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Chiwetel Ejiofor: No.

I didnt really know much about the novel.

It was only after I spoke to Craig.

So then I went and read the novel and just sort of understood what he was talking about basically.

I thoroughly enjoyed the novel itself, as well.

But I think it was great to kind of extend that and pull it in a slightly different direction.

What was your take on Loomis as you started to explore the character a bit?

But the gap between who he thinks he is and who he actually is is extremely wide.

He obviously has some sort of post-traumatic stress from these events.

So hes a very complicated guy.

And none of the faults that he really wears on his sleeve.

He just has issues.

No one really acts as you might think they do.

And its so interesting, the psychology.

In this circumstance its revealed as a kind of masculine idea.

I dont know if it is particularly.

And they are completely imaginary.

Like the fact that hes there first doesnt necessarily mean anything.

But when Caleb turns up, Loomis feels that he has the territorial rights.

And thats very human.

But that was I suppose what we were looking into.

What would be the first systems that would resurface?

There would be the dynamics between men and women, the normalizing of that.

And then youd have to have eventual systems of government, systems of justice.

So the play of those sorts of things was really fascinating to me.

I think the race issue, again, is absolutely fascinating because obviously, initially, it doesnt matter.

It makes no difference.

Theres nobody else on the planet.

At what point does race become a factor again?

And that is something that destabilizes him, essentially.

I mean absolutely the system of minority is such a fascinating single kind of concept.

So he does, I think, become more insecure about the religious aspect.

Hes an atheist through and through, not even agnostic or anything.

So thats just not an option for him.

All three of you have done huge movies in addition to small ones like this.

Its very sort of raw, especially if its a two-hander.

Or its a two-hander for the first half of the movie and then a three-hander for the second half.

All of it is very open in that sense.

That to me was just kind of fascinating.

Both Margot and Chris, I knew them to be terrific actors.

But on larger movies its sometimes hard to see all of those other nuances that they offer.

I think thats what excited both of them about the project.

Certainly it excited me.

That was a very beautiful part of developing it and playing it.

They briefly flashed your image onscreen at Disneys D23 Expo recently while showing off concept art forDoctor Strange.

Have you started to do your research into Baron Mordo yet?

Ive been reading all about the Baron.

What kind of preparation have they asked you to take on for this?

Well, Im not going into all of that (laughs).

As well you know (laughs).

Are you looking forward to getting into the superhero genre?

Im very, very much looking forward to working on it, yeah.

Do you enjoy the kind of range the genre can offer?

Sci-fi is amazing because you’re able to literally come up with anything.

you’re free to come up with any sort of crazy sort of premise.

Its kind of laughable.

But it obviously completely grips you and the narrative ofAlienis so amazing.

Thats why I think the genre just has a limitless amount to offer.

Have you seen any ofThe Martianyet?

Ive seen the film.

I think Ridley is extraordinary.

And Matt Damon I think is absolutely fantastic in the movie.

Hes a tireless actor.

So yeah, Im really excited for people to see it.

Its a beautiful film.

And a great book as well.

Z for Zachariahis out in theaters this Friday (August 28).