We are eight episodes into The Man Who Fell to Earth, the Showtime series based on the original novel and feature film. The series follows an alien as he tries to find the one woman on Earth who can help save his species. Along the way he struggles to adapt to being “human” and discovers in order to save his planet, he must first help save ours.

Director Joss Agnew, whose other recent projects include The Split and Deep State, helmed episodes 7 and 8 of The Man Who Fell to Earth. We spoke with Agnew about his experience working on the series and the challenges that came with directing the “highly cinematic” episodes. Agnew also touches on the cast leaving him in “awe” and what’s next for the director. You can read our full conversation below.

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MovieWeb: Adapting something new that’s based on previous material seems like something that can be both exciting and yet challenging. What was it like stepping into The Man Who Fell to Earth? Were you a fan of the original novel or feature film coming into it?

Joss Agnew: My significant memory of Nick Roeg’s movie was being a very freaked-out kid who’d somehow stayed up too late and watched an extremely disquieting movie on TV! When I revisited it a few years later, hungry to make more sense of it, I understood what was going on a lot more!

Bowie was magnetic, as he always was, and when you see his transformation back to his alien self, it was bold and startling, you were totally in sync with Candy Clark’s terror as she witnessed it.

I love the idea of this strange guy creating a huge tech company to build a spaceship – I still do!

The way Roeg told that story, with his trademark trippy, disorientating style, was uncomfortable to experience, but it was designed to disturb you and echo Bowie’s Newton’s experience, a worried alien in the U.S. nation.

When I joined Alex Kurtzman and his team on the series, shooting was already underway. I was hired as the Block 3 Director, so, in the relay race of directors on a series of multiple episodes, I’m the penultimate baton-holder! So you better not drop it!

Joining a team of creatives who are wildly busy filmmaking is an adrenalin-fueled game of catch-up. First, you’re laying the foundations for when the shooting crew comes your way, and then your filming schedule starts. So, a good deal of that preparation is learning why creative choices have been made the way they have so far and getting in tune with the aesthetic of the production. Questions are the key. Luckily both Alex and show-runner John Hlavin made time for me, explaining the show’s ambitions and cinematic shooting processes they were adopting on set. Lens choice, style of coverage, and thoughts on lighting design are good examples. But then your job is to keep ideas fresh and relevant with your episodes when you’re telling the story.

Joss Agnew Talks Those Big Moments in Episodes 7 and 8

     Showtime

MovieWeb: There are some pivotal moments in episodes 7 and 8, which you directed. Can you tell me about the process of working with the writing team to effectively capture these moments?

Joss Agnew: In “Cracked Actor,” Episode 7, Justin and Faraday face some significant obstacles to their joint mission. Everything is threatened. Their plan, Justin’s family, their safety, their future. The tension ramps up, events become more worrying and you’re wondering how all these characters are going to make it through, to succeed.

Later, in “All The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell,” Episode 8, we’ll experience that tension stretch beyond breaking point and develop into anxiety-inducing suspense that aims to keep everyone hooked.

I had many tonal discussions with Alex and John and these are essential to successfully interpreting the story. So, on the set, you know the tempo you’re reaching for and the pace and rhythm of the action and dialogue. Obviously, understanding what has gone before is key. So, you’re studying all the earlier scripts, watching rushes and talking…getting an understanding of why characters have made the choices they have, and getting the story under your skin. Feeling it all, letting it own your life!

This incredible cast always knew exactly where their characters were emotionally, so my job was to join in on their journey, to support, to encourage, to provoke, and to guide. We’re all telling the story, cast, and crew, my role is to maintain the desired direction of that endeavor, to make us all the best storytellers we can be.

MovieWeb: What were some of the directorial techniques you employed with this series that you hadn’t done with your previous work?

Joss Agnew: Every director has their own process, for me what helps me look for the “unique” is to think about character and context. This character in this location with that dilemma is mostly new in each scene. I start there, by understanding all aspects of it then work out, to explore the possibilities of how best to depict that action. It helps me keep things fresh. For instance, if you have ten scenes to shoot in the same room with the same people, how do you avoid repeating yourself?

That “search for the unique” process was amplified for me with The Man Who Fell to Earth. It’s a highly cinematic endeavor where each episode, has its own identity. There is no precinct to settle down in! This story is constantly evolving, always on the move, stimulating, challenging and propulsive. And when you don’t know what’s around the next bend the journey is far more rewarding.

MovieWeb: Fans of the original film and novel will be looking for Easter eggs in the new series. Do you have any that you can reveal, or perhaps some clues about what fans should keep an eye out for?

Joss Agnew: There are but I cannot bring myself to tell you and ruin the surprise!. What I can say is that in my episodes, it was a buzz to see something Chiwetel’s Faraday utilizes from Newton’s past. You’ll spot this in the original movie but Faraday employs it here for a different purpose. It’ll be a cool treat to fans of the Walter Tevis’ book and Roeg’s movie.

Joss Agnew Was in Awe of the Show’s Cast

MovieWeb: The Man Who Fell to Earth has a phenomenal cast. Is there anything you can share about working with Chiwetel Ejiofor and the other cast members?

Joss Agnew: In the past, to discover what performing feels like, to be a better director I’ve tried acting. I was appalling. I’m always in awe of talent. Like great artists, they all make it look so easy.

It was always impressive working with Chiwetel. It was just magic to see him become Faraday and interact with humans who have different understandings of acceptable behavior! Chiwetel collaborated extensively with Alex and was well established in the performance choices depicting Faraday’s journey.

This insightful preparation was the same for Naomie Harris who entirely owned her portrayal of Justin Falls. They both had a deep psychological insight into the emotional stakes at play.

They provided extremely solid rocks to build the show on along with the incredible Clarke Peters, Kate Mulgrew, Jimmi Simpson, Sonya Cassidy, Joana Ribeiro, Bill Nighy and Rob Delaney. Annelle Olaleye playing Justin’s daughter, Molly, is definitely one to watch for the future!

MovieWeb: With The Man Who Fell to Earth wrapped up and airing on Showtime, could you tell our readers what’s next for Joss Agnew? Are there any other projects you’ve got in the works?

New episodes of The Man Who Fell to Earth premiere on Sundays on Showtime. You can find out more about the series at the official website.