to be in a heightened universe.
Image via Marvel Studios
He’s good at his job.
He’s well-versed in the ways of the world.
Wakanda is gonna be a surprise to him.
Image via Marvel Studios
But, in terms of meeting diplomats, kings, that’s not particularly fazing to him.
So I think some of his humor comes from exasperation rather than [being dumbfounded].
That’s not his function in this.
Image via Marvel Studios
Would you say he’s an ally or a threat to Wakanda?
Freeman: That’s a good question.
Or that could be something that he wants to respect, I guess.
Image via Marvel Studios
We know that T’Challa certainly has something else on his mind when he sees Klaw.
So, for him there, it’s just, I just have to kind of contain this.
Freeman: Yeah, maybe so.
Image via Marvel Studios
Like, he’s going to do to you whatever he wants to do.
There was no way that, I as Martin, or me as Ross, could top that.
Does that help in this kind of environment?
Freeman: Yeah, I think it might do, yeah.
Certainly, I’m getting on with everyone very well.
Most of his stuff, I think is diplomacy, really.
I think unless he’s hanging out with superheroes he’s pretty high status guy.
But the guys he’s hanging out with are even more high status, so.
Like as sound as you’re able to be if you’re high up in the CIA.
How active is his role on the ground in the action scenes in this film?
But, no the plan is he’s definitely gonna be involved in fighting, yeah, yeah.
When you were cast inCivil Warobviously, you knew you were part of a larger universe.
Did you know you were specifically going to be inBlack Panthernext or how did that work?
Freeman: That was the idea, yeah.
Yeah, as far as I was concerned, that was the idea.
Does it feel liberating to be able to talk about it now?
[laughs] So, it comes with that package of, “What did I just say?
Am I allowed to say that?”
Freeman: There are more Black people.
[laughs] That’s true man, that’s true.
Like, it’s true.
Thank God for that!
Freeman: Yeah, that’s the first thing that comes to mind.
Okay, well then what was it like being the White guy on the set?
Freeman: I hate it.
[laughs] It chews me up every day.
No, I’m really enjoying it.
I like Ryan a lot.
Just the way he greets people.
It’s very friendly, it’s very normal.
He’s a young guy, doing very well, but he’s a hugger, you know.
So, he’s a nice warm guy.
And I think the Marvel people are good as well, from my time atCaptain America.
And it does feel quite familial, actually.
It does feel quite close.
It’s really nice.
Let’s talk a bit more about the scene that you were shooting.
It’s one line of dialogue, but it doesn’t seem that T’Challa trusts Ross all that much.
Would you say that’s where they’re at right now?
Freeman: Yeah, I think they’re both kind of feeling each other out at this point.
Is part of that just Wakanda being new to the world stage?
and then slowly working their way towards an understanding here.
I am the American in the story.
So, I think even more than the racial thing, actually, it is the country thing.
That’s how they’ve managed to do so well, because they’ve kept it all to themselves.
Which is another kind of interesting part of the politics of the film.
Suffice to say, I’m not being bullied, it’s okay.
