‘The Order’ and Its Timeliness: Jude Law Discusses Why the Neo-Nazi Thriller Was Necessary

Jude Law underscored the urgent necessity of his new crime thriller, “The Order,” which delves into the FBI’s investigation of a Neo-Nazi terrorist faction in the 1980s. At the Venice Film Festival, Law emphasized the film’s pressing relevance despite the resurgence of far-right ideologies.

“It’s clear why this film matters right now,” Law remarked. “It’s compelling to unearth historical narratives that resonate with contemporary issues.”

Set against the backdrop of 1983 Idaho, the film, adapted from the 1989 book The Silent Brotherhood by Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt, portrays Law as a solitary FBI agent unraveling a string of violent crimes orchestrated by a Neo-Nazi group led by the radical Robert Jay Mathews, played by Nicholas Hoult. The cast also includes Tye Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett, Alison Oliver, and Odessa Young. Director Justin Kurzel echoed Law’s sentiment, noting the film’s modern relevance.

“It’s rare to find historical events that speak so directly to today’s political climate,” Kurzel commented. “This connection made the project particularly intriguing.”

To intensify the on-screen rivalry, Law and Hoult were deliberately kept apart until their first shared scene. Hoult revealed, “We didn’t interact for the first few weeks of shooting. The idea was to maintain our separation until our characters first met on screen.” Law also followed Hoult for a day as part of his preparation, a fact Hoult only discovered upon arriving in Venice.

Sheridan’s character, a young police officer joining Law’s FBI agent, reflects on the film’s themes through personal experience. “Growing up in a small town, I saw how extreme ideologies can infiltrate communities,” he said. “This project speaks to the manipulation and violence inherent in such ideologies.” “The Order” is slated for a U.S. release in December through Vertical and will be distributed internationally by Amazon Prime Video.