Set to release this Friday January 29th, Supernova is writer/director Harry Macqueen’s most recent offering. Starring Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth, the film has received rave reviews from critics, some of whom are hinting at possible Oscar nominations in the near future.
The film follows a gripping love story between two gay men, Tusker and Sam. Faced with a life-changing diagnosis, Tusker becomes heavily reliant on Sam, testing the boundaries of their relationship. Set in the United Kingdom, the film offers a compelling story that transcends beyond the characters’ sexualities. However, both actors have had previous experience playing gay roles, with Tucci starring as Nigel Kipling in the Devil Wears Prada and Firth portraying George Falconer in A Single Man.
“Cinema is moving forward. People like Harry are reconizing that sexuality of a character is simply the sexuality of the character. Two leads of a film don’t have to be a heterosexual couple. This really is resonating with audiences, which is fantastic.” said Tucci.
Colin also added “When something feels so alive, I mean this came to me via Stanley so it had Stanley all over it. That gave it a kind of life, I have no idea what I would have thought of it had I not imaged Stanley as my partner.”
The Knockturnal had the opportunity to chat with Stanley and Colin to discuss their new film. Check out the full interview below!
Supernova actors Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth being interviewed by Knockturnal’s very own Kyle Mattone
The Knockturnal: Hi guys, I’m Kyle Mattone and I am with the Knockturnal. I would like to offer congratulations on Supernova and as a member of the LGGBTQ community myself I found it especially moving. So,that being said I’d like to start with Stanley by saying that also enjoyed the pacing of the movie, how was it working with director Harry Mcqueen and developing this story?
Stanley Tucci: Well it was great. You know the thing is we didn’t have to help Harry develop the story, it was very well developed when i received it. It was a beautifully written script that showed great restraint and also had great silences, absences, pauses and ambiguity that so many scripts just don’t have. It was incredibly truthful and was dramatic without being dramatic. It was beautiful and for that reason I was thrilled to receive it. Also, the only person I could think of to play opposite was Colin because he’s brilliant and we have been friends for a long time. To help him shape the film, we took out a few things here and we added a few things there but really it was what Harry wrote.
The Knockturnal: That leads me into my next question for Colin, the director stated that sexuality of the main characters did not influence the narrative. Could you speak more of that and how you approached developing your character?
Colin Firth: When something feels so alive, you know this came to me via Stanley not by the director so it had Stanley all over it for me, that gave it kind of a life. I have no idea what I would have thought of it had I not imagined Stanley as my partner. I think I would have loved it anyway and I would have wanted to do it anyway,but this is how it came. To me, it was just always Stanley and I, Sam and Tusker I wouldn’t have wanted to switch out anybody for anybody else. I couldn’t imagine it any other way. I just thought, this is about these guys, that’s it. It’s this relationship and it’s amazing how much it felt like every relationship in some way. You know, not everybody is 60 years old, not everybody is in a same sex relationship, not everyone is English and American or whatever and yet it’s extraordinary how much this says, I think about universal themes by being so specific and so intimate and so about two individual guys. It’s somehow, everybody’s story because you will not meet anybody that hasn’t experienced loss or anxiety about loss or fear of losing or longing to be in someone’s company or minor irritations or secrets or things that you might withhold from each other. Without saying so little verbally, I think it contains these things which resonate with I would say everybody.
The Knockturnal: Yeah, I think that’s what makes the love story so compelling on its own. Now, I have a couple questions for you starting with Stanley. What do you hope young LGBTQ viewers take away from this movie ?
Stanley Tucci: That cinema is moving forward. And people like Harry are recognizing that the sexuality of a character is the sexuality of a character. Two leads characters in a film don’t have to be a heterosexual couple. This is really resonating as Colin said, with audiences which is fantastic. I think that there’s still a long way to go, there’s still a lot of roles that need to be played by actors in the community but I think that things are moving forward and I’m glad of it. The representation of the LGBTQ community is moving forward and that is really really important and I hope it keeps that happening.
Colin Firth: It gives us tremendous responsibility, I feel even stronger if the actor isn’t actually from the LGBTQ community. The representation is very personal and compelling and done with courage, empathy and with real pursuit of honesty with oneself. If you wanna fight discrimination, it’s very very very hard to discriminate against what you really know. I think discrimination comes from ignorance, it comes from not understanding, from not being personally acquainted, from not loving.
Stanley Tucci: It comes from fear!
Colin Firth: Yeah, but once you get to know that thing you fear, you find out fear is illusory. I think that is a part of intimacy with a character. My dream is that through real knowledge and understanding of another human being that discrimination becomes absurd.
Stanley Tucci: I think one of the important things that is starting to happen in Hollywood is that gay actors are able to be openly gay. And this has been going on since the beginning of Hollywood, that you couldn’t be a leading man or a leading lady or whatever if you were openly gay. So there was lots of sort of pretending and cover-ups and all that was incredibly unfair. Once that changes, which it is starting to do. There can now be more of a level playing field and that’s what there has to be.
The Knockturnal: The progress they’ve made has been amazing and that’s all the time that we have for today. I’d like to thank you guys so much for taking the time and I look forward to this movie’s release this coming Friday.
Stanley Tucci: Thank you Kyle!
