Thanks for the questions, you. Shutting down…

Dan would you say The Guest is inflenced by Drive at all? It sounds a bit similar from what Ive read. I just hope its as good and am looking forward to it.

There are some similarities with Drive in terms of its playfulness with genre, and its truly awesome soundtrack. The Guest dances a delightful line between comedy and horror. I hope you enjoy it…

How hard was it putting on an American accent and keeping it for so long for these films?

I've always loved doing different accents and voices, as much in the audio booth as anywhere. It was really good to incorporate some of that work into the preparation for an onscreen character. I felt the slight Kentucky drawl informed David's personality: a little southern charm goes a long way.

to me Adam Wingard is one of the most exciting up and coming filmmakers around, what made you want to collaborate with him and were you aware of his previous work?
Be seeing The guest this weekend :)

Yes, I was. I'd seen Adam and Simon's previous film, You're Next. (It's worth noting the awesome ongoing collaboration between Simon Barrett, the writer, and Adam. They are a fearsome creative duo.) I thought it was the wildest, maddest thing I'd seen in a movie theatre for a long while and I really wanted to meet the crazy minds that created it.

As soon as Adam and I sat down together it quickly became apparent that we shared a very similar, twisted sense of humour and that we could have a lot of fun pouring ourselves into The Guest.

If Doctor Seuss had created a film director it would look like Adam Wingard.

Given Scott Frank is arguably the best screenwriter in Hollywood (certainly the most consistent top level screenwriter of the past 25 years), did the experience of being directed by him in a film from one of his screenplays give you any fresh insights into the processes of building character and acting?

I count myself very lucky that Scott was actively looking for someone a little unexpected for his drug trafficker in A Walk Among the Tombstones. He literally said, 'I've never seen you play a role like this, I'd love to see you try,' which is a very liberating thing to hear as an actor. To get to step into that hard-boiled noir-ish world with Scott and the king of that genre, Liam Neeson, was a real education and a privilege.

I work at a cinema and I'm really excited to see The Guest. Why should I recommend this film? Also can you wish my grandparents a happy 60th wedding anniversary?

Yes I can! That's amazing! 60 years is a beautiful amount of time to spend together.

Maybe you can take them to see The Guest as an anniversary treat this weekend...

I saw 'The Guest' at an early screening this week, and there was a scene that reminded me of when Brad Pitt first burst onto the movie scene, shirtless, in 'Thelma and Louise'. You know the scene! :) Was that hard keeping a straight face for, as it is obviously very self-aware?

Flattered.

It's a scene that always makes me laugh and without giving too much away, in the context of the film it is a funny beat.

I recently became a fan of yours after just now starting to watch Downton Abbey, but now I plan to watch(or listen to!) your other works. As a major dog lover I have to ask: do you like dogs, and if so, what's your favorite breed?

I love a good spaniel.

With your literary accomplishments you should strongly consider starting a book club. You would have quite a few members. Any recommendations to get us going?

I'm reading the new David Nicholls, 'Us', which is beautiful and funny and brilliant. I usually have about 17 books on the go at any one time and rarely finish all of them, but I have just started the new David Mitchell, which I'm excited about.

A book club would be a great idea, but it sounds like it might be a big commitment!

A lot of people are mentioning you as a great choice for the next James Bond, but what would be your dream role to play?

And are there any actors or directors you would especially like to work with in the future?

I think David in The Guest could give Bond a run for his money.

I'm a huge Werner Herzog fan and would love to sit in a room with him one day, if only to hear that accent...

Jessica Brown Findlay as much fun as she seems?

Yes, she's a gem.

I'm really feeling for her this week as she fell victim to some pretty despicable behaviour, not only on the part of this strange new breed of hacker, but also the press and this pathetic culture of clickbaiting.

We're at a crucial crossroads where we need to examine our online moral and ethical practice and align it much more with our "real life" conscience.

Hi Dan. Films that you have made, recently and past, seem to have had a particular significance for you - eg. Line Of Beauty, Summer In February, The Guest, and you have said that you like a challenge. What, to date, has been your most challenging screen role, and also your most challenging audiobook reading?

The physical and psychological transformation required to play David in The Guest was probably my most intense challenge yet, but seriously rewarding.

I've done a few audiobooks with over 70 different voices in them, but I'd have to say The Iliad and The Odyssey combined were literally my most epic undertaking.

Never watched Downton, but really enjoyed your turn as a weed-smoking crossing dressing writer on High Maintenance. How did that role come about and were you all smoking real pot on the set?

I was a huge fan of their early episodes, which are well worth checking out. I reached out to them as they lived down the road from me in Brooklyn. We met up, became friends and developed that idea for "Rachel". Glad you enjoyed it, was only high from the experience of making it…

Given the previous work of director Adam Wingard, to what extent is The Guest a horror film as well as a thriller?

The Guest is s black comedy as much as it is a horror film and a thriller and an action film. It's a mad celebration of so many of the different films that we enjoyed growing up. It certainly borrows from horror but there's a crazy party of other genres going on there too.

Are there too many posh boys in acting?

Not as many as there are in politics.

This week is a particularly interesting juxtaposition for your work. In complete contrast to The Guest, a thriller with dark humour and 80’s vibes, is the release of two classic works - Homer’s The Iliad & The Odyssey, audiobooks read, or rather performed, by you. It must be so interesting to be able to take your audiences on these different journeys, but how do you see the future road map?
Your most recently completed film, The Ticket, would appear to explore another aspect of the human character, can you tell us more about it yet?

The Guest is one of a few very different challenges I've been taking on in the last couple of years. I've been throwing myself in a few directions to see how that feels. I hope to continue doing that and seeing what shapes can be made.

The Empire Strikes Back or The Return of the Jedi?

It's got to be The Empire Strikes Back.

Do you prefer building sandcastles or snowmen?

Too much of either and you'll burn or you'll freeze. I like both.

If I said you had a beautiful body would you hold it against me?

Do you think film companies put an unhealthy amount of pressure on actors to lose and put on weight for roles? Would you do it again?

Yes.

Hello, I'm in the computer.