Conversations with the Cast and Crew of ‘Gangs of London’

​It didn’t take long for the AMC+ series, Gangs of London, to captivate audiences around the world courtesy of its incredible storytelling and marvelous direction, and now that it is back on the air for season two, we here at NTG thought we would celebrate its return in style. Courtesy of our interviews with Director Corin Hardy and cast members, Sopé Dìrísú, Narges Rashidi and Waleed Zuaiter.

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Corin Hardy & Sopé Dìrísú

John Betancourt: What does it mean to both of you, to be part of such a bold and powerful show?
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Sopé Dìrísú: I'm really proud of the show, I'm proud of the work that we've done, I'm proud of the crew and the cast. And like all of the people that work in the office, I think coming back into the second series and seeing not only Corin coming back as our fearless leader, you know, providing excellent continuity and also like such drive and passion and vision for the second series, but like when the sound department want to come, like, clear their diary so that they can come back for this job, you know, that not only do you have a special product that you've produced, but also like, a special environment in which you're doing it. And I mean, like I think a lot of shows talk about it being feeling, like a family or like a family reunion is the other. And I'm not saying that ours is more so than anybody else. But it definitely felt like that coming back, you know, there was a celebration, on the success of the first series when we came back to make the second one. And like, I was beaming to be able to go up to people and be like, congratulations on your hit series. Congratulations and your BAFTA winning series, you know. And yeah, so yeah, I'm super proud to be part of a show that's not only like, excellent for its diversity, and its action sequences, but also for the stories that we're telling the cultures that we're exploring, and like, I'm just glad that the world is connecting with our work as well.

Corin Hardy: Yeah, I mean, thanks for the words powerful and bold, those are definitely two words that I want, Gangs to feel like, you know, we're sort of juggling a lot of factors. It was really, really reaffirming and reassuring, when the audience reacted to the first series. First season and, and then to be able to sort of, because when we're doing that, we were kind of experimenting, you know, putting together a show with pulling in a lot of genres and doing what we felt was right. So, to have an audience immediately lap that up and give us a second season was, you know, kind of like an honor and a responsibility to carry the torch forward. And want to… well, certainly not lower the bar and not disappoint. So wanted to really go all out and, you know, bring as much emotion into the second season, work with those characters that the actors, like rendered so beautifully, and then go hell for leather with the action and make something as cinematic as possible.

John Betancourt: So, Corin, as a director, how do you prepare for shoots that are so complex? I mean, that opening sequence this season in the laundromat is something else.

Corin Hardy: Thank you, man. It's the thrill of getting the opportunity. You know, I’m feeling very lucky to be able to get given, you know, people to be able to finance a show where you're supported in going pretty wild with, you know, particularly obviously, the set pieces and the action is stuff I really enjoy doing. But having such an incredible cast and being able to work with them and explore these characters and get under their skin is also, you know, a real honor to do so. Concocting the action as you say, the launderette scene I wanted to build I was like, right we're going to reintroduce the characters you know and love and we're going to introduce some new characters, and obviously, Sopé’s character Elliott, we're going to meet him in a different mindset a year on, and he's been doing some pretty terrible things for a year and he's in a bind with the investors. So, I didn't want to just do a kind of hero's introduction I wanted to sort of do a fucked up hero’s introduction where we're going to, a little bit like you might get in James Bond or Indiana Jones you know, we're going to we're going to meet him in the thick of a mission and actually I like the idea of we all know that Gangs is responsible for these you know, meticulous set pieces, and I thought wouldn't be good to do almost like a camera shot that takes you through a set piece that's already happened or is happening just behind the camera. So, you're not actually going to see that for a moment, you're going to, you're going to be building up to the introduction of the guy we love to see kicking ass, and only then reveal him. But when we do reveal him it's not as simple as he's just mission complete. The reason being because I wanted to show his emotional state which is now very ragged, and you know, he's tired, he's exhausted and we're going to meet him. And then it before you know you get the kind of swell of the music score, Elliot's theme, and then he’s slammed into the wall and then you're into the action. So, it's always a chance to just try and concoct things that excite me and excite others and then get the chance to film them.

John Betancourt: Well, that is simply incredible. Now Sope, for you, as an actor, how do you get yourself into the mindset to deal with the utter chaos that surrounds Elliot?

