Less than a year after he jigged terrifyingly into Ryan Coogler’s supernatural horror “Sinners” as an Irish-dancing vampire, Jack O’Connell is back with an even more bonkers baddie.
Sir Jimmy Crystal — who the actor admits is the “maddest character” he’s ever seen — may have been first introduced at the very end of Danny Boyle’s zombie sequel “28 Years Later.” But that was just a taste of the lunacy to come. In Nia DaCosta’s riotous and bloody sequel to the sequel “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” (also written by Alex Garland and out Jan. 16), he truly comes into his own as the devil-worshipping, pseudo evangelical cult “lord” of a gang of sadistic murderers called the Jimmies. Clad in a rich purple tracksuit and with an luxuriant head of hair, Crystal is an exceptional role and one O’Connell says he rejoiced in making his own.
From Sony Pictures, “The Bone Temple” is also the latest major project for the Brit, currently in the midst of a prolonged purple patch on the big screen, with more significant titles coming up (including a stomp into the MonsterVerse). While he says he’s not getting “analytical now” about his cinematic reignition, which was arguably sparked by “Back to Black” in 2024, he admits he’s enjoying “savouring” the reception his performances have been getting.
Sir Jimmy must have been a delicious character to to sink your teeth into
Yeah, it was. It was wild, wild fun. But unbounded. So in a lot of ways, it’s very freeing.
What was the description of Jimmy when you were first told about him?
I just remember, above all of his dialog, it said ‘Sir Jimmy Crystal,’ which in itself is easily the maddest character I think I’ve ever seen.
I’m assuming they came straight to you and there wasn’t an audition process.
There was a bit of a procedure, where it involved going around to Danny’s house. Nia was there too. And as a Danny Boyle fan being invited to his house was a monumental day for me. We sat down and chatted, and then I waited to hear back.
I understand you hadn’t actually shot “Sinners” at the time.
No, the invite to Danny’s house was prior to going to New Orleans to shoot “Sinners.” But I knew it was going to happen, so when I had the meeting for this I thought, if it did go my way, it was going to amount to an amazing year.
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Sir Jimmy Crystal is introduced right at the end of “28 Years Later” and it’s a really wild tonal shift from the rest of the film. What reaction did you get from people who saw you in that?
Yeah, largely it was WTF. Which is great. And there’s an ambiguity as well — don’t know if these guys are to be liked or to be trusted. They seem to be a force for good at first and then pretty quickly, as this film opens, you kind of realize that was a misguided view. But it’s great to get to toy with people like that — it’s fun.
Did I read somewhere that the delightful, almost regal-looking, purple tracksuit that you wear in the film was your decision?
Yeah! Purple was the colour of monarchs, wasn’t it? So I just thought it’d give him status. He’s quite pristine. And he has what he refers to as his “fingers” doing all the dirty work.
As you said, this has been a great year for you with “Sinners” and now this. Have you enjoyed entering your villain era?
Yeah, I guess so. But it’s nothing but sheer luck that “Sinners” came and was followed by “The Bone Temple.” So I just have to count my lucky chickens.
You’ve got a very different villain coming up as ex The Sun editor Larry Lamb in “Ink,” back with Danny
It’s a great space to be in. It’s sort of biographical, but in a fascinating era in British culture. And yeah, it’s Danny. It was a play, a phenomenally successful play. And with another top top writer. So again, sheer luck.
And you’re entering another major studio franchise, this time the Monsterverse with “Godzilla x Kong: Supernova.” Is this another villain?
No, I think this guy’s more of a straight shooter. It’s important to mix it up. But that’s shot, all done and dusted, and was a phenomenal experience. Big toys, big machines, big studios. Big!
It sounds like it’s a very good time to b Jack O’Connell at the moment and since “Back to Black” you’ve been going from one big film project to the next. Do you feel like you’re having a particularly excellent moment right now — and is there anything you can credit that to?
Personally, the view is always on what’s next. So when things get received well, that is brilliant. But hopefully I’m ways into a career that lasts for a little while longer yet. So I wouldn’t be getting too analytical now. But listen, with that said, it feels great the reception to “Sinners” and so far, “The Bone Temple” feels great. And it’s worth savouring those moments.
At the BAFTA Rising Star nominations last year, which you presented, I think it was David Jonsson who said that you’d been a huge inspiration to him as a young actor. But I’ve heard it from others too, particular actors not born into privilege or with industry connections to give them a leg up. Is that something you’ve heard of, or something you’ve even considered?
It’s lovely to hear. It’s probably one of the most rewarding things you could expect to hear. So, yeah, it means a great deal to me. I can point to a handful of actors whose careers have meant the world to me. Particularly in an industry like this one, where it certainly does help to have familial ties, being the sort of outsider that other young actors can point to it and go, ‘Yeah, that’s how it’s done.’ Fantastic. That’s half the reason I get out of bed in the morning.
Finally, did you get the keep the purple tracksuit?
Oh yeah, that’s back with me. 100%. In case we need it again.
From Variety US