Most recently, Charlie MacGechan has had two projects released on 14th March – The World Will Tremble playing Wolf, with a cast including Oliver Jackson-Cohen, and The Last Supper playing John alongside Robert Knepper and James Faulkner. Upcoming for Charlie is feature film Bad Day at the Office, in which he will play Brad, and he is producing with Phelim McDermott and Improbable Theatre for the stage adaptation of Danny Scheinmann’s novel Random Acts of Heroic Love. We chatted to Charlie about filming as Wolf in The World Will Tremble, playing John in The Last Supper and his upcoming projects.

On 14th March, your two most recent projects – The World Will Tremble and The Last Supper – were released, can you tell us about both feature films?

The World Will Tremble is an untold true story of how a group of prisoners attempt a seemingly impossible escape from the first Nazi death camp in order to provide the first eyewitness account of the Holocaust. The story was published by The Daily Telegraph – it was the first report in the UK of the Holocaust. This movie is extremely moving and at the premiere I struggled to compose myself afterwards for the Q&A. It’s a wonderful tribute to the real lives of two truly inspiring men.

The Last Supper is a Biblical epic – that focuses on the betrayal and tension amongst the disciples in the hours leading to Jesus’ crucifixion. It’s beautifully shot and comes at this well-known story from a different angle. It’s told through the lens of Peter. The movie is shot more like a thriller which, in my opinion, makes it very special and compelling.

In the historical drama The World Will Tremble, you play Wolf alongside a cast including Oliver Jackson-Cohen, was there anything that drew you to the role and how was it reading the script for the first time?

I was absolutely honoured to play the role of Wolf Kaminski in The World Will Tremble – it has crazy synchronicity for me, as I have a Jewish Great Uncle called Woolf Chevinski, who died in World War II in the Battle of Arnhem fighting for Britain. I know it’s a cliché when I say ‘you get the parts you’re meant to get’, but on this occasion I really felt it. I used it as a tribute to Woolf and as a result feel closer to my family heritage and have a much greater sense of where I’m from.

Working with Oliver Jackson-Cohen was inspiring. He’s an incredible actor – I think he’s up there with the very best I’ve ever worked with. As our leading man, he also set a beautiful example on set. He’s just a lovely human.

You play John in The Last Supper alongside Robert Knepper and James Faulkner, how would you describe the character and what was he like to play?

Working with Robert Knepper and James Faulkner was great! They are very experienced, so it’s great to learn from them. My character, John, is the most youthful and ‘happy-go-lucky’ out of all the disciples. When researching this character I discovered that when he was young Jesus called him (along with his brother James) Sons of Thunder, but as he matured he is associated with a profound love for others. John is a gift to play because of his character arc and journey. He is also a prominent figure in the story of The Last Supper as he later goes on to write The Gospel of John where he documents his experiences.

Do you have any projects coming up that you can talk about and what are you hoping this year brings for you?

I’m really excited for my next upcoming feature film Bad Day at the Office to come out! I play opposite John Hannah, who is fantastic to work with and an incredible talent. It’s a crazy action movie and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever read, or even seen before! My character is called BRAD and playing him was a lot of fun.

I am also producing, with Phelim McDermott and Improbable Theatre, a stage adaptation of the best-selling novel Random Acts of Heroic Love by Danny Scheinmann. Working with Phelim, who has just opened My Neighbour Totoro in the West End, is nothing short of a dream come true. The play is very special and we can’t wait to share it with you.

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