Margot Robbie and Christian Bale celebrate friendship at ’Amsterdam’ European premiere

Director David O. Russell got his starry cast involved in the creation of his new crime drama “Amsterdam“. The five-time Oscar nominee reunited with his “The Fighter“ and “American Hustle“ star Christian Bale to develop the project, with the duo getting together in diners over several years to bounce ideas off each other. “He had no script, he just had a couple of ideas. We started trading music that we would listen to, bits of history that we would learn about. David would scribble all this down. And then, you know, over years and years came up with this story,“ Bale told Reuters at the film’s European premiere in London on Wednesday (September 21). “I really appreciate that David was generous enough with me to bring me along for the whole journey right from the inception, right through to the end of editing and now to seeing it here,“ he said. Similarly, Bale’s co-stars Margot Robbie and Rami Malek were invited to contribute - Robbie in bringing her character Valerie to life and Malek spending time in the editing suite during post-production. “It began with the character. I was talking to David about Valerie for years before we actually got around to making the film. It was kind of like a creative process that kept evolving,“ said Robbie. “I love getting a chance to spend that time, you know, working behind the camera because that’s something that I’m looking to do one day as well. And so I want to learn as much as possible. And it was very kind of him to have invited me in,“ added Malek. “Amsterdam“ is set in 1918 and the early 1930s and centres around three friends, Burt Berendsen (Bale), Harold Woodman (John David Washington) and Valerie (Robbie), whose paths cross in war-torn Europe and who make a pact to always protect each other. Returning to New York following WW1, scarred inside and out, Burt, a doctor, starts practising experimental medicine and Harold becomes a lawyer, championing the vulnerable and the weak. When the daughter of their wartime battalion leader (musician Taylor Swift) turns to them for help to investigate his suspicious, sudden death, the trio of friends become entangled in a dangerous political conspiracy plot. Elements of the film are inspired by real historical events and people, including U.S. major general Smedley Butler and a fascist coup attempt against president Franklin D. Roosevelt. “We wanted to see a friendship that we wanted to have, you know, a triangle of people that would do absolutely anything for each other no matter what,“ said Bale. “They’ve really been tested, they’ve been kind of forged in the crucible of the Great War, and they’ve declared they will do anything for each other, and they stick to that no matter what, even when they’re dragged into this big murder rap and then into this huge global conspiracy, which is crazy but is actually based on fact,“ said Bale. In addition to its top-billing trio, the movie features a star-studded cast including Robert De Niro, Chris Rock, Anya Taylor-Joy, Andrea Riseborough, Mike Myers, Michael Shannon and Zoe Saldana. “Amsterdam“ begins its global theatrical rollout on October 6.