Sopé Dìrísú: I think survival is the primary concern. Especially when you're fighting the World's Strongest Man, and all of the stunt performers that we're working with, you know, I'm really blessed to be able to say that I've been able to come through the whole series unscathed, I haven't sustained any injuries, let alone major injuries. That's because, like, Elliott's instinct as well, in those moments when you're fighting through a bar full of Albanian gangsters, or a naked man with a meat cleaver or a highly skilled martial artist, or one of the tallest men I've ever met in Olivier at the end of season one, the World's Strongest Man, it's just like, how do I overcome this obstacle directly in front of me? And sometimes I'm concerned about like, how do we tell the story make sure that you maintain this emotional state? But fear and survival are probably ones that are consistent for all of the action sequences that you see him and so if I focus on that, then maybe I'll come out alive.

John Betancourt: That’s pretty plain and simple, and boy does he face some massive foes.

Corin Hardy: And he's not exaggerating as Adriano is the world's or was the World's Strongest Man if you google him is Lithuanian, absolute power lifter.

John Betancourt: That’s beyond incredible. Now, with season two upon us, what are you each of you most looking forward to audiences experiencing this season… without spoiling of course?

Sopé Dìrísú: Um, I think my favorite arc in this series is the one of the Dushaj family, you know. Luan, and Melinda. And what they go through, I think is just, they were the excellent Macbeth and Lady Macbeth of the first series. And I think that continues in the best way. So, when I was sat on watching it with my family, earlier this year, I was like, “Ah, it's just such good storytelling, such incredible emotional work and the work that they do together is incredible as well.” So yeah, we get to experience more excellent storylines, and work from the Duhasjs, or the Shukas I should say.

Corin Hardy: Well. A lot. I'm looking forward to them seeing a lot. A lot of, you know, seeing you're seeing the characters that they know and love getting put through the wringer even more intensely. And I'm really sort of excited for people to experience some of these set pieces we've devised, I suppose. I'm very excited for them to meet this new character, Koba, played by Waleed Zuaiter who is brought to London to kind of get control of the gangs, who have become very volatile in the kind of fragmented wake of the Wallace and Dumani fallout in season one. And he's just done such a great job as an actor to create this character, which sort of shakes everyone up from inside, you know, he's, he's sort of charismatic and he's unnerving, and very strange. And kind of weirdly lovable, which I think you get a lot in, you know, bearing in mind, all the characters in Gangs are, are criminals and villains. As I'd say, maybe that includes Elliot. And, you know, what you want to have empathy for them and relate to them in certain ways. And I think all of the actors have just done such a great job there. So yeah, I hope folks are gonna dig it.

John Betancourt: What are you both most proud of when it comes to your time on this show?

Corin Hardy: Getting through it. (Laughter) You know, the show is incredibly ambitious and therefore really hard. You know, we didn't want to do regular television. I say we everyone, I mean Gareth when we set out and myself, Xavier and directors on season two Marcela and Nima and the producers and everyone, it was important to me, you know, I didn't want to do a TV show that looks like a TV show. And it feels unconventional in that sense, and the scale of it and the ambition with what we try to pull off is sometimes like, almost impossible feeling and combine that with a pandemic, that happened, when we started, made it almost an insurmountable job. And so actually, it's only now I'm really feeling the reward and a relief of having finished it, watching it. We had a premiere in England in London three weeks ago. And it was just like one of the best nights where 300 Strangers in the audience, were able to experience those first two episodes. And obviously, when you finally show it, you kind of become quite nervous, and you don't know what the reaction is going to be and whether people are going to get it. And this incredible reaction we had throughout the first two episodes, culminating in this kind of audience gasping, screaming, and shouting and clapping, was just really relieving. And heartening to see. So, if that rings through around the living rooms of the world, I'd be very happy.

Sopé Dìrísú: I think the thing that I'm most proud of being part of Gangs is growth, actually, in this might be a bit selfish, but it's like, the first time that I've been able to do the second of anything. Second sequel film or second season, every time I join a season of something either gets canceled, or I get killed off. So, like, thank you, Corin for keeping me through to the second season. But yeah, just like the opportunity to revisit a character and develop it and go on a bit more of a journey with it. And also, the growth as an artist, like I really feel that Corin and Nima and Marcela and all the people upstairs as well really listens to my voice, like I was asked my opinion on things, and I was able to sort of help restructure or rewrite certain scenes and stuff like that. And like, this is not an opportunity that I've been afforded in the past and one you may not get again, because depending on who you collaborate with, some people are not as receptive or responsive to suggestions. So, I just I'm so grateful to everybody at Gangs for helping me grow as an artist.

