GOING OUT WITH A BANG SPANISH THRILLER LA CASA DE PAPEL - KNOWN TO ENGLISH FANS AS MONEY HEIST - HAS BEEN A HIT FOR NETFLIX. LUKA PEROS, WHO PLAYS TACITURN HEAVY MARSEILLE, COUNTS DOWN TO THE FINAL SERIES. BY
What can fans expect from the final series of Money Heist?
The writers and producers have doubled down, that’s for sure. In the first five episodes it’s a really wild ride, from emotions to fear to happiness – it really packs it all in.
Money Heist sees us rooting for the bad guys. Do you think that’s why the show has been such a hit?
A lot of it is down to the great writers and cast, everyone setting out to make a real entertainment show. But it’s not just about robbers killing people. The truth is that people are fed up with big banks, with rich people and with corrupt politicians because they’re working 50 hours a week to feed their kids and getting nothing back. Is it any wonder we want to root for the bad guy? It all goes back to Robin Hood.
What was the atmosphere like on set on the last day of filming?
On my last day of filming I was alone, kind of doing my Marseille thing – it was just me and the crew. So I felt a little emotional. It had been three years of making a really challenging show with some really difficult shoots. But then there’s a documentary about the show and in that everyone is crying, yes, even me, the big guy. Actually I cry a lot!
Did you keep anything as a memento of the show?
We kept asking for stuff but they would say, ‘No, we need it for the shoot’, but after filming wrapped everyone got sent a red jumpsuit and a thank-you note, which was really neat. I’d have preferred Marseille’s raincoat to keep, though – it would be more use.
Did you have any say in being given the name Marseille?
I originally auditioned for Bogota – they wanted city names that sounded good – and then I said I want to be Ulaanbaatar. I mean, who the hell knows where that is? But they stuck with Marseille, or Marsella as it is in Spanish.
Finally, are you satisfied with how the show ends?
I don’t know, I haven’t seen it! I know there were three possible endings in the script and before that, who knows how many? We’ll have to wait and see.
Part one of the final season of Money Heist is on Netflix on Friday. Part two will follow in December.