Jason Statham is back in action in ‘MUTINY,’ the new high-stakes thriller from director Jean-François Richet.
Statham stars as Cole Reed, a man who is framed for the murder of his billionaire boss. Determined to uncover the truth, Cole boards a cargo ship on a mission for vengeance, only to find himself at the center of an international conspiracy. Joining Statham in the film are Annabelle Wallis (Angie Ellis) and Adrian Lester (Captain Adam Spencer).
The Knockturnal’s Mana Faye sat down with Wallis and Lester to discuss stepping into the world of MUTINY, the process of bringing their characters to life, and what it was like joining Statham for his latest action-packed adventure.
Jason Statham as Cole Reed and Annabelle Wallis as Angie Ellis in Mutiny. Photo Credit: Dan Smith/Lionsgate
For Wallis, one of the biggest draws of the film was Ellis herself. The actress plays a skilled sailor who must navigate the film’s increasingly dangerous circumstances while also balancing her responsibilities as a devoted single mother. When asked what felt different about stepping into Angie’s shoes compared with previous roles she has played across action, psychological thrillers, and dark comedies, Wallis pointed to the character’s independence.
“I was really surprised and pleased by the way that they had written the female character, and that she was very much equal to the man,” she said. “There was no love interest, or she isn’t the damsel. It was a real co-lead, and they go through this journey side by side, and there’s a mutual respect. That was very refreshing, and something that I responded to immediately.”
Wallis also got to take part in plenty of the film’s intense action sequences. Having previously performed major stunt work in films including The Mummy, she was no stranger to the physical demands that come with an action-heavy production. Still, MUTINY proved to be its own beast.
“It was quite a dangerous set. We were out on the ocean on a moving boat. They had ones where I was hanging off the side of the boat as we were sailing through the water and the waves were crashing. But I loved them all. I wanted to do more and more and more.”
And, of course, there was the opportunity to share the screen with one of action genres most iconic stars. When it came to working alongside Statham, Wallis spoke about the contagious energy and humor he brought onto set.
“Jason’s great. He’s funny and so dynamic,” she said. “He really sets the tone on a movie set. Not only are you working with someone at the top of their game, but you’re learning so much about how to be on set with your crew.”
Adrian Lester enters MUTINY as Captain Adam Spencer, a character navigating a world where trust is increasingly difficult to come by. Best known for playing master con artist Mickey Bricks in the BBC series Hustle, Lester has spent decades working across film, television, and the stage. In MUTINY, he brings that experience to a story built around uncertainty, a theme he embraced while playing Captain Spencer.
“All the way along, you’re thinking certain people are working for Jason Statham’s character or would help him, and then you realize actually they wouldn’t,” he said. “And it’s nice to put my character in that space too.”
Adrian Lester as Captain Adam Spencer in Mutiny. Photo Credit: Lionsgate
Lester has also built a career as a director, giving him a perspective on filmmaking that expands beyond his own on-camera performance. He reflected on how understanding the process from both sides of the camera has shaped the way he approaches a role.
“Being a director has, funnily enough, made me a better actor,” Lester said. “Knowing what the director needed from the actors on screen is something that I don’t think I would really understand unless I’d been behind the camera myself.”
And finally, when asked to describe MUTINY in just three words, Lester kept it simple: “Exciting. Action. Stakes.”
MUTINY premieres in theaters on August 21.