Mohamed Karim – A Day to Die

By starrymag | April 10, 2022

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) Please tell us the premise for the film A Day to Die.

 

A) The film revolves around a disgraced parole officer who is indebted to a local gang leader and forced to pull off a series of dangerous drug heists within twelve hours to pay the millions that he owes, rescue his kidnapped pregnant wife and settle a score with the city’s corrupt police chief (Bruce Willis), who’s working with the gang leader and double-crossed him years ago.

 

Q) What made you want to be a part of the film?

 

A) That he is unpredictable throughout the whole film, good guy, wants to implement law and order and doesn’t fear anyone. He is the good guy that brings down the bad guys. And the fact that my role of Detective Reynolds is a committed and righteous law-enforcer who isn’t afraid to do the right thing or see justice served, even if it places him in the line of danger until he brings the head of corruption down and bring him to justice. The two most important things in Reynolds life are work and his daughter.

The role has a good message that when you want to do something or prove a point or want to approach a goal. Never stop or listen to any suppressors. Believe in what your gut feeling and go for it until you prove everybody wrong.

I had the opportunity to play such an interesting role, and one that isn’t a stereotypical Middle Eastern role, in a Hollywood film after my successful films and series I achieved in Egypt and the Middle East.

 

Q) We know that Det. Reynolds is determined to get justice, but how was he originally described to you?

 

A)  He does whatever it takes to bring justice. Always going after my goal and focus until I reach my goal. Doesn’t fear anyone, as long as he is doing the right thing. Places himself in the line of danger until he brings the head of corruption down and bring him to justice. He followed his gut feeling and wanted answers all his speculations regarding his Boss Alison (Bruce Willis), which no one believes him and supported or even listened to him, but he kept going nothing stopped him eleven when it costed him a lot and caused him a lot of troubles until he proved everyone wrong and brought down the big boss.

 

Q) What did it mean to you to be selected to pay a role that is a-typical to the stereotypical Middle Eastern character?

 

A) It meant a lot to be selected to play a role that it is not a stereotypical character because I believe if you are a good actor and right for any role you should be able to do it and get the chance to do it. I think lately Hollywood started to slightly open its doors for more diversity and I really Hope it gets more become there are al or of amazing talents out there that can do so much more than these stereotypical roles.

Also, it meant a lot that it’s my second Hollywood role.

 

Q) Who were you looking forward to sharing a scene(s) with?

 

A) Bruce Willis. I had the best time ever shooting with Bruce Willis as most of my scenes were opposite him.

Just the fact that I grew up watching the Die Hard movies and watching all these movies and now I’m acting opposite him, I think I’m the luckiest person in the film as all of my scenes are with Bruce. I think that was amazing and I’m really excited for that. I am really excited for all the feedback that I’m getting. We have all these action scenes, and I was prepping for it with him and getting the chance to talk and discuss and brainstorm with him. I just learned a lot from a legend. He’s just like the true word for a star, being humble and down to earth all the time and really nice for everybody.

 

Q) What kind of advice did director Wes Miller offer during filming that you took to heart?

 

A) I have worked on a lot of movies, but the director Wes Miller got that special…I’ll call it a gift. He’s so calm and he’s so easy with everything and that kind of reflects back on everybody. It’s super cool.

I want to thank him and Andrew [van den Houten], the film’s producer, for the opportunity as well. I had an amazing time working with them, Wes trusts his actors and I just had a lot of fun working with him and I really look forward to working with him again.

 

Q) The movie is a gritty crime drama. What were some of your most challenging or memorable scenes to shoot?

 

A) The action, the shooting scenes and the explosions were very challenging and super great.  I had several action shooting scenes between me and Bruce. They had to lock down downtown Jackson, Mississippi for shooting these scenes. It felt awesome when I watched the film with audience during New York premiere.

I think I relate to Reynolds character in real life in a lot of his beliefs and actions in terms of don’t take no as an answer, going after my goal and focus until I reach my goal.

I think the most challenging part was to make sure that I don’t reveal what Reynolds really is and be unpredictable for the audience throughout the movie.

 

Q) What do you think it is about A Day to Die that’s going to make it a fast fan favorite action flick?

 

A) It’s not one of these straight up only action films. There are great stories in there and the different messages in the film.

 

Q) We loved you as the host of the Middle East version of “The Voice.” What was your experience like being a part of such a huge platform?

 

A) It was amazing experience. I loved it.  I reached a hundred million viewers watching my show across all Middle East. And meeting all these increasingly great talents from all over the Middle East and witnessing their dreams and hopes and trying my best to help them and cheer them up.

 

Q) What are the other recent projects you have been busy working on?

 

A) I’m working on two new projects – one in development stage and the other one is shooting next month. The one in development is a horror film. I am happy to bring some of the ancient Egyptian teamed with internationally recognized horror label Dark Castle on the upcoming genre thriller. Based on an original idea of the actor/producer, the film is about a driven Egyptologist who unleashes a demonic evil on the world. The pic will shoot in the U.S and Egypt.