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Daniel Radcliffe’s Imperium Portrays A Master Manipulator

By Caroline Diana
Published on: 08:46 PST, Jul 10, 2016

Fans are waiting with bated breath for Daniel Radcliffe’s new movie Imperium, which is set to release in August. This movie would alter the image of the young actor who, for long, has been fondly remembered for his titular role in the Harry Potter franchise.

Although Daniel Radcliffe showcased his acting prowess in Swiss Army Man and Now You See Me 2, his role in Imperium is something that fans of spy movies are looking forward to.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Daniel Radcliffe plays Nate Foster, an FBI agent who goes under cover to disrupt a local terrorist group’s effort to make a bomb.

“His character is based on Michael German, a former FBI agent who spent years inside the neo-Nazi movement,” said Daniel Ragussis, the director and producer of Imperium.

Michael German is also the co-writer of Imperium.

“It was inspired by real events and co-written by Michael German, a former agent who spent years inside the neo-Nazi movement,” said Ragussis.

“I learned from Michael that actual undercover agents are primarily master manipulators — able to win confidences, control situations, and out-think the enemy, even when mortal danger is staring them in the face. Toni Collette plays Angela Zamparo, his case agent and supervisor. She’s spent years focusing on white supremacist terrorism and is really the only person out there that’s focused on keeping Nate alive,” Imperium director Ragussis explained, adding that the movie is timely and relevant.

“We’re witnessing a surge in far-right groups all across Europe; in some cases they’re nearly winning national elections,” Ragussis added.

“We have a stereotype of what it means to be a white supremacist, but when I began collaborating with Michael and doing my own research, I was stunned by the depth and the extent of this movement,” said the Imperium director.

Imperium director Ragussis has done his homework in efficiently portraying the modern-day white supremacist community.

“There’s a large white supremacist rally in the middle of the film that we had spent months researching and planning. There were so many details that had to be captured to try to make it real and authentic. I’d read about them, seen them, watched videos of them — but to actually see it come to life by our own hands was something I’ll never forget. Someone even called the news and erroneously reported a Klan rally in their neighborhood! So to that extent, I suppose we did our job,” Ragussis said.

Meanwhile, protagonist Daniel Radcliffe is experimenting with different genres.

Almost all of his professional choices after the Harry Potter movies have been bold.

“Most of my actor friends my age are all hoping to get into some mega-franchise and then not have to worry any more. It gives you so much autonomy over your career. For me to already have that is pretty amazing,” said Daniel Radcliffe in an interview with the Independent.

When asked if he would do a Star Wars movie, he told GQ, “I’d love to. I would jump at the chance. I have absolutely no tolerance for people who are not f**king delighted to be on set every day, because you should be. On the whole, nobody gets to be in films like that. It’s such a tiny percentage of people who get to be in those films.”

In a 2014 interview to the Independent, Daniel Radcliffe said he is ready to tackle early career insecurities.

“There were definitely times when I didn’t know what I was doing,” he said.

“When I got out into the real world and met other actors who had trained, I was like, Jesus, I’ve got to go and find some sort of a process for myself,” he said.

Hopefully, Imperium will give the kind of break Daniel Radcliffe has been yearning for.

[Photo by Jack Dempsey/AP Images]

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