The Oscar-nominated director also reveals why Hollywood has yet to offer him a major blockbuster.
Yorgos Lanthimos loves Ireland.
He reveals as much when JOE sat down to chat to him about his latest movie, The Favourite.
Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone have all received Golden Globe nominations for their roles in his latest pitch-black comedy, and the movie is expected to be an Oscars magnet once those nominations are revealed, too.
Lanthimos previously directed The Lobster and The Killing of A Sacred Deer and so the conversation does obviously turn to his love of Colin Farrell, Barry Keoghan and what it is about Ireland that he specifically adores, but it isn't too long before we re-direct to his new film.
We knew in advance that Kate Winslet had initially been cast in one of the roles but then had to drop out when scheduling for the movie clashed with another project.
We asked Lanthimos about this, and he revealed that another huge actress had also been lined up for one of the roles, too:
"Yeah, that has become quite a bit of a... Kate and I were in discussions for a while, and I think that got out, but early on it became apparent that it wouldn't work with her dates and her other commitments.
"Cate Blanchett was initially attached for a while, but these films take a while to put together and all the cast had to fall into the place in order to finance it, and also for me to have the people that I wanted.
"Rachel was someone I had worked with before and had always loved and we wanted to work together again. So, when all of the pieces came together, by the end it was the ideal cast for me."
Across the interview, the conversation also turns to how Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz might seem like obvious casting choices, but how did Emma Stone (who hadn't won an Oscar for La La Land by that point) seem like the right fit?
We also had to ask if Hollywood has approached him to take on a big blockbuster yet:
"Not really, I don't think I'm placed in that kind of world. Not yet.
"People understand that I kind of do my own thing, and I do enjoy making them more than being handed something ready to make."
Check out the full interview right here:
The Favourite is released in Irish cinemas on Tuesday 1 January 2019, and you can check out the trailer right here:
Clip via FoxSearchlight
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