Emmett J Scanlan: ‘Filming MobLand Was Like Nothing I’ve Ever Done Before’

If there’s one tall, dark-haired Irishman cropping up everywhere at the moment, it’s Emmett J Scanlan – and oh is he everyone. Hailing from Dublin and tallying 20 years in the industry, the star has been moving from strength to strength in recent years, from playing bookie Billy Grade in Peaky Blinders to a conflicted copper in The Tower, a gangster in explosive Irish drama Kin to a scene-stealing ex-soldier in Netflix’s Fool Me Once. What’s next? Well, a whole host of things, from a turn in Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee’s How to Get to Heaven from Belfast later this year to an appearance opposite Jason Statham in A Working Man. But first, it’s the drama on everyone’s lips: MobLand. Directed by Guy Ritchie and starring the likes of Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, Tom Hardy and Paddy Considine, Emmett is the head of security to Brosnan’s mob-boss Conrad Harrigan, and the trailer promises a high-octane, sharply-told story. We sat down with Emmett to talk all about it – plus what’s coming up next.

Interview: Emmett J Scanlan

Hi Emmett, how’s life going at the moment?

This moment? With you? Too early to say. But I’m smiling. In general, it’s unpredictable, it’s chaos, it’s exactly how I like it.

You’re about to star in MobLand – can you give us an elevator pitch for the show?

Two gangster families – two of the strongest, the most savagely vicious, savagely unapologetic families in the UK – go head to head, go to war, with casualties, innocent and guilty alike being caught in the crossfire…. The shrapnel of their actions echoing across the world. End scene.

What can you tell us about your character and his role in the series?

I play Paul O’Donnell. Pierce Brosnan’s right hand man. His head of security.

What do you do to get into character?

I watch relevant material. I make playlists for the character. I learn the scripts backwards. And then when all that’s done, I throw it the fuck away and hope that when I step on set, Paul comes with me.

You’re still filming, so the turnaround is pretty tight. What is that like?

Like nothing I’ve ever done before. And as a result utterly seductive and brilliant. I don’t know if this will end up being the norm in the future, but I like it.

Any standout filming locations so far?

They put me up in Soho Farmhouse when filming. It ain’t a set location, it’s an Emmett location. I’d move in if I wasn’t already married with a family.

Tom Hardy as Harry Da Souza & Emmett J Scanlan as Paul in MobLand. (Luke Varley/Paramount+)

The cast is really stellar, and it’s directed by Guy Ritchie. Any standout moments on set?

The first time I walked on set and embraced Hardy was a moment.

Let me tip my hat to our directors. This is my second time working with Guy in a year. I really do love the man. He works in the moment, the script taking life in front of your eyes, live. It’s dangerous, but in most cases it’s where magic is found.

It’s my third time working with Anthony Byrne. He’s directing the most episodes. He’s a genius, that guy. And it’s my fourth time working with Laurence Gough. He’s a real actors’ director, and so wonderful to be around. Daniel Syrkin was the only guy I hadn’t worked with before. He has an amazing calmness about him. You feel safe in his hands. And an incredible talent.

Tom, Pierce, Helen and Paddy are wonderful to watch when they’re doing their thing, but my favourite part is being around them in between takes, in between set ups. That’s when you see the person behind the character, and that person bar none was remarkable, inspiring.

Who is your favourite person to work with on MobLand?

Oh, Anthony Byrne. He’s my brother.

You’ve got another Guy Ritchie project in the pipeline, In The Grey. What can you tell us about that?

Nothing. I only learnt it was called In The Grey a couple of months ago. Couldn’t tell you a thing about it. Even if I wanted too. But it’s Guy, so it’s gonna be great. That’s his baseline.

How is it different (or similar!) to MobLand?

Different in so much as we had scripts on MobLand penned amazingly by Jez Butterworth. Love saying that man’s words.

On In The Grey, we didn’t shoot anything on the page. The page acted like a guideline, but essentially didn’t exist. It’s similar in its chaos – in its controlled chaos. The experience of doing them was and is really cool. Nothing but gratitude for them both.

