The Power of the Dog star Jesse Plemons has opened up about the extremes co-star Benedict Cumberbatch went to on the movie, admitting he once pissed Plemons off.
The two star as brothers George and Phil Burbank in the acclaimed Netflix western, which follows Cumberbatch's latter character as he torments George's new wife Rose (Kirsten Dunst) when she arrives on their farm.
The Marvel star went quite method for his role, at one point to a degree where he proved somewhat irritating, according to Plemons.
Related: Kirsten Dunst opens up about emotionally painful filming of The Power of the Dog
"There was one time he got under my skin. He was like, 'Hey, big boy.' It wasn't 'fatso,'" Plemons recalled to Variety, referring to a slur that Phil taunts George with.
"I feel like a few people in life have been like, 'Hey, big boy,' and I was like, 'Goddamnit. What the f**k?'"
Still, Cumberbatch later apologised over dinner after Plemons admitted it "pissed [him] off".
"He was like, 'I'm so sorry.' I was like, 'No, don't worry. It was great,'" Plemons added.
Related: Marvel's Benedict Cumberbatch is an unsettling terror in Netflix's The Power of the Dog
Plemons went on to reveal that Cumberbatch kept his distance from the rest of the cast in order to get into the role, and "would be off in his corner braiding or doing whatever he was doing or rolling cigarettes. I think it was really helpful."
Cumberbatch elaborated of his method process: "Everyone was on the same page. I was introduced to the crews as 'Phil.' [Director] Jane [Campion] would say, 'This is Phil. You're going to be working with Phil. Benedict is really nice but you're going to meet him at the end of the shoot.'
"That just gave me permission to commit to this character whose behavior is at times repugnant, and not feel apologetic or embarrassed or self-conscious about it in any way."
The Power of the Dog is now available to watch on Netflix.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
