Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce in Traitor
Production Highlights from the International Thriller
Aug 25, 2008
In Traitor, an FBI Special Forces investigator (Guy Pearce of Factory Girl, The Time Machine) hunts Samir Horn (Don Cheadle of Reign On Me, Hotel Rwanda) rogue former U.S. Special Operations officer, who seems to have a grudge against America and ties to terrorist groups. Despite contradictory evidence, Horn’s name and photograph emerge as the task force investigates criminal activities in Yemen, London, and Nice.
Horn’s various connections lead investigators to believe he’s a terrorist, and lead terrorists to believe he’s working with investigators. His personal history, explosives training, and inconsistent behavior make his loyalties a mystery. A mixture of action, politics, and espionage, Traitor explores the controversial subject of how far the character will go for what he believes in.
About the Production of Traitor
- The story began as a concept that actor Steve Martin (who also executive produced the film) presented to producer David Hoberman while they were working together on the film Bringing Down the House. Martin’s “What If” scenario with a surprising twist intrigued Hoberman and his partner Todd Lieberman, who then hired Jeffrey Nachmanoff (writer of The Day After Tomorrow) to develop the idea with Martin and write the final script.
- It was Nachmanoff’s idea to raise the stakes in this multi-layered international thriller by making the protagonist a Muslim American whose religious faith and personal loyalties are tested by his circumstances.
- Writer-director Nachmanoff spoke with espionage and intelligence-gathering professionals, authors, and academics specializing in subjects related to the film in order to add more realism to the story, yet keep it entertaining.
- The parallel story of the FBI investigator tracking Horn also tests his beliefs, his knowledge, and his humanity. The agent must constantly answer his own questions about how far he will go to do what he thinks is right.
- Cheadle (who also worked as one of the film’s producers) was the only actor who had to learn Arabic for his role as a devout Muslim. With so many different dialects from which to choose, he worked with dialect coaches and language professors to learn to speak classic Arabic.
- Although the filmmakers had their choice of non-Arab Hollywood actors who could play the parts, they cast Arab actors who spoke mostly Moroccan Arabic.
- Guy Pearce and Neal McDonough portray the two FBI agents chasing Horn around the world. Pearce plays Roy Clayton, a modern-day law enforcer who uses finesse and psychology to get what he wants. McDonough plays his partner, old-school agent Max Archer, a man who beats the answers out of prisoners.
- Jeff Daniels appears in a supporting role as Carter, a veteran CIA contractor whose private agenda remains uncertain to those around him.
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