Danny Huston plays FBI agent Tim Harlend in the new Simon West action flick ‘Stolen’. He explains why he was drawn to the project by stating; “When I first read the script I felt it had a combination of action, dialogue, and strong characters that made for an interesting kaleidoscope and an array of colorful characters.”

Director Simon West describes his decision to cast Huston. “I was looking for somebody that could put a very eccentric twist on this. I didn’t want the usual boring FBI agent who is tracking these guys and immediately make people think, ‘Oh, very staid kind of traditional kind of cop,’ he explains. “I approached Danny and he loved the idea of playing this FBI agent and he had some great ideas: The main one was his hat – he tried on all these hats.  And we picked one that became a major part of his character, this hat that he always wears.”

He adds, “Whenever Harlend needs to give anyone any advice he always quotes his grandmother, grandmother Harlend. And so he has a very dry sense of humor, and he’s a very eccentric, quirky kind of FBI agent.”

Harlend’s right hand man Fletcher is played by Mark Valley, who Huston pays compliment to by stating, “He’s a wonderful actor, and it was interesting to start work with him without really knowing him beforehand. So there was sort of a quick relationship that we had to figure out. But he was really able to help me in that regard. I felt immediately at ease with him,” he explains.

Huston elaborates on their partnership, offering, “Harlend and Fletcher are a little bit like Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, or a Sherlock Holmes type of situation. At times I must say I think they’re a little slapstick, but what’s fun about their relationship is that my character Harlend always sort of expands on these sort of antidotes, these words of wisdom that are practically riddles. And Fletcher really is more basic in his approach and just wants to stop the whole philosophy and get the criminal.”

Malin Akerman reveals the moment her character is introduced in the film. “We meet Riley while she is robbing a bank with her buddies!” she laughs. She’s a pretty tough girl, she’s one of the boys.”

Describing her first impression after reading the script for ‘Stolen’ she exclaims, “I loved it!  I’ve done a lot of comedy in my past and I’ve been searching for something like this.”

Director Simon West elaborates, “I’ve always been a fan of Malin Akerman’s work and I’ve seen her in a lot of romantic comedies. I always like to take people from one genre and put them in another, and so I thought it’d be great to try get someone like her, who can hold her own her own out in a group of guys like hard talking bank robbers.” He adds, “And she’s very cute and very funny as well, and for her to interact with those tough guys I thought would be a great combination.”

The intensely challenging role of Montgomery’s teenage daughter, Alison, proved to be very difficult for director Simon West to cast. That is until he met with actress Sami Gayle.  He explains, “I looked at a lot of girls for the part and it’s one of the hardest parts in the film to cast because it has to be a balance of vulnerable child, but also one strong enough to be put in these terrible situations and not traumatize the audience. She has to look like she’s going to handle all of this stuff.” He adds, “She could be Nic’s daughter, and she has this attitude.. She’s a tough New York kid, and she does have that tough outer shell, but because she’s such an accomplished young actress she can go to that emotional place that I needed in the story. So I’m very lucky to get someone like that.”

West reunited with actor M.C. Gainey after many years to cast him for the role of Hoyt. He compliments, “I’ve been trying to work with M.C. Gainey for quite a while since ‘Con Air’. I had him in my mind as I was developing the script and his part started to become written for him. A lot of the dialogue and the lines I knew would sound great coming out of M.C., and again he delivered in spades.”

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About the author

Claudia Sondergaard
Specialised in American foreign policy media discourse, I have a real passion for media and writing and feel comfortable in subjects such as human rights, politics, environment, social issues, movies, TV and books. Reporting from Denmark. Follow me @swirlgirlversus

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