Taylor Swift narrowly missed landing a cameo role in the new heist movie Fuze, which was filmed just steps away from her Wembley Stadium gig. The film, starring Theo James, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Sam Worthington, and Saffron Hocking, was shot around London and features a plot centered on an unexploded World War II bomb.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw on the challenge of filming near Swift's concert
Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who plays Chief Superintendent Zuzana Greenfield in the film, revealed that the production faced an unusual challenge: filming high-stakes bomb scenes while Taylor Swift's hits drifted across from the stadium. 'It was a little bit off-putting. Essentially, the set we had, which was right where the bomb site was, was right next to Wembley Stadium,' she said.
'So, we're doing these really high stakes, really intense scenes about will the bomb go off? Will it? And you're hearing across the breeze Taylor Swift songs at the end of the day on set, so it was a bit of a challenge! I think the sound guys had a bit of difficulty trying to cut her out.'
About the film Fuze
In Fuze, the discovery of an active bomb fuse that could detonate within 48 hours sets off a race against time. But the evacuation of London becomes a cover for an audacious bank heist, blending action and twists. Gugu described it as 'a real edge of your seat, high stakes action thriller.'
Gugu Mbatha-Raw's background
The actress, known for her roles in Belle, Loki, and Black Mirror, was born to a Black South African doctor father and a white British nurse mother. Raised in Oxfordshire after her parents' separation, she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) on a scholarship and was appointed an MBE in 2017 for services to drama.
Fuze is now in cinemas. This interview was adapted from The Arts Hour on the BBC World Service.
