Renowned writer-director Ethan Coen has long been known for his steadfast adherence to original dialogues in his films, shunning any alterations from actors. Yet, this doesn't preclude him from embracing a collaborative spirit with his stars, as evidenced in his latest venture with his wife and co-writer, Tricia Cooke. During a New York screening of their neo-noir dark comedy detective film, "Honey Don't!", The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Aubrey Plaza, Margaret Qualley, and Charlie Day, who shared insights into how they contributed to shaping their unique characters in the movie.
Plaza, portraying MG Falcone, the love interest of Qualley's character, lauded Coen and Cooke for their "remarkably collaborative" approach. Despite hearing about Coen's reluctance to tweak lines, she noted, "He made some adjustments here, which I found refreshing because he welcomed all suggestions with an open mind." Plaza's character underwent a "subtle transformation" once she was cast, she recalled. "When Margaret and I started rehearsing and found our groove, we identified certain power dynamics that needed addressing and fine-tuning. We ensured that every nuance and minor tweak along the way aligned logically," she elaborated. "We were both eager and flexible to experiment."
Qualley, who starred in Coen and Cooke's first film of their self-proclaimed lesbian B-movie trilogy, "Drive-Away Dolls," expressed her enthusiasm to work with them again, citing the joyful atmosphere on set. "I cherish learning from and collaborating with them," she said. For this project, Qualley, who essays the title role of small-town private investigator Honey O'Donahue and researched classic noir films and literature, toyed with altering her voice to sound sweeter, akin to honey. "I aimed for a hint of Lauren Bacall or Humphrey Bogart's charm," Qualley revealed. "I read Bacall's autobiography where she talked about lowering her voice by climbing a mountain and screaming till she lost it. I didn't quite go that far, but I gave it a try."
It seems Coen was influenced by both Qualley and Plaza. The filmmaker highlighted his meeting with Qualley on "Drive-Away Dolls" as pivotal for "Honey Don't!." "She was perfect for this role," he said. "The influence of 'Drive-Away Dolls' on this film is undeniable, especially through Margaret." Plaza recalled Coen approaching her after wrapping up "Honey Don't!" to inform her that he had written an off-Broadway play with her in mind. "Ethan came to my trailer and said, 'I wrote this play thinking of you, and I didn't realize it till now. Would you do it?' I responded, 'I'll do anything you ask.' I adored working with him and wanted to continue our creative partnership," she shared.
Day, eager to gain from Coen and Cooke, insisted that he "didn't alter a single comma" but cherished the "relaxed" ambiance on set. "They have a clear vision, so it's about delivering what's scripted. With that, we're good to go," he explained. "It's a laid-back set, brimming with positivity and vibrant energy."
Previously, Coen and Cooke expressed uncertainty about a third film in their trilogy but remained noncommittal at the "Honey Don't!" screening. "I'm not sure. It might happen. Actually, we're working on a couple of projects, including a potential third one. You create films and see where they lead," Coen said. Cooke joked about her simple strategy to complete the trilogy: "We'll just label the next film as the third one," she quipped.
Starring Chris Evans and Billy Eichner, Focus Features' "Honey Don't!" is now showing in theaters.
