From Men's Health · Evan Romano · · 2m
Josh Hartnett on Netflix's Below and Black Hawk Down
Josh Hartnett discusses his new Netflix series Below, working with Oliver Stone, and his 25th anniversary of Black Hawk Down.
In brief
Josh Hartnett discusses his new Netflix series Below, working with Oliver Stone, and his 25th anniversary of Black Hawk Down. Josh Hartnett talks about his role in Netflix's Below, his collaboration with Oliver Stone on White Lies, and his experience working with Ridley Scott on Black Hawk Down 25 years ago…
Josh Hartnett on Jaws
Josh Hartnett can't remember the name of the actor who played Quint in Jaws, saying it's 'so upsetting to me.'
“Why am I completely blanking? Most amazing actor of all time. Not [Richard] Dreyfuss, Quint. God, why can't I remember his name?”
The Jaws Connection
Hartnett's Netflix series Below draws inspiration from Jaws, set in Newfoundland with a Lovecraftian sea monster.
“It's a sort of updated take on Steven Spielberg's Amity Island adventure. Except it's set (and shot) in Newfoundland, and Hartnett's co-star is not an oversized animatronic shark, but rather a Lovecraftian sea monster.”
Robert Shaw
Hartnett recalls Robert Shaw as the actor who played Quint in Jaws, saying it's 'so upsetting to me.'
“Oh, my God, Robert Shaw. Jesus God... It's so upsetting to me. All I could think of was 'Ya follow?' from The Sting.”
Below Release
Below drops all six episodes on Netflix this week, following Verity's box office success.
“Only a handful of days after Verity, in which he stars alongside Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson, opened at the top of the box office, Below will drop all six of its creature-feature episodes on Netflix.”
Hartnett's Role
Hartnett plays a vulnerable 40-something father scarred by his past in Newfoundland, with a focus on family and community.
“He's a vulnerable, 40-something dad who's been scarred by his past in the village where he's spent his whole life, and willing to do anything for the love, affection, and the safety of his three children.”
Physical Presence
Hartnett's 6-foot-3 frame fills every shot, and his expressive eyes convey complex emotions without dialogue.
“The show makes great use of the actor's large stature, his 6-foot-3 frame fills just about every shot he's in, and his ability to express more with a couple blinks of his eyes than most actors can with a full page of dialogue.”
Newfoundland Experience
Hartnett spent time with fishermen and whales in Newfoundland, developing a love for the sea.
“When we took a small fishing boat out to where we could barely see land, it was disorienting... But it was also uniquely grounding because you felt yourself so small in this vast wilderness.”
Newfoundland Accent
Hartnett learned Newfoundland's accent through radio shows and speaking with dialect coaches.
“I started listening to people, and then I started listening to this radio show called The Broadcast, which used to be called The Fisherman's Broadcast.”
Oliver Stone
Hartnett worked on Oliver Stone's new movie White Lies, inspired by his childhood love for Stone's films.
“He's one of the directors that inspired me most when I was a kid. Before I even knew how important a director was, I knew who Oliver Stone was.”
Ridley Scott
Hartnett worked with Ridley Scott on Black Hawk Down 25 years ago, recalling his filmmaking style.
“Ridley Scott meant a lot to me as a filmmaker... I was an enormous fan of Ridley Scott.”
Black Hawk Down
Hartnett worked with Ridley Scott on Black Hawk Down 25 years ago, recalling his filmmaking style.
“I met Ridley, and he, for whatever reason, just said, 'Yep, you're my guy.' We had a very short conversation.”
Ridley Scott's Method
Ridley Scott directed with precision, mapping shots and requiring actors to be fully present.
“He would map it out for me... It had that same effect, where everybody felt like they were really in it and really there to serve the director.”
Ridley Scott's Legacy
Ridley Scott continues to work on projects, inspiring Hartnett with his dedication.
“He's always making 1,000 things. It's inspiring to be around him because we would all like to be like that at some point.”
Cinematic Storytelling
Hartnett describes Below as a cinematic story with grand scale and human drama.
“My idea of 'cinematic' is this grand scale mixed with human drama. So, you get the dichotomy of the two, this giant-scale production mixed with these intimate moments with these characters.”
Jaws Influence
Hartnett's early Below episodes use Jaws' dolly zoom and sensibility before evolving into something stranger.
“Because it was a familiar vernacular to everyone, we wanted it to be the starting point, but then we wanted to move away from it.”
What Happens Next
Hartnett's next projects include White Lies and a potential return to the film industry.
“It's a make-or-break week in a certain sense... We'll see what happens. It might be the last time that we speak.”
The takeaway
Josh Hartnett talks about his role in Netflix's Below, his collaboration with Oliver Stone on White Lies, and his experience working with Ridley Scott on Black Hawk Down 25 years ago.
