His films, fromKill Listto the star-studded ilk ofHigh Rise, never fail to impress.

And on TV, he directed the stellar opening episodes of Peter Capaldis stint onDoctor Who.

The mighty Mr Martin Scorsese was involved in the movie as an executive producer.

you’re able to find our four-star review of the moviehere.

Yeah, well it was just…

This wouldve been in the late nineties, mid-nineties, or something.

And they had got all sorts of weapons on them, and body armour.

Um, and I think two FBI cars pulled over this car with the criminals in it.

And a shootout started between all parties.

And it just went on for ages, so, and they were shooting away at each other.

And it kind of… no one was dying, but they were all kind of getting wounded.

Eventually, I think, a couple of the FBI guys were tragically killed.

It shows where all the bullets went.

How they entered the bodies, and how they exited.

How many shots were fired by each person.

And what the actions were, as much as they could remember them.

And, reading it, I was just amazed by it.

I mean, its like a short story, really, when you read it.

And I thought, there definitely seemed to be something in that story.

The story of action, that I wasnt seeing really in drama itself, it wasnt being addressed.

And when did Cillian Murphy come into it, because Ive read that he approached you?

Id been thinking about it for a long time, you know?

Like some kind of procedural, shootout, action film.

But I didnt really have an idea for it, except that.

which was really flattering.

We got on really well, and he basically said, can you think of anything?

And I started thinking about it.

Because it wasnt that.

Its been done so much.

And when did it become Sharlto Copley that he was buying guns from?

Because hes just terrific.

Well that was just a bit of luck, really.

And Sharltos name came up, and I hadnt thought of him originally.

But I loved him so much inDistrict 9.

I was like, aah, thats such a great idea.

And I chatted to him, we got on really well.

And we just changed the character to fit him.

He wouldve done it in an American character, but I just thought, I like his accent.

You know, which is basically the theme of the whole film.

So I said, no, dont worry man, just be yourself.

I mean, obviously hes not playing himself, its not really him, its a performed version.

When did Martin Scorsese get involved?

And he liked it.

Just because, being a massive film fan, that was it for me.

That was a high point, you know.

So that got sorted, and I met him and it was just as great as Id hoped really.

So, I sentFree Fireover and they got involved at that point.

What was his feedback like?

I imagine he must be a great person to ask questions of.

Yeah, but I didnt really.

We took the film to show him once it had been finished, really, except for the music.

Because hes just busy, you know?

Its like… so, we showed it to him… You only really get one fresh go at showing something to someone.

And once youve done it once, they can never really look at it again.

So you really have to pick your moment when you show a movie.

Um, but even on that version, he really enjoyed it, which was a massive relief.

So we kind of chatted about that, and he just gave me a lot of confidence really.

Just to backtrack a bit, Ive read that you built the warehouse from the film onMinecraft.

How long did that take?

How big was it?

Why did you want to do that?

It was to scale, because you’re free to build to scale onMinecraft.

I think the cubes are like a metre square, that you move around with, the general blocks.

So it’s possible for you to build things to the right scale.

Um, and then its just a really helpful aid, you know?

Because you’re able to build stuff and then walk around inside it.

Which is pretty amazing, you know?

And you might put lighting in there, to a degree.

And the length of corridors, and see how long it takes to walk in.

You know, how long those things each take.

And it was great.

Basically, it wasMinecraftbecause I can use it.

Its just my time, then.

It was really useful, you know?

And Id do it again.

When you were all on set, you had earplugs in because of the noise.

What was it like trying to direct people in that kind of environment?

Yeah, its fine, you know.

I dont remember that being an issue.

As you do when youve got your fingers in your ears.

Youre not confident in your own voice because it sounds different.

And is there a knack to filming someone getting shot just right?

You have some really wince-inducing ones in this.

People were gasping in the cinema when I saw it.

Like people putting their hands on syringes and things that are… Just because you know what its like to stub your fingers on stuff, you know?

You dont really slide through the air, thats just movies, you know.

So thats kind of what we were trying to get to.

But if you see a gun firing at you, you tend to flop onto the ground.

Theres been a lot of talk on the web recently about another project of yours,Freakshift.

What can you tell us about that one?

And its basically about a kind of future that has had some kind of ecological disaster.

And these creatures burrow up through the ground.

They come up at night, and just maraud around smashing things up.

And theres a police force that goes out at night, that have to deal with them.

Theyre more like rent-a-kill or something.

And theyre often made up of people whove been sentenced to time in county jail.

And theyre kind of given the option of doing three weeks on the Freakshift or three years in prison.

Because the life expectancy is quite short on the Freakshift.

And is Alicia Vikander definitely signed on, or is she circling?

The internet cant seem to agree on it.

Do you know what youre going onto straight after this, or is it up in the air?

It should beFreakshift, yeah.

So, then I can get straight into it.

Ive got people waiting, you know, art department people and location scout people.

Just one random thing before I have to go.

You directed Peter Capaldis firstDoctor Whoepisodes, and now hes nearing his end on the show.

Have you been able to keep up with it?

Um, I saw the first two series of it, yeah.

And hes getting a bit older, so he watched less of it as it went on.

Itll be interesting to see where they go, with the new Doctor and the new showrunner ofWho.

But, you know, I hope they do something radical with it.

Oh, well that would have to beCrank.

ButCrankhas to be watched in a double bill withCollateral.

Fair enough…

Because hes inCollateral, isnt he?

And he passes the briefcase to Cruise, and Ive always imagined thatCollateralis the day beforeCrank.

And then he goes home, and then he wakes up inCrank.

The two join together, dont they?

Id never thought of that, but Ill need to do the double bill now.

I think…Collateralis based in LA, isnt it?

[Having looked it up, I can now confirm that it is.]

Yeah yeah, there you go.

I sawCrankin LA, when I was there one time, and it really made me feel homesick.

[Laughs]

[Also laughs]

Whats the general answer to the Jason Statham question?

You do get a lot ofCranks, to be honest.

Crankis good, though.

Its a great film.

You get a fewLock Stocksas well.

Eeeeh…. yeah, thats too early Statham for me.

I think, yeah.

Ive got a soft spot for the firstMechanic, as well.

I quite like that, and yeah…

I think hes great, Statham, I think we should have more Statham stuff.

They should put him inStar Wars, hed be good in that.

Id love to see that…

Yeah.

You know, theres not enough cockney Sith lords and stuff.

Yeah, thats an… [Laughs] … inspired casting, isnt it?

I look forward to James Blunt turning up as well.

Maybe all of Coldplay.

Ben Wheatley, thank you very much!

Free Fireis in UK cinemas from Friday.