Black Bag’s Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett & Cast On Steven Soderbergh’s Complicated, Sexy Thriller: “They’ve All Got Baggage”

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Black Bag is a new spy thriller in which every character is a hero in their own story–and likely a villain in somebody else’s. It tells the tale of married intelligence agents George and Kathryn Woodhouse, whose relationship is put to the ultimate test when Kathryn is suspected of treasonous behavior. Despite the fact that Soderbergh has released a movie every year since 2017, Black Bag has won over critics and sits with a 97% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, proving that the beloved filmmaker is showing no signs of fatigue.

Soderbergh won big praise from ScreenRant’s Black Bag review for bringing back the “sexy thriller”, but the success of that aspect of the movie rests on the performances of stars Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett. As George and Kathryn Woodhouse, the stars have on-screen chemistry that has won over audiences and reviewers alike. The cast is rounded out with an impressive ensemble of performers as well, including Naomie Harris, Marisa Abela, Pierce Brosnan, and Regé- Jean Page.

ScreenRant’s Joe Deckelmeier interviewed the Black Bag cast about their work on the film. They discussed working with the legendary Steven Soderbergh on a script by David Koepp, how they related to their characters, and more. Read what Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Naomie Harris, Tom Burke, Marisa Abela, and Regé- Jean Page had to say below. Black Bag is in theaters now.

Michael Fassbender & Cate Blanchett Explain George & Kathryn’s DynamicBoth Characters Are Damaged Enough That “They Identify With One Another”

In Black Bag, George and Kathryn are a loving couple, but not one without their flaws. “He’s such a tight fist of a character,” Cate Blanchett said of George, praising Michael Fassbender’s “particular and absolute” take on the role. At another point in the interview, Blanchett revealed that Catherine is “running from stuff”, and said “there’s enough damage in Catherine and George, in their own upbringings, that they identify with one another.”

Fassbender called George a “clinical person” who "doesn't operate from an emotional place.” Especially key to the story is the fact that Fassbender saw George as “quite a socially [uncomfortable] person,” continuing to say, “I think his best friend is his wife–probably his only friend.” At the heart of the story is the question George, and the audience, is meant to ask: “He knows that he is one hundred percent loyal to his wife. The question is, in this film, is she to him?”

Marisa Abela, Regé- Jean Page, Naomie Harris & Tom Burke Are The Heroes In Their Own StoriesOne Dinner Party Scene Gave Every Actor The Chance To Showcase Their Character

“I think that would describe almost every character in the script,” Regé- Jean Page replied when it was mentioned that his character Stokes saw himself as a hero, even though others may not agree, “which is exactly what drew me to the script … Everyone in the ensemble has layers under layers.” Naomie Harris shared that sentiment, saying “I had this amazing character who pushed me in directions that I’ve never been before as an actress. I loved that.”

Black Bag has a dinner party scene that may go down as one of the movie’s most memorable, thanks to drug-fueled character moments. “That’s the first scene that we see her in,” Marisa Abela said of her character Clarissa. Abela’s reaction to the scene was, “‘Oh, she’s quite bold. She’s quite brazen.’” Regarding that scene’s impact on his character Freddie, Tom Burke reflected, “It could have been incredibly intimidating, but it was very freeing. The fact that you’re playing somebody who’s been spiked with a drug that can be anything you want it to be was very freeing too.”

The Black Bag Cast Reflects On Working With Steven Soderbergh“He’s An Absolute Genius”

“It wasn’t the role, initially, that drew me to being part of this project,” shared Harris, “it was working with Soderbergh. He’s an absolute genius.” Page weighed in as well, saying, “You trust him to capture those unexpected moments … you feel like he’s in the trenches.” With the aforementioned dinner party scene, he really was, revealed Page: “Steven has cut a hole in the middle of the table, and he’s sitting there where the turkey would be with the camera.”

According to the actors, Soderbergh’s approach is both fast and comfortable. He “leaves you to do your thing,” Fassbender said, but Page was quick to add, “It’s very much an ‘I expect you to be ready from the first take’ type of attitude … you think you’re in a rehearsal and we’re [shooting].” “It’s all about him creating this sense of ease on set,” Abela said at another point in the conversation.

Blanchett reflected on one scene in particular, a conversation between Kathryn and Naomie Harris’ Dr. Zoe Vaughan: “Steven filmed [Naomie] in the office and me coming in through the door, and I was expecting him to call ‘cut’, but then I sat in the chair and we started the scene. I thought, ‘Can’t we read it first?’” revealed the actor, “But both of the characters are uncomfortable, [so it made sense.]”

Black Bag is in theaters now.

Black Bag Release Date March 14, 2025 Director Steven Soderbergh Writers David Koepp

Cate Blanchett

Michael Fassbender

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