Armie Hammer's Daring Return: Star Unpacks 'Citizen Vigilante' Role and 'Call Me by Your Name' Legacy

Armie Hammer is making a significant return to acting with his leading role in the upcoming vigilante thriller, Citizen Vigilante, directed by Uwe Boll. Hammer describes this new project as an emotional experience, having shed tears of joy when offered the part, affirming his passion for acting after a hiatus. In the film, he portrays Sanders, a wealthy American businessman who, embroiled in violence in a foreign land, takes justice into his own hands. His grassroots vigilante campaign gains considerable momentum on social media but also draws the attention of local Interpol, leading to a thrilling pursuit.

Filming Citizen Vigilante in Zagreb, Croatia, provided a unique and fast-paced experience due to director Uwe Boll's "run and gun" style. Hammer recounted arriving in Croatia and being told by Boll that they would simply shoot "wherever we want!" and "whatever we want!" This involved spontaneously filming in city squares, apartment buildings, and parking structures. Hammer noted that Croatia's more lenient permit system, contrasted sharply with the bureaucratic and costly hurdles of shooting in Los Angeles, which he believes is "choking the life out of shooting movies in LA." This freedom allowed for scenes like driving armored police vans, referred to as MRAPs or "tanks," around the city and engaging in explosive gunfights with remarkable ease.

The film delves into the intriguing question of whether public approval can justify immoral actions, especially in the age of social media. Hammer discussed how his character, Sanders, performs acts that are inherently "sketchy," yet finds public support and encouragement online. He pondered the enduring appeal of vigilante stories, attributing it to the universal human desire for justice when the legal system fails, allowing audiences to relate to the characters who take matters into their own hands.

Reflecting on his career, Hammer cherishes his experience making Call Me by Your Name as "the most rewarding creative experience" he's ever had. Despite his agent's initial resistance to the script, Hammer was captivated by its beauty, famously defending the inclusion of the "peach scene." He described the filmmaking process as mirroring the film itself – beautiful and immersive, where he felt he had "left time and we were in the story." He also expressed a desire for sequels to The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which he considers a "fucking awesome" movie that deserved to continue.

Hammer also shared candid anecdotes about other projects. During the making of Hotel Mumbai, a chaotic incident occurred when the director accidentally cut off his thumb while trying to move an industrial fan on set. Hammer recalled the director's shock and the mist of blood, with actor Dev Patel retrieving the severed digit. His work on J. Edgar, where he played Clyde Tolson opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, provided insights into Clint Eastwood's expedient directing style, which Hammer compared to Uwe Boll's. Eastwood's approach meant actors had to be "ready on take one," a lesson vividly illustrated by DiCaprio's repeated, unsuccessful attempts to secure an extra take.

His role in J. Edgar also presented a challenge with extensive old-age prosthetics, a process that required 8-9 hours of application daily. Hammer, who struggles with sitting still, recounted how a makeup artist discreetly offered him Xanax to help him cope with the claustrophobia and lengthy sittings, allowing him to "time travel" through the arduous process. Regarding the public's perception of acting, Hammer believes people often misunderstand its difficulty, overlooking the "long, grueling days, sometimes 16 hours a day on set." Yet, he paradoxically declared that if you love your job, you "never have to work another day in your life," embracing the intense schedule.

Hammer also briefly discussed an upcoming project titled Night Driver, a "really fun movie" shot in Los Angeles that takes place over one night, where his character embarks on a journey where "everything goes wrong." He mentioned that the film's original title was The Dark Knight, which was changed after Warner Bros. threatened legal action, despite the fact that film titles cannot be copyrighted.