Ben Kingsley is one of the most intellectual stars in the current crop of actors in Hollywood. His cerebral approach toward acting and films has propelled him to superstardom and international acclaim.
One of the most memorable films that Kingsley did was Shutter Island with Leonardo DiCaprio. The film remains one of the most mysterious and fascinating ones to have ever come out of American cinema. Director Martin Scorsese brought together an amazing star cast of actors that made the film a grand success.
The Iron Man movie star, however, had disagreements with Scorsese about the nature and identity of his role. The cunning and mysterious doctor that he played had a very strange backstory. He found the character very unrelatable. He even implored Scorsese to change it.
How Ben Kingsley’s Dr. John Cawley Character Came to Life in Shutter Island
Ben Kingsley is one of the most hardworking actors who has given many electric and memorable performances in his career. The actor has been part of many instrumental and socially impactful projects that have earned him many prominent awards. Kingsley has a unique approach to diving deep into his on-screen character and making them seem authentic and flawless.
In addition to his epic filmography, the actor has voiced many fascinating characters in films and has proved his versatility as an artist. In 2010, he played a crucial role in the American neo-noir psychological thriller Shutter Island based on author Dennis Lehane’s novel of the same name.
Also Read: Fans Cry Race Swap as Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Set to Play Wonder Man in Upcoming MCU Series
In the movie, he played Dr. John Cawley, a senior psychiatrist at the hospital, this role was quite challenging, but the actor did justice to his part. The England-native star once shared that he had some disagreements with the film director Martin Scorsese, after which he suggested the filmmaker a few changes to his role.
Also Read: Lauren Glazier of Mindhunter Fame Gets Cast in Disney+’s Wonder Man Series
Ben Kingsley Suggested a Few Changes to Martin Scorsese
In a candid interview, Ben Kingsley revealed that he had disagreements with award-winning actor Martin Scorsese about the nature and identity of his role. He found the character very unrelatable. The actor told The Independent,
“Marty saw him as American. I said, ‘May I make him not an American but someone on a quest? Someone who wants to live at the cutting edge, where it’s most difficult?’ Doctor Cawley is in the middle of an intense debate about whether to connect to patients by listening, talking, and engaging in role-play.”
He continued,” I think he’d be drawn to somewhere he could really battle it out on the front line, rather than stay in Oxford or Cambridge as an academic researcher. A knight goes where the dragons are.”
He shares what Scorsese said to him after suggesting changes to the filmmaker,“He was very gracious. He said, ‘Yes that’s wonderful. That will work.’ He allowed me to be as close to my own voice as possible.”
Martin Scorsese’s 2010 directorial Shutter Island received positive reviews for its excellent screenplay and grossed $299 million at the international box office. The film has a star-studded that includes: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max von Sydow, and Michelle Williams.
Source: The Independent
