Sony Pictures
While much of the talk about the villainy in Django Unchained since the film was released in 2012 centers around Leonardo DiCaprio’s monstrous plantation owner Calvin Candie, there’s arguably something more insidious about Samuel L. Jackson’s character Stephen, as he deeply betrays his own people and community
Speaking to BroBible ahead of the release of her new film Shadow Force, hitting theaters on May 9, Django Unchained star Kerry Washington — who shared remarkably intense scenes with both Leo DiCaprio and Samuel L. — recalled her memories of filming Django Unchained and how she felt about Samuel L. Jackson’s villainous character.
“It’s so funny because when you ask ‘Who was scarier?’, I had to readjust my brain because my memories of Django are just so filled with love. Those guys, in real life, those guys protected me so much,” Washington explained.
“Jamie, Sam, Leo. We really looked out for each other, because that was such a hard shoot. Even Quentin, he would say, ‘This is so hard emotionally.’ We were shooting on real plantations where it felt like that history was in the soil. And we were telling stories that were stirring up ancestral history. So, when I watch the film, I think what Sam was doing was brilliant. Because he was towing that dangerous, terrifying line of what it takes to be in a community and betray your own community. And so it was terrifying to witness, but also, I appreciated it so much as an actor. Then Leo, too. There’s half of your brain, like the character, is terrified and appalled, but the actor is like, ‘Get it!’ And so excited that he was willing to go there and do that insane performance.”
In addition to Kerry Washington, Shadow Force also stars Omar Sy, Mark Strong, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Cliff “Method Man” Smith. Shadow Force will be released in movie theaters on Friday, May 9 — Mother’s Day weekend. You can check out our full interview with Washington ahead of the film’s release below.