I was blind but now I can see.
James is married to his wife Sam (Malin Akerman) and they have a 13-year-old son together.
One day, James wakes up with the ability to see.
So, what was it about the movie that interested you both into doing it?
I was inextricably drawn by that idea of looking at things in that way.
I think its the human questions that attracted me.
I loved reading the script, and I had your reaction.
How has no one thought of this?
and what a great concept.
It was just beautiful and meeting Ido, he was the reason why I really wanted to do this.
After I met him, I was like, Yes, I want to work with this man.
Hes a true auteur, so it all came together.
I married someone hot, because he had no idea what she looked like.
Stevens:Yeah, you have to get your head around that.
It feels better than it looks.
He runs through the movie in a lot of ways.
To me, that was such a strange take on that.
I wasnt like, Oh, darling, here you are.
Finally, I see you.
Its like, I see you and wait a minute… no… different…
It would have ruined the movie.
Akerman:It really doesnt.
Because now shes trying a different shade of eyeliner…
Akerman:Shes trying a little bit.
Stevens:And it doesnt quite work but thats the night were going to shoot.
I think a lot of women have experienced that, right?
You just make a different effort for different people.
Why arent we satisfied?
All those questions that come up, which I love the film.
The fact is that they have a pretty great relationship.
They have a kid and everything seemed kind of okay.
It was actually like a marriage that has its ups and downs.
Akerman:Yeah, theyve been together a long time.
Stevens:And then this epic trauma occurs, and its the shockwaves from that, really.
Sam has already been aware of the visual, but now its almost hyper-aware or deliberate.
What did you learn from speaking to blind people and those had their vision restored?
Stevens:Oh, man.
I asked a couple of them, Whats the most annoying thing that other people do or say?
I talked to people who have been blind since birth, blind since childhood, partially-sighted, sight regained.
Of course that would be annoying, that would drive you insane!
I think most of us expect blind people to just be in darkness all the time.
Stevens:Right, its not like lights on, lights off.
Make this a human story.
There were some odd grievances and some bitterness, of course.
Does Sam learn something out of what happens, or is this really about James arc?
Akerman:No, absolutely.
She goes through a huge transformation herself, and I spoke to Ido about it a lot.
You have to pose the question of why shes with a blind man in the first place.
I think shes hiding behind this relationship and being able to take care of something.
She needed to find a new purpose.
Shes shifted too much, thats not there anymore.
Like you say, is it all about James?
Of course its very about this whole relationship really, this film.
Like inBeauty and the Beast, youre playing the Beast.
I think youd be more of the Gaston jot down…
Stevens:Well, thank you.
I couldnt possibly out-Gaston Luke Evans, but yeah, its exciting, really exciting.
Theyre amazing over there and the work thats going into this movie is quite extraordinary.
Id like to think that its modern-day magic, the stuff thats going into creating this Beast.
I did the puppeteering of it, and now its being puppeteered further by these digital wizards.
The other thing isLegionfor FX.
I know the character of David Haller from the comics.
Stevens:You know it?
Not many people do.
Not a lot of people know…
I guessDen of Geekpeople knowLegion.
Yes, its interesting.
He can and literally will take on anybody and anything at one stage, but were starting slowly.
Were ramping up, but its a really cool character.
So this is going to be a series?
Stevens:I hope so.
We just shot the pilot and well see, but it was cool.
Have they been writing more episodes in case it gets picked up?
Stevens:I dont know.
Youd have to ask Noah that.
I just do the words when they come to me.
[Laughs]
Are you still doingBillions?
Akerman:Yeah, were ramping up and were going to get started in June for the second season.
Stevens:Its great, by the way.
Susan and I just started watching it.
Its fun and really interesting.
I love the show.
I decided to take half a year off.
I havent stopped working for a long time, so I took some time off between the two seasons.
