Netflix’s Heart of Stone isn’t just another high-octane spy thriller—it taps into one of today’s biggest cultural conversations: artificial intelligence. Director Tom Harper and actor Matthias Schweighöfer sat down to discuss how the film unintentionally landed at the perfect moment to reflect real-world AI concerns, how technology is reshaping the industry, and why the right song choice can elevate a film.
Harper acknowledges that while AI was always baked into the film’s DNA, its real-world relevance exploded while they were making it. “In the three years we worked on this movie, AI went from being a sci-fi concept to something everyone is actively debating,” he says. “Cinema reflecting social concerns is what makes these stories so interesting. This film is meant to be an action-packed thrill ride, but it also asks: how do we control the tools we create before they control us?”
Schweighöfer, who plays the intelligence expert overseeing the AI-powered “Heart,” has his own thoughts on the evolving relationship between technology and storytelling. “Maybe one day AI will be making movies for AI,” he jokes. “Meanwhile, we’ll still be here making movies for humans.” He notes that even in a film reliant on technology, the human element remains crucial. “I was in a dark room doing these scenes, and I had to trust Tom completely. I’d ask, ‘Where exactly do I look in this big, empty space?’ And he’d say, ‘Right…there.’” He laughs, adding, “It felt like a one-man play at times.”
The human touch isn’t just in the performances—it’s in the soundtrack, too. Heart of Stone boasts some well-placed needle drops, including Fleetwood Mac, Lizzo, and a standout comedic moment featuring Foreigner’s I Want to Know What Love Is. “That scene was a happy accident,” Harper reveals. “We had to shift the location of a major sequence due to COVID, and as we were scouting Iceland, we came up with the idea for a truck driver blasting that song in the middle of this high-stakes chase. It ended up being a perfect contrast to the action.”
Schweighöfer has his own musical ambitions, throwing out an unexpected pick for his character’s action theme song: Rod Stewart’s Sailing. “Picture this,” he says, leaning in. “Slow motion. I’m walking in. Sunscreen in hand. Just…‘I am sailing’ playing in the background.” He grins. “That’s a trailer moment right there.”
And what about a sequel? Harper is careful not to overpromise. “We just wanted to tell the best story we could with this film. If people love it, who knows what could happen?” Schweighöfer, however, is already thinking ahead. “Jack of Hearts in action—now that’s a movie. And we have to do the song.”
Watch the interview above and then check out the trailer below.