Narges Rashidi & Waleed Zuaiter

John Betancourt: What does it mean to each of you to be part of such a bold and powerful show?
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Narges Rashidi: So much. To have the opportunity to be… I mean, as an actor, first of all, to have the opportunity to be a part of something so huge, so complex and full of action. And there's like, I think we have 700 people working on the show. That in itself is just insane. It's like winning the lottery. And, then as a woman to have the opportunity to play a character so complex and so strong and so badass. You know, it doesn't even matter what sex you have. It's so regardless of that, that is so rare. Yeah, that in itself is just, I don't know, I'm forever grateful.

Waleed Zuaiter: I became a huge fan of season one, after taping the scenes that they wanted to see me for Koba, I'd asked for the links and, and just immediately was like, “Wow.” I'm just… I feel blessed to be a part of this incredible production. And Koba is such an outrageous character that it was both terrifying to me as an actor, but also just exhilarating, because I just really kind of let my imagination go wild and just try to, you know, it was just one of those characters where you really get to play, and to play in this amazing company of incredible actors? And like Narges was saying the production value is just incredible. It's beautiful. It's basically of filmmakers shooting this show on a TV schedule. So, all we heard, you know, throughout was, you know, we hire really talented, experienced actors to kind of accomplish what we want to do on the schedule. So, it was it was a gift, it was a blessing. And it was just an utter joy to just be in this incredible company of talent.

Narges Rashidi: One more thing I want to really say is like, you know, as an actor, you get all these opportunities, and you choose from what you get. But Gangs of London for me is like, I'm actually myself fan-girling. When I watch it, like not because I'm in it, obviously, I'm a fan girl with everything else about the show. But that is so incredible. Like, this is a first for me to like, watch something and you're like, “Oh, I'm actually a big fan of it myself.”

John Betancourt: Without spoilers, what are each of you looking forward to audience experiencing this season?

Waleed Zuatier: I mean, I'm really looking forward to them experiencing, you know, especially those who are fans of season one, to see how Koba disrupts what's been established, and so I'm really looking forward to hearing their reactions, and to also just kind of seeing where the characters and season one have evolved. Because it really takes the theme of power versus family to a whole ‘nother level, and like, just to kind of experience how the different characters react to this new force kind of coming in. And, and disrupting things because he's meant to dominate, but he's also meant to entertain in a really weird way, like the audience is meant to kind of enjoy, Koba, in seeing him enjoying how… he's torturing people.

Narges Rashidi: I can't wait for you, for everyone to meet Koba, actually, Waleed is absolutely right. It's a joy to watch. He is the most villain-villain I've ever seen. (Laughter) And to meet all these new gangster families that are coming in that, you know, nobody's seen before and season one. I'm very excited for that. And I'm also excited for everyone to go on this journey, because it's going to be a roller coaster and it's going to be full of twists and unexpected things. It's there's so much unexpected… that I can't wait for people to experience that. It's going to be a roller coaster of emotions.

John Betancourt: Last question I have for you today, what are you most proud of when it comes to your time on this show?

Narges Rashidi: All the action stuff that I'm allowed to do, and I was allowed do my own stunts, this season. And I'm really proud of that. Because it was a lot of work. It was very, very hard at times. I worked out towards the end of my shooting my whole sequence, I think, seven to seven hours a day, for the last two weeks or something to prep for it. And I'm really proud of that.

Waleed Zuatier: I'm really proud of the friendships of everybody in the cast and the crew and the creative team, because it was very collaborative, honestly, like it there was no ego. There was just welcoming ideas and creativity. And I got a lot of that because I was terrified, kind of playing this outrageous character. So, I just kind of shared a lot of my thoughts and reactions to the material. And they were so, so, warmly welcomed. And actually, there were changes that were made in the script, new things that were brought into scenes, because we were kind of connecting the dots. And I just, I'm so proud of that, like, you know, Corin, especially but Tom Butterworth as well, the haed writer, and then just the camaraderie that we had as cast members with each other. It was unparalleled. I think.

This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.