THE OVERVIEW
The multitalented Benicio del Toro is extending his creative wings, adding screenwriting to his list of accomplishments with the much-anticipated film, ‘Reptile.’ Director Grant Singer lauded del Toro’s artistic input, giving him carte blanche to fully embody his role and making for an extraordinary collaborative process. Singer, with a resume that boasts extensive experience in directing music videos, highly values the art of collaboration and tuning into the vision of his collaborators—this ethos is strongly reflected in how he welcomed del Toro’s imaginative concepts for ‘Reptile.’
Benicio del Toro is no stranger to the limelight. With an Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards in his trophy case—thanks in part to his role in ‘Traffic’—he’s had a career most actors would envy. The Puerto Rican star has dabbled in a variety of high-profile movies, such as ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,’ ‘The Way of the Gun,’ ‘Sin City,’ ‘The French Dispatch,’ and even some Marvel Cinematic Universe flicks. Alongside collaborating with A-list directors, del Toro has explored directing himself and has also forayed into producing. Yet, until his latest project, ‘Reptile,’ he’d never put pen to paper for a screenplay. All that shifted when he took on a role in Grant Singer’s upcoming thriller, joining forces with Singer and Benjamin Brewer to co-write the script. Del Toro isn’t just flexing his writing muscles; he’s also front and center in this crime thriller, starring alongside Alicia Silverstone and Justin Timberlake.
In an exclusive chat with Steve Weintraub from FilmSweep, Director Grant Singer explained the genesis of del Toro’s newfound screenwriting credit. After an initial meet-up, Singer revealed that the trio started collaborating “practically on the spot,” noting, “Benicio came loaded with a plethora of ingenious ideas. The screenplay organically began to evolve, and, well, so did the movie; we just rolled with it.” Singer voiced his enthusiasm for the contributions from the ‘Sicario’ actor, emphasizing that “actors bring a richness of perspective that can propel a movie’s depth.” He continued, “When you provide them the latitude to fully realize a character—provided they grasp the project’s essence—it generally pays off in spades.”
When quizzed on what, specifically, del Toro brought to the table, Singer responded, “Truth be told, the guy did it all,” making it clear that his contribution was holistic rather than compartmentalized. “Benicio was magnificent. It was an absolute joy of an experience. The man’s a wizard when it comes to fleshing out characters, and together we took the narrative in exciting new directions; the collaboration was pure gold.” The plot of ‘Reptile’ revolves around a grizzled detective, played by del Toro, as he endeavors to solve the murder of a young real estate agent, ultimately revealing unsettling truths about his own existence.
Behind The Lens: Grant Singer’s Expertise
Director Grant Singer is no novice when it comes to the idea of collaboration. Although ‘Reptile’ marks his first foray into feature-length films, he’s been crafting music videos for years. With an eclectic client list featuring the likes of Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Sam Smith, Singer is well-practiced in listening to others’ creative visions before finalizing his own blueprint. This rich background makes it entirely understandable why he was so open to del Toro’s contributions on ‘Reptile.’
‘Mark your calendars, folks. ‘Reptile’ will make its cinematic debut on September 29, before slithering its way to Netflix on October 6, following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Benicio del Toro’s Screenwriting Debut in ‘Reptile’
What is the new role Benicio del Toro is taking on in ‘Reptile’?
Benicio del Toro is expanding his artistic range by co-writing the script for the upcoming film ‘Reptile.’ In addition to acting, this marks his first foray into screenwriting.
Who is directing ‘Reptile’?
The film is directed by Grant Singer, who is making his feature-length directorial debut with this project. Singer is known for his extensive work in music videos.
What is the film ‘Reptile’ about?
‘Reptile’ is a crime thriller that follows a grizzled detective, played by Benicio del Toro, as he works to solve the murder of a young real estate agent while discovering unsettling truths about his own life.
When and where will ‘Reptile’ be released?
‘Reptile’ will make its cinematic debut on September 29 and will be available on Netflix starting October 6. It will also premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Who are the other stars in ‘Reptile’?
Alicia Silverstone and Justin Timberlake will also be starring in the film alongside Benicio del Toro.
What was Grant Singer’s previous experience before directing ‘Reptile’?
Grant Singer is known for directing music videos for artists like Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Sam Smith.
How did del Toro’s screenwriting involvement come about?
After an initial meeting with Grant Singer, Benicio del Toro joined the writing team almost immediately, contributing a plethora of ideas that evolved both the screenplay and the film itself.
What did Grant Singer say about del Toro’s contribution to the script?
Grant Singer praised Benicio del Toro’s contributions as “holistic” and “incredible,” stating that he brought a lot of brilliant ideas to the table and made for a beautiful collaboration.
Was this a collaborative project?
Yes, both the director and Benicio del Toro emphasized the importance of collaboration in making ‘Reptile,’ and del Toro was given the freedom to fully realize his character.
What awards has Benicio del Toro won in his acting career?
Benicio del Toro has won an Academy Award, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
More about Benicio del Toro’s Screenwriting Debut in ‘Reptile’
- Benicio del Toro’s Filmography
- Grant Singer’s Directorial Works
- Toronto International Film Festival Official Site
- Netflix Upcoming Releases
- Interview with Grant Singer by FilmSweep
- Overview of Crime Thriller Genre
- Academy Award Winners List
- BAFTA Award Winners
- Golden Globe Winners
- Screen Actors Guild Awards History
8 comments
Already planning to catch this at TIFF. If it’s premiering there, you know it’s gotta be quality stuff.
Reptile sounds intense! A detective unraveling his own life while solving a murder? Count me in. Also, JT is in it? I’m there, no questions asked.
Gotta say, collaboration between an actor and director on the writing is rare but can be super rewarding. Loved what Singer said about actors bringing depth. This gon’ be good!
So its hittin Netflix on Oct 6? Clearing my schedule that day, period.
del Toro in MCU and now this? The man’s range is like an all-you-can-eat buffet of talent.
Alicia Silverstone? As if! Haven’t seen her in anything big recently. This is gonna be a fun watch.
Grant Singer going from music vids to feature film? That’s a jump. but if he can make Ariana and The Weeknd look good, Reptile should be a banger.
Whoa, Benicio del Toro writing now? Man’s a legend, can’t wait to see how this turns out. Seriously, is there anything he cant do?