Clive Owen, the Oscar-nominated actor, is set to bring a new take on the iconic role of Sam Spade, famously played by Humphrey Bogart in the 1941 film ‘The Maltese Falcon.’ Owen is not only starring in the new AMC series ‘Monsieur Spade’ but also serves as its executive producer, bringing a fresh perspective to the beloved character.
The series is set in the 1960s in the South of France, where Sam Spade investigates the murder of several nuns. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Owen expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating, ‘It’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever done.’ He also revealed his deep admiration for Bogart, mentioning that he is a ‘crazy Bogart fan’ and even owns an original poster from ‘The Maltese Falcon.’
Scott Frank, the co-creator of the series, emphasized that Owen was the ideal choice for the role, stating, ‘Clive was pretty much the only person we could see playing him.’ Frank also shared that when they initially brainstormed potential actors for the role, their list never went beyond Clive.
During an appearance on ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,’ Owen discussed his unique approach to embodying the character of Sam Spade while paying homage to Bogart. He explained, ‘I’m supposed to go in and go, ‘I’m going to do my interpretation.’ But because we were shooting in France with a lot of French actors, I needed a grounding. And although we’re playing a later Sam Spade, he has to come … from that ’40s private detective. So, I kinda drowned in Bogart. I went and watched everything again.’
To fully immerse himself in the role, Owen revealed that he pulled all of Bogart’s dialogue from ‘The Maltese Falcon’ and ‘Casablanca,’ listening to it repeatedly to capture the cadence and rhythm of Bogart’s delivery.
Clive Owen’s dedication to channeling the essence of Humphrey Bogart in his portrayal of Sam Spade in ‘Monsieur Spade’ has generated significant anticipation for the upcoming AMC series, as fans eagerly await the fresh interpretation of this iconic character.
