Josh Hartnett Talks 'Trap' Role & Why He Wanted to Play a Serial Killer

Josh Hartnett found it nearly impossible to pass up the role of a serial killing father in M. Night Shyamalan‘s new movie.

The 46-year-old actor was photographed with Shyamalan on Wednesday (July 31) at a Berlin photocall for their new film, Trap.

Trap is a psychological-thriller that follows Hartnett playing a father taking his daughter to a pop concert. Unlike other Shyamalan movies, the twist in Trap was revealed in the trailer. The concert is a trap that’s been laid to catch a serial killer… Hartnett’s character.

What draws actors to these types of characters though? Josh had an easy and simple answer, “I love that pressure.” Hartnett told IndieWire that, “if this characterization doesn’t work, the whole movie fails.”

Josh was looking for that pressure and he seems to have found it! His biggest challenge was making sure his character wasn’t like another, so he refused to watch any media after being cast. As an actor, he says the thing that drew him in most was that, even as a serial killer, Cooper (played by Hartnett) was capable of self-revelation.

“All that mixed in with the psychopathy of a totally deranged serial killer just seemed too delicious to not be a part of,” Josh said.

It’s obvious that Josh has not only put the acting work in, but also the research required of such a complex character like Cooper.

Trap releases this weekend in theaters and if you’re a Josh Hartnett or M. Night Shyamalan fan, you’re not going to want to miss it! Watch the trailer now!