The 2017 action movie, ‘Atomic Blonde,’ starred the then 40-year-old Charlize Theron as the lead Lorraine Broughton. It was well received by both critics and the audience and was rated as ‘Certified Fresh’ on Rotten Tomatoes. Theron co-wrote the script and had a huge part in the making of the film, apart from also playing the protagonist.
Recently, the actress opened up about the reason behind the movie, and how she was practically working day and night to get it out as fast as possible, and needed it to be as perfect as it could be. The reasons are attached to a lot of stereotypes that hold back women in the film industry.
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Charlize Theron Developed ‘Atomic Blonde’ From A Tiny Spark
Talking to Showbiz CheatSheet, Theron talked about the origins of the action-thriller film. She said, “It was the first time that I developed something from such a small, tiny little kernel. I mean, that was an unpublished graphic novel. We were sent eight pages—it wasn’t even finished. And I said yes to those eight pages.”
She further shared that she was having anxieties about her being a ‘female actor’ in an industry which looks for ideal young actresses. “I think the reason why I pushed as hard as I did on that film was because—and this is just a sad truth—there’s still a part of me as a female actor that always feels like this might be the last opportunity. It’s terrible that that’s in my psyche. It’s also the thing that drives me and put some real fire under my ass to get it right. And I was relentless on that film. I carried a responsibility since I was developing it that I couldn’t look back and say, ‘Well, you know, it was a script that was … ‘ I was in charge of everything, and I didn’t want to get it wrong, I wanted to get it right.”
What It Means To Be A Female Actor In The Film Industry: “Time Is Running Out”
Charlize Theron’s anxieties were understandable and valid. The film industry looks for younger actresses for most movie genres, especially action and thrillers. Female actors are given the role of ‘mothers’ quicker than men are seen for the roles of the ‘father.’ These misogynistic and ageist practices of Hollywood are what bothered Theron into thinking she might not be seen fit for an action thriller role.
“I made Atomic Blonde when I was 40 years old,” Theron said. She further added, “There was a sense of, ‘Time is running out, you’ve got to get it right. This means so much to you, and if you want to stay in this game, you’ve got to get it right.’”
Theron even contacted ‘John Wick‘ producer, David Leitch, and hired him for the film. He was also the un-credited director for ‘Atomic Blonde.’ She added, “So I put a lot of pressure on everybody on that movie. I hired David Leitch for the reason that he could handle it. I said to him, ‘I’m never going to stop. And I’m going to expect you to never stop.’ Any kind of mediocrity is going to be the enemy on this film.”
The sequel to ‘Atomic Blonde‘ is also in the making, and will reportedly be released on Netflix. Many suspect that the two movies can collide in the ‘John Wick‘ universe.
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