The Fear Index
The Cheshire Magazine talks to Josh Hartnett about his new role in Sky’s fast-paced thriller based on the best-selling novel by Robert Harris
Fast-paced thriller based on the bestselling novel by Robert Harris. Dr Alex Hoffman (Josh Hartnett) is a computer scientist and genius who is ready to make a killing. Alongside his Hedge Fund business partner and best friend, Hugo (Arsher Ali), he’s launching VIXAL-4 to investors - an AI-driven system that exploits fear in the financial markets and promises returns of billions. But this is not the day Alex and Hugo had planned on. What follows are the worst 24 hours of Alex’s life - cutting across reality, memory and paranoid fantasy, forcing him to question everything he sees with his own eyes.
In the pulse of Geneva’s financial district, Alex’s sanity is shaken after he is viciously attacked at his home by a man who knows all of his security codes. After more unexplained occurrences, Alex becomes convinced he’s being framed. But as secrets surface from his past, will anyone believe that he isn’t just losing his mind?
Detective Leclerc (Grégory Montel), assigned to Alex’s case, struggles to work this former CERN scientist out. Hoffman’s talented artist wife, Gabby (Leila Farzad) might just be losing patience this time, whilst Hugo’s only concern is the billion-dollar business on the line. Invention can be lonely, and in a modern world of AI, capitalism and technological breakthroughs, Dr Alex Hoffman is about to learn the hard way how destructive his creation might be. Below Hollywood heavyweight Josh Hartnett discusses his love of Robert Harris and his new role.
What drew you to The Fear Index?
I loved Robert Harris’s book. He is so good at this genre. Also, the producers, Left Bank, are responsible for The Crown, which I’m a huge fan of. They’re very much at the top of their game. So when I was approached by them, I thought it would be great to be part of this, and I wasn’t disappointed. I’m delighted to have been involved in this terrific production.
What makes Robert such a great writer?
He is very prescient. His novel of The Fear Index was written a decade ago, but the concept is still very current. It’s still something we’re all very much talking about. It doesn’t feel dated at all.
Tell us more.
Robert has a very keen grasp of the human condition, and he also knows how to create a really intriguing story. He possesses the perfect balance – he writes gripping blockbusters, but he also has a very deep understanding of people. That combination is getting rarer and rarer. He really hits the sweet spot.
The underlying idea of the story is pretty terrifying, isn’t it?
Definitely. It’s scary to think that we’re creating things beyond our understanding and that no one person has the knowledge that these machines have. The danger is that they become ungovernable. That’s what makes this thriller so dramatic.
What is the story based on?
It’s based on Frankenstein, and it works brilliantly. Alex fits the model of Dr Frankenstein very well. A lot of scientists and tech guys are uncontrollable. This story shows that we’re at their mercy and how fallible that process can be.
How would you describe Alex?
At this point, he is living in a world that he doesn’t understand. His friend Hugo has hired himself to deal with the day-to-day things in the company that Alex is not interested in pursuing. Alex is driven only by the concept. More than anything, he is interested in using the world of finance to create the series of data points, rather than making money. He is more interested in science than finance. The problem is, the more knowledge his machine acquires, the more sentient it becomes and the more danger it poses.
How would you characterise Alex’s relationship with Gabby?
She is the first big love of his life and his protector. She understands the ways of the world much better than he does. Alex only sees the upside, but Gabby takes everything that is happening with a grain of salt. She is also able to understand the shadiness of Hugo. A guy like Alex, who was a young prodigy, has spent his life with people who are not his peers, so his social skills are negligible. But Gabby has those skills in spades, and he finds that very alluring. He hasn’t had to take care of himself before, and she’s helping him to do that now.
Can you outline Alex’s friendship with Hugo?
Hugo is everything Alex would like to be in terms of his ability charm people and navigate the world. Hugo is very important in helping Alex achieve his ends. The problem is, Hugo has no scruples. He will throw anyone under the bus, in order to get his way. Alex doesn’t see that coming. Money does strange things to all of us!
Why is fear such a potent force?
It can be the most useful emotion when you’re on your own in the middle of a hostile environment. It can be very powerful influence for good. But it can take you down the wrong path and lead very quickly to panic. That’s when you lose your bearings.
Does The Fear Index show that science is risky?
Science can be dangerous if you let it run unchecked. So this drama is a love letter to the peer review process. You always need someone else to test your theories. If other people vet them, science is the best implement we have. It’s a very powerful tool, if it’s used in the right way.
There was a great sense of camaraderie between you four lead actors in The Fear Index, wasn’t there?
Absolutely. We got on so well. We were an amazingly diverse group. Arsher is extraordinarily thoughtful person. He is a very loyal friend who is so much fun. He was lovely to be around. Grégory and Leila were wonderful, too. She was the “glue guy” who kept us all together. She is one of the most delightful people you could ever meet. It was such a heavy shoot, and we filmed a lot of pages every day. I was there for every scene and did not have much time to recover. So when we did hang out, we took the opportunity to really bond. If I had a night off, I’d say, “let’s go and have a few drinks together and chat about how tired we are!”
The Fear Index is available on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW
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