Taron Egerton, known for playing heroic and sympathetic characters throughout his career, shifts dramatically in the new Netflix film Apex. The upcoming survival thriller, directed by Baltasar Kormákur, casts Egerton as Ben, a man-hunter who pursues the toughest prey of all—a fellow human. Set in the remote wilderness of an Australian national park, Ben’s deadly pursuit targets Sasha, a climber played by Charlize Theron, sparking a dangerous and intense cat-and-mouse game.
Director Shapes Role to Explore Egerton’s Darker Side
Kormákur tailored the character of Ben specifically for Egerton, encouraging the actor to explore unsettling aspects of the personality.
“What I really wanted him to do is find the creep inside himself,”
the director revealed. For Egerton, portraying Ben required balancing psychological depth with mystery:
“The scariest things in life are always the corners that aren’t well lit, and I feel that way about Ben,”
Egerton said. He added that the character’s backstory, including a troubled relationship with his mother, is hinted at rather than fully explained to preserve the enigma.
“I like the allusions. I like the hints at what’s happened, the sense that a relationship with his mother ended very, very badly. But I think the moment you start to spell all of that out and be prescriptive about the character’s pathology, you lose something of the enigma.”
An Intense Thriller Inspired by Genre Classics
Apex aims to offer a chilling take on the serial killer story, set against the rugged and vertiginous Australian landscape. Egerton draws a comparison to iconic characters in the genre, noting,
“There’s a lot you learn in The Silence Of The Lambs about Hannibal Lecter, but there’s also a great deal [you don’t know].”
The film grounds this familiar predator-prey dynamic in an environment that is both visually striking and unforgiving.
Release Date and Additional Insights
Netflix will release Apex on April 24, inviting audiences to witness Egerton’s chilling transformation. For more in-depth commentary, Empire magazine features interviews with Egerton, Theron, and director Kormákur in its March 12 issue, which also celebrates The Mandalorian. Apex stands as a bold departure for Egerton, highlighting his range by stepping firmly into darker territory while maintaining the mystery that keeps audiences engaged.
