British actor Charlie Hunnam said he “begged” the director to let him switch roles after reading for a different character in his Rebel Moon Part One: A Child Of Fire audition.
The Gentleman star, 43, plays pilot and gun for hire Kai, one of the warriors Kora (Sofia Boutella) assembles who share a common need for redemption and risk their lives to defend the people of Veldt – in the film launching on December 15.
However, at the London premiere at the BFI IMAX, Hunnam said he had originally auditioned for a different role.
“I was reading the script for another character and immediately when Kai showed up I was like ‘forget that other geezer, I’m playing Kai’.
“And so I wasn’t sure if it was already cast or if Zack (Snyder) would be up for it.”
He later said “I begged for it actually” referencing the role.
“You know he’s a very interesting character Kai, you never really know what he’s about, my sense is he’s very sincere about everything,” Hunnam said.
“He’s got a lot of different faces and actually all of them are true, he’s kind of conflicted, he’s definitely a naughty boy and he knows it, he’s trying to do well in the world.”
“Noble is very different to me as a person, I’m a father-of-three, I’m a teddy bear, a pacifist, out here I’m a hugger, really definitely should be described as nothing other than a hugger so it’s strange,” the 40-year-old told PA.
“It was dark to step into it, it was challenging – definitely the most challenging role I’ve ever done.”
Leading actress Boutella, 41, said she was grateful to director Zack Snyder.
She said: “I had so much fun with it.
“He (Snyder) gave me a character – first of all I don’t take it for granted he picked his lead character to be a woman, I think its important – and I think he not only gave me a character where I got to be a bad ass… but also he gave me a complex story and an emotional journey with a lot of depth which made Kora more interesting to spend time with.”