What is it like working with Guy Ritchie?

Everything I hoped it would be and so much more.

You’ve also got A Working Man coming out soon. What can viewers expect from that?

Comes out 28 March. A David Ayer movie. Now there’s a calm, stoic, gorgeous bastard if ever there was one.

You play Viper. What is he like?

A human trafficker. So not the nicest.

What was filming like?

We shot in Shoreditch and dressed it up like the windy city of Chicago. I learnt a life lesson from David in the screentest audition. If that’s all I learnt from the gig, it would have been enough. As luck would have, it I learnt way more.

Any standout moments?

David schooling me in my audition. It was perfect. I thanked him for it and walked out. I genuinely thought I fucked the whole thing. I genuinely thought I was never gonna see him again. Next week, he offered me the gig.

‘Kin is one of the most challenging parts I’ve ever played’
[Jimmy Kinsella (EMMETT J SCANLAN) & Eric Kinsella (SAM KEELEY) in Kin. (BBC)]

They were all amazing to be part of, but Kin is the one I get approached about the most. Without question. It was also one of the most challenging parts I’ve ever played. Jimmy was relentlessly vulnerable. It was tough. It was draining, but insanely rewarding. And all thanks to Peter McKenna for his glorious writing.

Any other roles in the pipeline that you’re excited about? (If you’re allowed to tell us!)

I’m doing the new Lisa McGee project for Netflix, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast. This is my third Lisa show in a row. I always say the only thing better than working with people you admire is being invited back to work with them again and again. I know what you’re thinking: What dirt do I have on Lisa? I honestly can’t say. Legally. But what I can say is, Lisa is a fucking poet.

Who has been your favourite actor to work with in the past?

My wife. I’m not saying that because I have too. I’m kidding, I have too. She’ll read this. I’ve no choice.

Which co-star did you learn the most from?

Fuck, I don’t know. I learn from everyone. Everyone is my teacher.

What’s a genre you’d like to do more of?

Don’t care. Happy to do ’em all.

Who is an actor, writer or director you’d love to work with?

I’m trying to work with James Gunn again. I want to get back into the superhero world; I want play in that world again. I knew James before he became head of DC, even before Guardians of the Galaxy. He has this thing where he gives out play doh to an actor who goes above and beyond on set, who surprises him. I never got that play doh on Guardians of the Galaxy. But I want that fucking play doh. My aim is to work with him again, and get that play doh. He’s an incredible human.

Do you get to spend much time at home?

Of course. Every second I’m not playing on set, I’m playing at home.

Do you live in the town or the country? 

Country. I was born a city boy and I never thought I’d live anywhere but the city. But the opposite has happened and I love it.

Which do you prefer?

The Country. Unless it’s New York City. Then it’s New York. Every time.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

An actor.

‘I want to get back into the superhero world’ (© Tony Blake)

If you could give advice to your 15-year-old self, what would it be? 

Be kind to yourself. Never say anything about yourself you don’t want to come true. Cause it will.

How can we all live a little bit better?

Being of service to other people. Without want or need for anything in return.

Anything fun in the pipeline – professionally or personally?

Loads.

Emmett J Scanlan Recommends…

I’m currently watching… The White Lotus

What I’m reading… The Magician by Colm Tóibín

The last thing I watched (and loved) was… Severance 

What I’m most looking forward to seeing… The Last of Us season 2

Favourite film of all time… Rocky 

Favourite song of all time… ‘Simply Beautiful’ by Al Green

Band/singer I always have on repeat… Let me give you the song: at the moment, it’s ‘Every Trick in the Book’ by The Allergies. But I love anything blues. That’s my go-to.

My ultimate cultural recommendation…  New York City. A blues bar. Bourbon on the rocks.

Cultural guilty pleasure… I feel guilty about nothing.

WATCH

MobLand launches on Paramount+ on Sunday 30 March 2025. New episodes land weekly. paramountplus.com