Sacha Baron Cohen’s New Netflix Movie Is Loaded With Easter Eggs | Interview
Ladies First director Thea Sharrock put in a ton of Easter eggs for eagle-eyed viewers to spot in the new Netflix movie. Sharrock discussed her approach to the film and the chemistry between stars Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike in an interview with ComingSoon’s Tyler Treese. It begins streaming on Netflix on May 21.
“Damien Sachs (Sacha Baron Cohen) seemingly has it all: money, power, and a never-ending stream of casual flings. As he prepares to ascend to the role of CEO at a leading advertising agency, his life is turned upside down when he wakes up in his worst nightmare: a parallel world dominated by women. Where he once ruled the boardroom, he now finds himself humbled and going head-to-head with the newly fierce and fearless Alex Fox (Rosamund Pike). With the rules of engagement changed and Alex at the top of her game, the two boldly battle it out in a playful and satirical comedy about what happens when the script is flipped,” says the official synopsis.
Tyler Treese: Thea, you tell me Rosamond Pike and Sasha Barron Coen are in a movie, I’m already in, but their chemistry is just so fun in this. When did you know that the chemistry was there between them?
Thea Sharrock: I knew from the first Zoom I knew. So, the very first time the three of us met, it was virtual. She was working in Budapest at the time or… Prague, I think? No, Budapest. Either one – she was in Europe. I was in London, and I was at the studio, and Sacha was also in London, but none of us were in the room together. I knew from the minute we got on, she started to grill him with a whole load of questions, and he just started to make her laugh immediately, and I could see where this was going, and I knew it was gonna be a win-win.
One element that really impressed me about Ladies First is that once we get into the female-led alternate universe, there are just so many jokes in the background. There are constantly gags. How was it just loading in all these extra laughs for people who really pay close attention?
I’m really happy that you loved them. It was a lot of fun finding them and finding as many areas from hair, makeup, signs, buildings. We threw in literally as many as we possibly could, and we just kept the ideas coming and rolling, and whenever anybody, anybody on the team had a good one, we did our best to throw it in.
Tyler Treese: I also loved Wicked Little Letters a few years ago. I’ve recommended that to so many people. Your background, I was looking up, you were more in the drama space, but you’re so fantastic at comedy as well. What’s been most exciting for you about working within the comedy space?
Thea Sharrock: I think comedy is really hard. I think it’s a really tricky genre, but to work with the people that I’ve just worked with is an absolute privilege. Sacha’s been the king of comedy and very, very individual career that he’s carved out for the last 25 years. Rosamund is also extremely funny. Neither one of them will give up until they feel they’ve got it right. So honestly, that is what makes my job, it makes it very, very easy to turn off. Even though the days are very long, it’s been a real joy putting this one together.
I wanted to ask you about focusing on Damien in Ladies First. Obviously, it helps that viewers have a preexisting relationship watching Sacha and love him as an actor, but to have your main character be such a douchebag, how is it adding in that like 1% of likability to where viewers do grow attached to the character and want to see him grow and change? Because you could see an alternate way where he’s too douchey, and people don’t really care about him.
I think it’s absolutely central to try and get that balance right. So as you say, he’s gotta be a douchebag, but he’s gotta be a lovable douchebag because then, as you say, there’s just enough room for us to want to see him change. For me, getting that balance at the beginning was essential in order to make sure that the very last scene pays off. So, you really believe that this is a guy who has understood why he’s undergone this journey and truly is willing to change, and that was the aim.
Thanks to Thea Sharrock for taking the time to talk about Ladies First.
Source: Comingsoon.net