Daijiworld Media Network- London
London, Jun 11: What happens when a group of struggling improv actors gets tangled in London’s criminal underworld while thinking they’re on a low-stakes police mission? That’s the hilariously chaotic premise behind Deep Cover, the latest genre-bending action-comedy from director Tom Kingsley, set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on June 12.
In an exclusive interview with ETimes, Kingsley offered a peek into the wild world of Deep Cover, revealing how the film blends thrilling tension with laugh-out-loud absurdity, all driven by an unlikely ensemble of stars — Orlando Bloom, Bryce Dallas Howard, Nick Mohammed, and Paddy Considine, with Ian McShane and Sean Bean also joining the ride.
“Deep Cover is a very fast and fun action comedy,” Kingsley explained, “about a group of improv actors who are roped in for an undercover job. They’re just meant to observe, but because they dive so deeply into their roles, things spiral quickly — and dangerously — out of control.”
The concept, Kingsley added, was inspired by the idea that improv and undercover policing share a common skill set — staying in character under pressure. “Nick’s character Hugh starts off as a terribly awkward comedian, but by the end, you’re actually rooting for him. Watching that transformation is such a joy.”
Talking about assembling the dream cast, Kingsley said Nick Mohammed was always the frontrunner for Hugh. “Nick makes me cry with laughter — he’s so naturally funny, and I knew he’d carry the heart of the film.”
On casting Orlando Bloom and Bryce Dallas Howard, Kingsley shared, “Orlando plays this intense, overly committed method actor. From our very first conversation, he totally got it — the more serious he was, the funnier the role became.”
“Bryce is perfect as the level-headed foil to Nick and Orlando’s chaos,” he added. “She has this great exasperated energy, like Kermit trying to keep the Muppets in line.”
Veteran actor Paddy Considine, known for his dramatic roles, brought unexpected warmth and nuance. “He made his character real and grounded, when it could’ve just been a stereotype.”
While Deep Cover boasts its fair share of chase scenes and high-stakes situations, Kingsley insists it’s firmly a comedy at heart. “The danger in the story needs to feel real — that’s what makes the comedy even funnier. The fact that some of the actors have action experience helped them ground their performances, but this isn’t about stunts; it’s about timing, reactions, and character-driven humour.”
Asked whether Deep Cover is best enjoyed in a cinema or on streaming, Kingsley said the film was “absolutely made for theatres”. “We styled it like an 80s action comedy — bold visuals, layered sound design, every penny’s on the screen. Watching it with a crowd makes everything funnier. But we’re incredibly grateful to Amazon for releasing it globally — now it’s accessible to so many more people.”
From satire and suspense to laugh-out-loud moments of pure chaos, Deep Cover promises to be a cinematic rollercoaster that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Whether you're watching for the comedy, the action, or the sheer unpredictability, Kingsley’s latest film is poised to deliver.