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'The Invisible Man' producer Jason Blum pays tribute to 'amazingly talented' Elisabeth Moss (exclusive)

The Invisible Man’s Jason Blum doesn’t think his new horror-thriller would have been “quite what it is” without The Handmaid’s Tale star Elisabeth Moss being in the lead role.

The Get Out producer couldn’t help but gush about the Golden Globe winner when promoting the film in London recently.

Thinking back on their days shooting together, he recalled how it always felt like she was “doing exactly what you would imagine you’d do” if you ever found yourself being terrorised by an unseen force.

Read more: The Invisible Man first reactions

“We had experience working with [Elisabeth] before [on Jordan Peele’s Us] and she’s an amazing actress. I can’t imagine the movie being quite what it is with anyone else in that part,” Blum tells Yahoo Movies UK.

“She’s amazingly talented. The suspension of disbelief really holds with her.”

Loosely based on H.G. Wells’ 1897 sci-fi novel, the movie sees Cecilia Kass (Moss) become convinced her abusive ex Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) has discovered a way to stalk her without being detected.

(from left) Elisabeth Moss and writer/director Leigh Whannell on the set of <i>The Invisible Man</i>. (Mark Rogers/Universal Pictures)
(from left) Elisabeth Moss and writer/director Leigh Whannell on the set of The Invisible Man. (Mark Rogers/Universal Pictures)

Writer-director Leigh Whannell says Moss being at the centre of this revamped version of the classic book adds a level of legitimacy to the movie. So much so in fact, that he believes even the most sceptical of genre lovers will be convinced to take the adaptation more seriously due to her involvement.

“There’s a handful of actors that make any project they’re a part of credible, just by virtue of their association. Like, their very name... and she’s in that club,” the Saw co-creator explains.

“I remember thinking ‘If I wasn’t involved in [this] and I saw that announcement, that this movie is coming out, I think me - being a typical horror fan cynic - would be like, ‘Ha! Invisible Man...’ I’d be dismissive.

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“But if I heard Elisabeth Moss was involved, I know that I would be like, ‘Interesting. What’s she gonna do with this?’ I wanted to make that version, I wanted to do that for other people and have them stop in their tracks.”

Unsurprisingly, Jackson-Cohen holds Moss in similarly high regard as the Australian filmmaker.

Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss, back to camera) and Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) in The Invisible Man, written and directed by Leigh Whannell. (Mark Rogers/Universal Pictures)
Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss, back to camera) and Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) in The Invisible Man, written and directed by Leigh Whannell. (Mark Rogers/Universal Pictures)

“I was a fan of hers from before and I’m a mega fan now that I’ve worked with her. She’s just phenomenal. I don’t know how she does it either,” he ponders.

“She’s so charming and funny. We actually had such a laugh,” The Haunting of Hill House star says, admitting that the pair of them would often get drunk after filming to shake off any particularly emotionally taxing days on set.

“It sounds quite perverse but I have never laughed so much. You have to when you’re dealing stuff like this.”

PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 17: (L to R) Jason Blum, Elisabeth Moss and Leigh Whannell  attend the "Invisible Man" premiere at Gaumont Champs ELysees on February 17, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
Jason Blum, Elisabeth Moss and Leigh Whannell attend the "Invisible Man" premiere at Gaumont Champs ELysees on February 17, 2020. (Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Also starring Straight Outta Compton’s Aldis Hodge, Daybreakers actor Michael Dorman and Euphoria star Storm Reid, The Invisible Man has received largely positive reviews from critics ahead of its release.

Variety’s Owen Gleiberman describes it the film as “devious fun, with a message that's organic enough to hit home.” Meanwhile, Time Out’s Phil De Semlyen says it “couldn’t be more timely if it shuffled into a courtroom with a Zimmer frame.”

The Invisible Man is out in UK cinemas from Friday, 28 February.