The summer of 2017 was a strange time for going to the movies.

Den of Geek: What was it like to see your bookThe Coldest Citytranslated to screen?

Sam Hart:I was amazed at how they managed to visually translate the narrative.

Ive seen the movie five times and Ive loved it every time!

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Antony Johnston:Same here, I loved it.

Ive seen it even more times than Sam.

I loved the soundtrack, I loved the visuals, I thought we had an amazing cast.

Its been really exciting, and I was pleased and happy with how it turned out.

You mention the feel of the movie.

The aesthetics of the book and the movie are very specific, though they differ.

Sam, what were your touch points and inspirations?

SH:Firstly it was film noir.

Antony specifically asked for the artwork to be in complete black and white with no tones or grayscale.

That was visually what I was looking for.

When people do the so-called woman version of something theres both praise and criticism for that.

So what drew you to doing that for Lorraine in particular?

And that of course is what enables her to deceive them and to get one over on them.

To win the day.

Because they consistently underestimate her and think that shes simply not as capable as she is.

You know, not overly emotional, doesnt have a tragic backstory or anything like that.

She can just be a woman whos really good at her job.

That was very important to me.

I wanted her to do everything that a man would do, she just does it as a woman.

Shes not held back in any way by her gender.

What has the fan reaction been to the character of Lorraine?

AJ:What we had with the book was a lot of critical acclaim.

And I can see why, because I agree with them.

I think she portrayed the character really well on the screen.

She created this beautiful and very, very powerful and memorable, iconic character on the screen.

I could tell that immediately.

And thats what people are reacting to, and I reacted in just the same way.

How did both of you capture that specific time and place?

AJ:I did a bunch of research, but I also lived in Europe in the late 1980s.

I remember the wall coming down.

A lot of it to be honest for me was just memory of living through that time.

Sam, I know, did a lot of visual research.

SH:I was in Brazil already at the time, I moved to Brazil in the early 80s.

I remember the wall coming down but from afar.

I did a lot of visual research with Google and movies, and TV series.

Were there any specific movies or TV shows, Sam, that you used for inspiration?

SH:I saw an old TV series that Antony recommended me.

I dont remember the name now.

AJ:I think one of them wasSandbaggers, wasnt it?

Which was a 1980s spy series of which Im a big fan.

The DVD and Blu-ray will be released on Nov. 14.

Are there any special features that youre excited about?

AJ:I may be honest, I actually havent seen it yet myself [Laughing].

Im most excited to hear Dave Leitchs commentary, because I know that hes recorded a commentary for it.

SH:Im interested to hear more from Sam Hargrave explaining the stunts.

Both sound like excellent choices.

AJ:Not for me.

SH:Yeah I loved the soundtrack as well.

AJ:See this is because you moved away when you were too young.

SH:We still make music here!

Have you seen renewed interest in the book as well as the prequel since the movie came out?

AJ:Oh yes, yes.

Its great that people are getting into the book as a result of enjoying the movie.

SH:Yeah and weve had international editions as well.

AJ:Yeah weve got some translations throughout Europe as well.

Theres one in Germany, one in Spain.

Theres been a lot of interest in a sequel toAtomic Blonde.

Would you like to see something done with the book prequel,The Coldest Winter?

So, who knows whether something may happen with that.

I am working on a third book, which focuses on Lorraine again.

Whether that will be the basis for a second movie is kind of out of my hands.

I mean obviously Id be delighted if it were.

But creatively, I know everyone involved would like to do another one.

When might we see that third book?

AJ:Im literally just sort of planning it at the moment.

But rest assured that I am working on it.

Is there anything you’ve got the option to tell us about the book?

What it might cover?

Only that it does focus on Lorraine again, and thats all I want to say.

Is there anything else that either of you are working on?

And that is the first in a new series of modern high-tech spy novels set in Europe.

SH:I do a series of books for England and the States by Candlewick press.

Theyre based on heroes and heroines from British history and legends.

Atomic Blondecomes out on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, Nov. 14.