Matthias Schweighöfer: "They always ask very directly: 'Excuse me, who are you?'"

Matthias Schweighöfer, you are no longer just the golden boy of German cinema, but in recent years you have increasingly become one of the global players in the world of cinema.

How do you become a world star?

The series "You Are Wanted", which I did around 2018, brought me to America.

I met a great agent there, and at some point he received the request for an e-casting for the film "Army of the Dead" by director Zack Snyder.

Important man who has made various superhero films.

I thought it would definitely not work - until at some point Zack called himself and said: “You're in!” I'm a big Zack Snyder fan and I got really nervous when the acceptance came.

I was in America for four or five months to film and had a great time with him.

At some point I met the Netflix bosses who said there was the possibility of

own prequel because the character was

.

Well, you're directing this prequel, Army of Thieves.

Are you now recognized on the streets not only in Potsdam, but also in Pasadena or Prague?

If I am recognized, it will be more likely by Germans.

But of course it's always very funny, especially when you're in Los Angeles or anywhere else.

Where would you least have expected to be recognized?

In South Africa, on Table Mountain. Florian David Fitz and I shot “100 Things” and suddenly there were a hundred or two hundred Germans standing around us, all tourists - quite absurd. It turned out to be a big hoot, with an infinite number of photos. The Africans probably thought: “Who are the two idiots there?” It is similar in America, when you walk down Melrose Avenue in LA and are repeatedly asked for a photo by German tourists, the Americans think: “Who is he? “They always ask very directly:“ Excuse me, who are you, what's going on here? ”And then you say:“ I'm a guy from Germany. ”-“ An actor? Are you a celebrity back there? "

Even if this Netflix film is supposed to be an international hit, keep your own sense of humor and style: You speak a very German-tinged English, rather rusty school English instead of a cool cosmopolitan language.

Why?

Zack and I thought about what makes sense.

He advised me not to make it too American.

Then I

sat

on it with a

and

looked for

the most natural form.

Others could be embarrassing.

With you, that brings a special charm: that of the approachable.

I think there is something real about it.

And this real thing makes it so approachable.

Often, perfect

create a distance if someone really gets into it.

My English is just like the real thing.

That makes it likeable.

It sounds like Angela Merkel's English, neither exaggeratedly good nor bad, but familiar.

They're even kidding about American.

Exactly, the gag arose from an inside joke because I asked Zack how I should pronounce the word “Götterdämmerung” and he said something like: “It's clear:“ Gödda-däm-rrung. ”I laughed myself broken.

“Sorry, you want me to say 'Gödda-däm-rrung'?” The code word became a little homage to our conversation.

You are a fixture in the industry, founded your own film production company Pantaleon over ten years ago, which produced "Frau Ella", "What a Man" or "Vaterfreuden";

the marketing is done by your company Pantaflix, a listed corporation.

Are you a global player with the face of a school boy?

But I have to say that luckily I am not doing this alone.

I have a really cool gang, my two partners Dan Maag and Marco Beckmann.

Both of them are Pisces by the zodiac sign like me.

When we drove to Pasadena for our first dinner with Zack and his wife Debbie, there was an illuminated sign for a shop next to our parking lot, which read: "Pantaleon".

I looked at Zack and Debbie completely perplexed and said: "That's the name of my company!" They also found this coincidence unbelievable.

Then at the table my partners ask the two of them what their zodiac sign is.

And the: “Fish!” There were five fish at this table, all of them having their birthdays within four or five days.

So thanks to the Pisces troop - without them I wouldn't be where I am.

Do you believe in horoscopes?