Andrew Scott on Why He Agreed to Do 'Ripley': "Holds Power Over Us"

Irish actor Andrew Scott, famed for his roles in 'Fleabag' and 'Sherlock,' faced a tough decision before joining the cast of Netflix's crime thriller 'Ripley.' Despite the series trending on the streaming platform since its 4th April release, Scott needed some convincing to take on the remake of the 1999 film 'The Talented Mr Ripley.'

When approached by series creator and Oscar winner Steve Zaillian, Scott's initial question was: "Why do this?" It's a fair query, considering the existence of a film adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's classic novel. Scott made it clear that he wasn't interested in a project lacking its unique essence. "You gotta bring your own stuff to it or else it's pretty pointless to me," he remarked in a Vanity Fair interview.

Also Read: ‘Ripley’ Review: Andrew Scott And Dakota Fanning Shine in Adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s Classic

However, Zaillian's vision for the adaptation eventually won Scott over. The series offers a mature and nuanced portrayal of the protagonist, Tom Ripley. "Zaillian was very clear about the kind of vision that he had for this version of the story," Scott explained, highlighting the character's elusive nature. "I think what's fascinating and enduring about this character is that he's sort of like water. There's a fluidity to him that we can't quite put our finger on. For that reason, he holds a sort of power over us," Scott added.

In this contemporary retelling, 'Ripley' explores themes of class, politics and desire. The characters are older, reflecting a deeper exploration of their motivations and relationships.

"The story is so much about somebody who hasn't been given access to the beautiful things in life, even though he's deeply talented. We say he's a con artist, but he's nevertheless an artist," Scott defended the morally ambiguous character.

Discussing Ripley's sexuality, Scott described it as murky, reflecting themes of envy, lust and obsession. "There is a notion of class and morality and also about sexuality as well. I think there's a kind of murkiness to Tom's sexuality," he explained.

'Ripley' is currently available for streaming on Netflix.