Rhys Ifans is also no stranger to intrigue, starring in NetflixsBerlin Stationand playing Mycroft Holmes onElementary.
Now, he leads the globetrotting spy-action featureInheritancefrom directorNeil Burger(Divergent).
In this interview, Ifans talks with CollidersSteve Weintraubabout the unique making ofInheritance.
Image via Federico Napoli
I’m constantly bumping into people all over the world who’ve just happened upon it and love it.
It’s a really lovely film.
So off the top of my head, that one.
Image via IFC Films
When did you first realizeHouse of the Dragonwas pretty popular with a lot of people?
IFANS: Actually, it’s funny, withHouse of the Dragon, teenagers recognize me.
I think maybe a lot of teenagers watch it, possibly.
Image via Amazon Studios
Everyone’s very complimentary about the show and my work in the show, so it’s always flattering.
I’m, of course, very pleased it’s a roaring success.
Neil Burgers Guerilla Production Upped the Surveillance Paranoia
It felt a little bit illegal.
When Maya learns her father Sam was once a spy, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an international conspiracy.
It adds so much to the film.
At what point in the filming process did you feel confident this was going to work out?
IFANS: Well, I felt confident kind of the first day we shot.
We shot on the streets of New York.
I was thrilled that we’d be shooting this way.
I’ve always wanted to do something like this guerrilla [style].
I’ve done stuff in the past that’s touched on that, butthis was full guerrilla.
It was shot on a phone this big with a stabilizer.
In the cinema, I always get a little bit of motion sickness.
The camera doesn’t jump or shake or shudder unless it absolutely needs to.
Other than that, it is moving as if it’s on ice.
It’s such an achievement.
It was very, very, very exciting to be involved.
The way he shot it amplifies it.
It makes you believe in what Neil is selling with the script.
IFANS: It really does.
I really felt like that.
So, that was absolutely thrilling.
So, that was utilized very, very cleverly by Neil as well.
It felt a little bit like, We shouldn’t be doing this.
The people on the planes thought we were shooting content.
Little did they know that we were making a feature film.
So, the whole thing felt very alive as a result of that.
How Neil Burger Pulled Off Filming on a Plane
It was surrealbecauseit was real.
It’s pretty crazy, those shots.
IFANS: We flew from New York to Cairo.
We got on the plane in New York.
Now, when you fly business, everyone’s in these coffin-like booths.
We were able to do it several times.
Then we went to sleep because it’s a long flight.
It was kind of surreal but real.
It was surrealbecauseit was real.
Very rarely is that the case when you make a movie.
When you’re going through customs and getting off the plane, you have one take.
It has to work.
[Laughs] No, but they were very obliging and very helpful.
Of course, we had the permissions, but things are flexible, shall we say.
Like when you’re in the market.
IFANS: These are really densely populated places.
It was really thrilling.
For Phoebe and I, we also got to see the world in a real way, as well.
We were in the belly, and it was thrilling.
I wantyouto tell people what this thing is about because it has a very unique logline and synopsis.
I think maybe the end of this year, hopefully.
I’m not entirely sure.
But yeah, Craig, a fellow Welshman, I would drop anything to work with him.
He’s a really exciting filmmaker, andThe Scurryis going to be a lot of fun.
Do you know what you’re filming this year?
I think you’re doing Season 3 ofHouse of the Dragon, but I don’t know what else.
IFANS: That’s a possibility.
The rest of 2025 is wide open.
I’m very excited.
I’m very excited for that one, too.
Inheritanceis exclusively in theaters starting January 24.
