How Daniel Roher and Matt Johnson charmed rising British star Leo Woodall

 

After two back-to-back films with high-profile Toronto directors, British star Leo Woodall suggests he should perhaps only work with filmmakers on this side of the Atlantic.

“I strictly only work with Canadian directors,” Woodall joked while promoting “Tuner,” the first feature film from Daniel Roher. 

“He had no fear about not knowing how it goes and it made it a very collaborative experience,” Woodall said. 

“I think we’re going to see a lot of really good movies from him.”

Woodall, who had a breakout role in the Sicily-set season of “The White Lotus” as a hard-partying swindler, also recently worked with Matt Johnson on a biopic about the early life of the late Anthony Bourdain. 

The film navigates Bourdain’s rejection from a writing fellowship at school, the chaos of the kitchen and ultimately his passion for cooking. Woodall plays a fellow cook in a Provincetown kitchen where Bourdain is learning the trade. 

Woodall said working with the “Nirvanna: The Band, The Show, The Movie” director, who is known for orchestrating wild stunts for the sake of that project, was a unique experience. 

“He’s brilliant. He’s bonkers, but he knows he’s bonkers. And he’s fearless as well… He’s a very talented guy. Canada’s where it’s at, man.”

Woodall’s first taste of Canadian hospitality came two years ago when he stepped on set of Roher’s “Tuner,” which marked the Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker’s first foray into narrative features.

Woodall said he felt as though he could lean on Roher, and vise-versa.  

“I’ve never had more common-ground chats about character,” Woodall said.

Co-star Havana Rose Liu said Roher’s process was informed by his documentary work, in which he would let people be themselves and craft a story out of it. 

“He would treat us as though we had the master of our character and personhood in that way. And I felt like that’s something that is an autonomy that you don’t always get,” Liu said. 

The film, which also stars Dustin Hoffman, built up buzz at film festivals including Telluride, Toronto  and Sundance. It was also chosen by Toronto International Film Festival as one of Canada’s Top Ten films. It follows a piano prodigy turned piano tuner who suffers from Hyperacusis, a hearing disorder that amplifies everyday sounds leading to pain in the ear. Although it led to him having to give up his craft, the condition has an unexpected benefit when Niki uses his acute hearing to listen for subtle clicks on a safe’s dial, allowing him to find the combination and break in.

Liu, best known for her role alongside Rachel Sennott in the comedy “Bottoms,” stars opposite Woodall as Ruthie, a pianist who falls for his character Niki. But the romance turns rocky, as tension builds when she finds out he’s been using his new talent to steal. 

Woodall said the skill didn’t carry over into real life, but that maybe with the help of a stethoscope he might be able to crack a safe. 

Liu joked that she lost everything while filming because Woodall stole her jewels and passport. 

Both Liu and Woodall learned how to play piano for their respective roles, taking intense lessons that left them sweating. 

“It’s actually helpful because I think it pushed us to be better all the time,” Liu said, of the healthy competition between the two. 

The Brooklyn-born star also praised the sound design in the film — a sensational symphony of different tones, pitches and volume that immerse the audience. 

“The sound design feels not only like its own character, but also like you’re truly inside of Niki’s head and experience in a way that I think just greatens our empathy even more deeply for him and his experience,” Liu said.

Audiophiles will want to experience Oscar-winning sound designer Johnnie Burn’s work in a theatre in order to fully hear what the film has to offer.

“It’s one of those real joys to get to sit in a movie theatre and the lights go down and you get taken away by this really good story,” Liu said.

Woodall agreed that theatre’s surround sound is “1,000 per cent” the way to see it.

“I think seeing this film in its full scope in a movie theatre — it’s just, it’s a truly wonderful experience.”

Liu and Woodall’s rising star status will now continue with two huge movie franchises. Liu is teaming up with director Alex Garland for the video game adaptation “Elden Ring,” while Woodall will star in Andy Serkis’ “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,” alongside Jamie Dornan and Kate Winslet. The two joked during the interview that both projects just happen to be ring related.

“They’re so ringy, we’re just in it for the ring.” Liu laughed.

Woodall said he’s always been a huge fan of “Lord of the Rings,” in the new film he will be playing Halvard, a character hunting Gollum. 

“Getting to be a part of that franchise is a huge deal to me.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2026.