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I think, as written, 'Assassins' simply acknowledges the very human need to be acknowledged. As director, I've got to put aside any particular biases or prejudices that, as a moral human being, this is not an appropriate or acceptable way to get what you want.

We're in such a volatile climate right now politically. I think they didn't want Assassins to not succeed due to popular opinion and politics, versus on its own merits. I can respect that.

Assassins and presidents invite the same basic question: Just who do you think you are?

I don't mind playing bad guys, but I love having the opportunity to play all different types of characters.

I don't like to play characters that are too perfect.

Very few of my characters are totally heroic or totally villainous.

The villains that I play, I always think that they are grounded, wonderful people with enormous intellects who are very exciting to spend an evening with. I never see them as bad people.

I don't play the role of a villain, really, but I like playing anti-hero kind of roles. I like characters where there's conflict, drama, and more personal investment than just being heroes.

I'm not particularly interested in playing characters that think the way I do.