Marlowe: On the red carpet with Liam Neeson, Neil Jordan and Ian Hart

Working with Irish filmmaker, screenwriter and novelist Neil Jordan (Interview with a Vampire, The Crying Game, Mona Lisa, Greta), action veteran Liam Neeson returns for his 100^th role to portray the character of private eye Philip Marlowe, as previously taken on by the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Dick Powell, Robert Mitchum, Elliot Gould and James Caan. And this is no straightforward adaptation of Raymond Chandler, but rather a few stages removed, taking as its source material The Black-Eyed Blonde by John Banville; written under the pen name Benjamin Black, the crime novel is a sequel to Chandler’s The Long Goodbye.

The result? A stunningly immersive, stylish, seductive neo-noir thriller that impeccably recreates old Hollywood through incredible costumes and set design, with the 1939 LA underworld conjured from the streets of modern-day Barcelona, and plenty of world-weary detectives and femme fatales puffing from cigarette holders. Diane Kruger and the legendary Jessica Lange invoke the latter as an electric blonde bombshell mother/daughter pair. Viewers can expect to be transported to the era and taken on an intricately woven mystery that will keep them on their toes until the closing scenes.

The Upcoming hit the red carpet for the London premiere to chat with the Sky Original’s director and stars. Neeson spoke about the appeal of working with Jordan and his fellow cast on the project, and how he prepared to play the famed character of Philip Marlowe.

The director shared with us why he wanted to adapt the story for the screen, assembling his phenomenal cast and recreating 1939 Los Angeles.

Ian Hart also talked with us about the fun he had on-set and why he thinks Neeson is so endlessly watchable.

Sarah Bradbury

Marlowe is released in cinemas and on Sky Cinema on 17^th March 2023. Watch our interviews at the Marrakech Film Festival premiere here.

Watch the trailer for Marlowe here: