Filmmaker Shane Black, producer Jules Daly, and executive producer Susan Downey recently engaged in a candid Q&A session, shedding light on their latest collaboration, the crime thriller Play Dirty, and offering insights into their diverse careers and upcoming projects. The movie, based on Donald E. Westlake's Parker book series (specifically the character written under the pseudonym Richard Stark), stars Academy Award nominee Mark Wahlberg as the expert thief Parker, alongside an ensemble cast including LaKeith Stanfield, Rosa Salazar, Tony Shalhoub, Keegan-Michael Key, Claire Lovering, Chai Hansen, and Chukwudi Iwuji.

Shane Black, who co-writes and directs Play Dirty for Amazon MGM Studios, aims to deliver a "fuller meal" for audiences, expanding on Westlake's "popcorn" source material to create a more cinematic and larger-scale narrative. His intention was to make the film lively and fun, rather than falling into the trap of gloomy criminal mood pieces. A significant challenge in production was filming a "Christmas movie set in New York City" primarily in Australia during the summer, necessitating careful planning and additional photography in New York for key scenes like those in Times Square and Radio City. The film's unique, Bond-inspired opening credits, designed by Danny Kleinman (known for Skyfall), are a visual highlight, featuring a cartoon style packed with Easter eggs hinting at the plot's unfolding.

The casting process for Play Dirty was remarkably smooth, largely due to Shane Black's reputation. As Jules Daly noted, "every actor wants to try to be in a Shane Black movie." The film's success also relies heavily on its supporting cast, with Black highlighting Nat Wolff's performance, attributing its strength to his ability to "live in the moment." The intricate process of editing, described by Black as the "cooking process" after shooting (the "shopping"), was a collaborative effort involving legendary editor Chris Lebenzon. Downey emphasized the playful yet disciplined nature of editing, where altering a few frames or changing a character's point of view can dramatically shift a scene's impact, often leading to unexpected comedic beats.

The Q&A also delved into the trio's past experiences. Susan Downey recalled a particularly memorable incident during the filming of House of Wax in Australia, where the set's largest soundstage burned down due to incorrect flame retardant spray. Jules Daly cited the challenging plane crash sequence in The Grey, where Liam Neeson and the crew experienced severe motion sickness on a 360-degree gimbal. Shane Black, reflecting on his early career, spoke of the "imposter syndrome" he felt after selling the Lethal Weapon script at age 22, and his ongoing struggle to believe in his own writing while fighting for his creative vision.

Black also explained his recurring use of Christmas in his films, viewing it as an "arena" where lonely outsiders find their unique, often dark, version of the holiday, inspired by films like Sydney Pollack's Three Days of the Condor. He expressed a desire to move beyond this motif to avoid being a "one-trick pony." His deep connection to Donald E. Westlake's work stems from a lifelong passion, considering Westlake the "real one" among mystery writers. Downey highlighted Black's expertise, calling him an "expert writing on an expert" when it comes to the Parker character.

Looking ahead, Susan Downey shared Team Downey's plans for a psychological horror movie based on Paul Tremblay’s A Head Full of Ghosts. The long-anticipated Sherlock Holmes 3 remains a possibility, with Downey acknowledging a previous version that wasn't made and hinting at a "slightly different direction," potentially setting it in America, though the bar set by earlier films is high. Jules Daly teased Matchbox, an action film directed by Sam Hargrave and starring John Cena and Jessica Biel, promising "Matchbox on steroids" action and off-the-charts stunts. Daly also provided an update on War Party, an adventure film about Navy SEALs with Andrew Dominik attached, noting that Tom Hardy is no longer involved. Shane Black expressed his aspiration to write and direct an original, character-driven script with a modest budget, hinting at themes of "the death of magic and life." He also revealed a desire to revisit his very first script, Shadow Company, envisioning it as a vintage 1980s Vietnam horror film.