David Oyelowo Unravels in HBO’s ‘Nightingale’ Preview (Exclusive Video)

Behind-the-scenes footage showcases how actor pulled off playing seven different personalities with no co-stars

HBO Films’ “Nightingale” features David Oyelowo in a completely solo performance for the duration of the film, and a new extended video shows off exactly how the “Selma” actor pulled it off.

Directed by Elliott Lester from a screenplay by Frederick Mensch, “Nightingale” stars Oyelowo as Peter, a war veteran who begins to unravel psychologically ahead of a friend’s impending visit.

As revealed in the new exclusive clip (above), Peter once committed a heinous act and is suffering from multiple personalities — at least seven.

To prepare for the role, the video shows, Oyelowo went full method and stayed in character for the duration of the shoot. The crew never referred to him by David and always called him Peter.

To fully immerse himself in the isolated world of his character, even when Peter took a phone call, there was nobody reading lines to him offscreen. The effect has a secondary purpose in allowing the audience to question whether there is actually anyone on the other end of the call.

“Nightingale” is an HBO Films presentation in association with Plan B Entertainment; a BN Films production in association with Sea Smoke Entertainment and Yoruba Saxon Productions.

It is executive produced by Josh Weinstock, Katrina Wolfe and Elliott Lester, as well as Plan B’s Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner. David Oyelowo also serves as executive producer. Co-executive producers are BN’s Lucas Akoskin and Jonathan Gray, in addition to Alex Garcia of BN/AG Studios.

“Nightingale” will premiere Friday, May 29 at 9 p.m. ET.

Comments