Aaron Taylor-Johnson has built a career that spans everything from Marvel blockbusters to period horror, but in his latest film, Fuze, he's stepping into the high-stakes world of bomb disposal. Directed by David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water), the film follows a team of experts racing to defuse a World War II bomb unearthed in modern-day London—while a criminal syndicate exploits the chaos. Taylor-Johnson stars alongside Theo James, Saffron Hocking, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Elham Ehsas, and Sam Worthington.
In a recent interview with Collider, Taylor-Johnson admitted he feels a twinge of envy when he sees legendary actor-director collaborations like Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro. "That's the gold standard," he said, noting how those partnerships elevate filmmaking. But he's not exactly hurting for creative partnerships: he's reuniting with Robert Eggers for the upcoming horror film Werwulf, and he's also working with Tom Ford on Cry to Heaven.
Training with a Real Bomb Disposal Expert
To prepare for his role in Fuze, Taylor-Johnson worked closely with Nick Orr, a real-life EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) specialist. "He was on set with me every single day," the actor revealed. Orr helped him nail the technical dialogue and the physicality of defusing a WWII explosive. But more than that, Taylor-Johnson was fascinated by Orr's personality—his composure, authority, and dark humor. "In those really tough times, they're the sort of people who can crack the funniest jokes," he said. "It's a mechanism to get through super high-stress, life-or-death situations."
Director David Mackenzie's style also pushed Taylor-Johnson to stay in character for extended takes. "He films in a way that he just doesn't say cut," the actor explained. "He'll film for 13, 15 minutes, and I'll just go off." That approach forced him to fully embody the crisis-management mindset of his character, barking orders at fellow cast members playing military personnel. "You have to have a firmness but a calmness," he said.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson on Autographs and Jackie Chan
During the interview, Taylor-Johnson also shared a charming story about his first celebrity autograph—Mickey Mouse at Disneyland Paris when he was six. But the most memorable encounter came at age 12, when Jackie Chan showered the young actor and his friends with merch. "He gave everybody coats, bags, cool stunt gear, hats," Taylor-Johnson recalled. "That was cool."
He also admitted he's not great at asking for autographs himself, but a recent young co-star inspired him to start collecting signatures on scripts. "I think that's such a beautiful thing to hold on to," he said.
For more on Fuze, check out our conversation with Theo James. And stay tuned for Taylor-Johnson's upcoming projects, including Werwulf with Robert Eggers and Cry to Heaven with Tom Ford.
