With the release date for Jordan Peele's latest horrifying thriller Nope just around the corner, the curiosity about what the film has in store is at an all-time high. Now, Peele and Nope star Keke Palmer have opened up about what's like working with Academy Award winner Daniel Kaluuya.
Over the last few years, Peele has earned a reputation for his psyche-rattling films Get Out and Us. Get Out, Peele's 2017 directorial debut, put Kaluuya in the lead role as a photographer who visits his girlfriend’s family on a trip that quickly goes sour. Peele's societal metaphors and Kaluuya's haunting performance have etched the film in the minds of viewers, and the two will collaborate again in Peele's newest creation, Universal's Nope.
A recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter puts Kaluuya and his career in the spotlight. The interview covers a wide range of topics including the ambiguity of Nope, Kaluuya's success since his and Peele's first collaboration, and what the future may hold for him. The interview also gave those who have worked with Kaluuya an opportunity to dish out what it’s like working with the Academy Award-winning actor. Palmer, who will play Kaluuya's sister Emerald Haywood in Peele's Nope, revealed that her relationship with Kaluuya is a lot like their characters. “Our dynamic is like brother and sister,” Palmer said. “I have a true admiration for him that comes off as teasing most times. He’s very gracious as an actor. He truly has incredible instincts and trust them.” Palmer mentioned that she and Kaluuya hung out off-set often and expressed her appreciation for being able to work with Kaluuya on the Peele project, which was filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kaluuya also received high praise from Peele after starring as his leading man for a second time. “Daniel is my all-time favorite actor, and having worked on a couple things apart and then coming back together, it just was a reminder of this special working bond that we have together,” Peele said. Peele went on to praise Kaluuya's performance, calling him “the type of performer that doesn’t need words to communicate.” He also calls Kaluuya “immensely watchable” and compliments Kaluuya's “powerful stillness.” Peele said, “He’s somebody that in these quiet moments brings the audience in more."
With the high praise from his collaborators, Kaluuya also had wonderful things to say about his coworkers. “I really care about original films and original content, and to even be making a film like this with Keke Palmer as a lead, me as a lead, Jordan as a director on this level of budget and it be original — it’s so important that this film connects,” Kaluuya said. Throughout his interview, Kaluuya cited the personal importance of selecting projects that were original and made him feel fulfilled, no matter how much time he is on-screen. Regardless, Kaluuya says that he puts the quality of the film first.
Kaluuya noted the whirlwind of his career since the 2017 premiere of Get Out. Since then, Kaluuya has starred in Black Panther, Widows, Queen & Slim, and Judas and the Black Messiah, which earned him an Academy Award. With a few projects currently on the burner, including a few under his 59% Productions banner, Kaluuya noted that eventually, he wants to spend less time in front of the camera. He said that as an actor, “people will project everything onto you,” but he appreciates the meaning people attach to his work. "The fact that someone wants to put meaning on it is the gift. It’s not for me to control.”
Nope releases in theaters on July 22, 2022.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter