Renowned U.S. actress Julia Roberts delves into uncharted territory in her latest film, “Leave The World Behind,” a gripping disaster thriller that offers a multifaceted portrayal distinct from her usual roles. Executive produced by former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, the movie is written and directed by Sam Esmail, the mastermind behind “Mr. Robot,” and is adapted from the best-selling novel by Rumaan Alam.
The narrative unfolds as Roberts’ character, Amanda, embarks on an impromptu holiday in a serene Long Island town with her husband and two children. However, their tranquil retreat takes a startling turn when Mahershala Ali and Myha’la Herrold’s characters, a father and daughter, claim ownership of their upscale residence, seeking refuge for the night. As tensions escalate between the two families, peculiar occurrences unfurl, compelling them to navigate the chaos both inside and outside the confines of the shared space.
Speaking at the film’s premiere in London, Julia Roberts shared her enthusiasm for the intricate layers of the movie. “There’s always about 17 and a half things going on at one time in every scene for each person. It was just all the layers of the people and the circumstances,” she explained.
Roberts embraced the challenge of portraying Amanda, a cynical advertising director whose nature contrasts with her own. “Just the idea of playing someone who’s sort of intrinsically suspicious and a little prickly, which is not my nature but to still make her human and approachable and likeable,” she added.
Director Sam Esmail cautioned fans of Alam’s book, noting that the film takes creative liberties for cinematic adaptation. “Something that works in a literary medium may not work in a cinematic medium. I was very upfront with Rumaan that I really was going to take liberties with the interpretation,” Esmail explained. “Leave The World Behind” diverges from the source material, resulting in two distinct yet complementary pieces.
The star-studded cast also includes Ethan Hawke and Kevin Bacon. The film is set to hit select cinemas and begins streaming on Netflix on December 8th.
