We sat down with him for an in-depth interview on all three films and more.
Next up, August brings strange horror/sci-fiCuckoo, which sees Stevens playing a deranged scientist.
Between press tours, festivals, and new projects, hes got a lot going on.
And we get the sense he wouldnt have it any other way.
Describing himself as an experience hound, Stevens is a man who thrives on challenges.
He also likes to write and is editor-at-large and co-founder of quarterly literary publication The Junket.
Still, he describes his huge creative appetite as a double-edged sword.
But it sometimes makes it hard to pin down the actual thing itself.
The appetite for creativity is there but you havent actually created anything.
Youve just been arguing about which pen to use.
Hes not a man who rests on his laurels.
So are there any roles hed love to try that he hasnt had a chance to?
Yes, he smiles.
I just dont know what they are yet.
Whats it like having three big projects released so close together?
Presumably they were shot at different times?
Its amazing to have more in one season.
I love that aspect of my career.
How did director Adam Wingard pitch Trapper inGodzilla x Kongto you?
He talked about the character introduction.
This guy was going to be responsible for taking out Kongs tooth, which immediately had my interest.
I think its one of the coolest character introductions Ive ever had.
Hes really good at these cool beats.
Adam knows how to make you look cool.
He knows a great tune to give you alongside it.
Hes incredible at choosing music for his movies.
I knew that already fromThe Guest.
He doesnt want anyone to be taking it too seriously.
He just wants to give audiences a good time, and Im right there with him.
It was quite a throwback to old-fashioned blockbusters.
We see a little bit of Han Solo in Trapper…
Someone described him as a happy-go-lucky Han Solo, which I thought was a really nice description.
Youre in good hands with him, but hes also not really fazed by anything.
How was it shooting that opening scene?
So Ive been up close and personal with Kong, which not a lot of people can say.
Weve known each other for a long time now, over 20 years.
It adds to [the story].
Shes got this eye-rolling respect for Trapper.
Which, I think there may be a little bit in Rebecca Halls attitude toward me.
And I love making those movies.
I love going to see those movies.
Horror comedy is really up my street.
Anyone who can get humor in anywhere is doing good work in my book.
[Directors] Matt and Tyler [Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett of Radio Silence] really lean into that.
Heist movies are often kind of cool; the opening beats ofAbigailplay into that.
They really invited a playfulness with the whole cast.
A lot of it was led by Angus Cloud, who was fantastic to work with.
He was throwing in improv left, right, and center, so then we all started doing it.
They are such playful filmmakers.
I had a really, really good time making it despite being covered in so much blood.
It looks like Kathryn Newton gets the worst of it…
She definitely gets the worst deal.
Ours, at least, was just movie blood, which is syrup with red in it.
They mushed up banana and put it with movie blood, and it was all through her hair.
Alisha Weir, as Abigail, is a revelation.
How did you find working with her?
She floored us all.
Shes just such a pro.
That fight sequence at the end took two weeks to shoot.
And shed do it 12 times in a row without batting an eyelid.
Watching this 12-year-old girl with fangs in her mouth, just effing and blinding, it was delightful.
Do you enjoy doing stunt work?
The Guestwas the first opportunity I had to really get physical and to physically prep for a role.
And just keeping up with a 12-year-old vampire ballerina takes a lot of effort.
The physicality required for whatever it is informs the character.
Beauty and the Beastmust have involved a very physical transformation.
I wasnt just working with choreographers for dance; I was working with movement coaches.
That was a very physical prep, and that really informed facial choices, vocal choices.
I probably wouldnt have had that insight to know to prep that character without having done something likeThe Guest.
Im constantly learning to be honest.
Im picking up tips on every job.
Was it daunting taking on such an iconic character?
Yeah, it was a great privilege; its one of the great animated movies of all time.
To get to embody that was amazing.
Next up, you have horror-thrillerCuckoo.
Have you seen director Tilman Singers previous film,Luz?
I really recommend everyone see that.
Its only 70 minutes long, which makes it easy to recommend.
It was made for, like, 50,000 euros with a bunch of mates from art school.
Its weirdly disturbing and so smartly done in terms of sound design.
Im a real geek for sound design, and I like watching peoples early work.
Its the same withLuz; its a showcase of a brilliant filmmaking mind at work.
How did you come on board?
I got sent the script out of the blue one day.
I read it and loved it.
I got on the phone [with Tilman] and started speaking German.
He didnt know I could speak German and was blown away.
I saw this character, and I just laid it out for him.
Three weeks later, I was in Germany in pre-production.
There was immediate trust.
We both found this character very funny
in the midst of what is quite a disturbing, weird thing.
Hunter Schafers great in it.
What was it like working with her?
Its a really dazzling movie debut.
Shes already a very interesting actor fromEuphoriaand shed been talking with Tilman about this for years.
Shed stayed very loyal to the project and really believed in Tilman.
Downtonwas your big break into the mainstream.
How was it having this three-season arc on a TV show?
I started out doing a lot of theater.
I did about a decade of it before doing any telly at all.
I just always had an appetite for variety.
Youre a writer as well.
Do you get a chance to write much these days?
I do, but not as much as I would like.
And Im always kind of kicking myself for that.
I find writing very fulfilling.
Id read an interview with you where you had described yourself as having creative ADHD.
Do you find yourself wanting to try something new all the time?
Im an experience hound.
Or should it be a poem?
Or maybe it should be a screenplay?
Its constantly morphing in my brain.
Do you think that you might want to direct or produce going forward?
Yes, at some point.
Radio Silence were the last ones.
So I hope to honor that.
Thats kind of great.
I love moments like that.
But they did see that clip onGood Morning Britainand thought it was hilarious.
It was just pure reaction and pure very tired Dan on live television.
It was very funny.
The real answer I should have given was 17.
But you know, I wasnt thinking that fast.
Cuckoo will be released in theaters on Aug. 9.
