‘Good Luck To You, Leo Grande’ Daryl McCormack Talks ‘Twister’ Remake And The Next Phase Of His Career

to pain director Lee Isaac Chung’s remake of the 1996 disaster epic Tornado now it’s filming, and one of the stars of the film — Good luck to you, Great Leo debut Daryl McCormack – took a break from acting duties to pop over to Cannes, where he too accepted a Trophée Chopard award from the jeweler and chatted with DAY.

Have you been to Cannes before this trip?

I’ve been here once before, just last month I was here to be on the jury of the (Cannes International TV Series Festival called Canneseries). Saw a ton of shows which was great. It was my first experience in Cannes and this is my first time in film festival.

Are you a veteran at this point…

At this point, yes. (Laughs) Even though last night was my first time on the Cannes red carpet, I was waving to some people I’d met last month and people were like, “How do you know anyone here?” But let’s go back in time. (Laughs) That’s the hope, that I’ll build a relationship with the festival because it’s really the pinnacle of cinema, and I just hope I can bring some work here one day.

I was sitting inside the theater last night when you walked the red carpet before the premiere of The area of ​​interest. How was the experience of walking the carpet with your new Chopard family?

It is an iconic carpet. To be here for the first time, not just as a visitor or to watch films, but to be celebrated the way Chopard celebrates emerging talent, was particularly special. To be able to do that with (Natalie Portman) and (Naomi Ackie) was amazing, and I hope it’s a warm-up for when I get back here (with a movie).

Following the première was the Trophée Chopard ceremony, which featured a tribute and your sizzling reel. What was that experience like, as an artist, seeing all of your work put together like that?

Yes, you don’t always have an experience like this because you’re just going back and forth, but having a moment where you can sit back and look at your journey up to that point was amazing. Especially doing it in a room with people you really admire, like, I was sitting at a table with Ruben Östlund, Brie Larson and Natalie Portman. I’m inspired by all of these people, so it was really special for them to sit and look at your work and celebrate with you.

How are you looking at yourself on screen? Inform your process or are you critical of yourself?

I’m a bit critical. I tend to walk away from looking at myself. If I make a movie, I just watch it once or twice, then at some point I put it to bed and go ahead to let other people judge it, you know? It’s hard not to be critical of yourself when you look at your work, but I can also cherish the moments. If there’s something that’s been captured that I’m really happy with, I can appreciate it.

I also imagine seeing your work put together like that can be inspiring but also motivating to see where you want to go next…?

I’ve been working a lot lately and in the last year I’ve started to be really selective about what I want to do. Going forward, people will really start to see my taste. Up to maybe Big LionI was just trying to get the job that gets seen and thankfully, with that role, it started to open doors that have helped shape my career. The exciting part for me starts now, you know? It starts with choosing the work and projects I want to do to show the rest of the industry what kind of actor I am and what kind of work I want to do. I’m excited. I’m working with Lee Isaac Chung at the moment.

ON Twisters Did he start shooting?

Yes, I’m shooting it with him at the moment, and then I’m going to make a film with Jan Komasa that he did Body of Christ in 2019. That, to me, is exciting because these are filmmakers who have been critically acclaimed and who have a real sense of vision for the films they make.

You said people will be able to see your likes moving forward. How would you describe it?

Also filmmaker and genre agnostic. There’s no particular genre I want to fall into, other than being driven by the script and the story. I like movies that really mix genres and are kind of a blur of different things as well. I always find it interesting when there is a difficult film to propose. That, to me, is a good sign of an interesting story when you can’t really put it in a box. I hope to continue working with great directors and also to move more into drama-tragedy territory. I kind of like heavier subject matter which isn’t fully in my body of work right now, but it sure is a taste I have.

What is a good example of this?

Well I’m actually doing a show next year with Brian Cox in the West End. It’s called The long journey through the night. It’s a family drama about a young brother who is struggling with an illness and how that kind of spread spreads through the family. I play an older brother who clearly has a drinking problem and is paralyzed with shame at his upbringing. It’s a tragedy in terms of witnessing how this family is falling apart. I’m excited about that, because while there’s some comedy, there’s a lot of pain and it hits the soul to some extent.

I have a movie coming out at the Tribeca in June called The lesson with Richard E. Grant, by screenwriter Alex MacKeith and director Alice Troughton. It will then be released in theaters in early July. I play this bold, young, hungry writer who has a borderline sociopathic thing going on. He spends time with a legendary writer and works his way into the innermost layers of his family and starts breaking down walls and uncovering secrets and truths. It’s a great thriller.

You’ve worked with some truly legendary talents, such as Richard E. Grant and Emma Thompson. What did you learn from working with them or from watching the way they move on set?

What I realized is that the best actors like Richard and Emma, ​​they don’t have an ego but they take the job seriously. So, it’s not that they take themselves that seriously, but they do take the job seriously. They invite a lot of joy into the process. I am able to laugh at myself and enjoy the process. I find that really exciting because it’s quite easy for an up-and-coming actor to see these stars and think of them as not quite human. But when you see them in their process, it makes it accessible to understand that we can actually play and have fun. Keeping the game alive is key.

How it got the breakout success of Good luck to you, Great Leo Has it changed your life and career?

Your career? I, I think for myself, has given me such a platform to see my work. I think before that I was working on several projects, but not on the front lines in any capacity. Yes. And then you take a movie like that, you only have two people in a room and you have nowhere to hide. So I think for the first time, maybe I had full, people had full access to me as an actor…

Literally and figuratively…

That’s right: emotionally, mentally, physically. They had access to everything. They had it all. (Laughs) Thankfully, it’s become a platform and I’m so proud of the work we’ve done. That’s how it started, you know? And now it has opened so many doors.

By the way, back to Lee Isaac Chung. I grew up watching Tornado in Iowa, where tornadoes were common. When did you discover that film?

I knew about the original but I was 3 when it came out. At one point I watched it and was absolutely terrified, you know what I mean? When I heard they were doing a remake, I was like, oh my God, there’s a lot of pressure on this one because the first one did so well, but I think Lee Isaac Chung is such an interesting choice because he’s such a sensitive director. I don’t see how he can make a film like this and not make it intimate, so that’s what excites me.

I want to ask you a couple of style questions because I’m distracted by this Chopard watch you’re wearing…

Right? I feel very Cannes right now. I am so lucky to have an amazing stylist called Ben Schofield in London. He only knows my tastes and we work together quite well. We discuss things and for me it’s always about comfort, fit and style. Then, I’m also a watch guy. Now, do I have a Chopard budget? Maybe not yet, but I’m very grateful to be their role model for the weekend.

And the other jewels? I see you have pierced ears …

YES. I had a nice Chopard pin last night, which was this gold diamond that was really beautiful. I will have an earring every now and then or maybe a simple hoop.

Where do you go from here?

We’re back in the US, central US, to shoot Twisters. After I finish it, I think I’m in Europe for Jan’s film, The Anniversary. We start shooting in mid or late July. After August, it’s kind of open and then I’ll be doing the West End show early next year. I hope to continue working on some great films and continue to do projects that I’m excited about and work with amazing people. The possibility of working with great directors who also want to work with me, this has been my dream.

This story first appeared in the June 7 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to register now.