Last week, we gave you a critical peek into the world of Hunters - Prime Videoâs latest series featuring a war of subterfuge and secret assassinations between Holocaust survivors and Nazis-in-hiding⦠all against the backdrop of Americaâs socio-political theatre of the 1970s.

While the show has a wide array of characters, with Logan Lerman playing lead Jonah Heidelbaum, its biggest A-lister is, no doubt, acting legend and industry veteran Al Pacino, playing Meyer Offerman.  

The slow-burn performance takes the Italian-American actor into the challenging role of playing a wealthy ex-European Holocaust survivor out for revenge, no matter the cost. Itâs a script full of Yiddish sayings and plenty of theatrics and mystery - one that the actor was glad to flesh out in an exclusive interview.

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Letâs talk about this amazing character that you play.  Obviously, as the season goes on, there are many layers to him that we want the audience to discover as theyâre watching the show.  How would you set up who he is at the beginning?

Well, he is a sort of mysterious character.  And that can, you know, mean a lot of things. Thereâs this feeling that heâs a private person, whoâs very wealthy and lives in a sort of mansion.  And he is responsible for a lot of mayhem. At the same time, heâs an educated, well-versed person. At the first encounter, he seems a little eccentric and [itâs] hard to figure where heâs coming from.

His has a relationship with this young man [played by Logan Lerman,] whom he seeks out and in a way, partially wants to mentor, and at the same time protect.  Because this young man is, possibly, under some sort of surveillance and could be assassinated.  

Talk about how Meyer finds himself leading the hunt.  

That is something Iâve been thinking about even when I was thinking about this character, wondering how his leadership qualities partially are there because of his knowledge, his innate passion for something.  I donât think heâs ever ledâwell, he has led in business and in industry. He has survived the [concentration] camps and became - without anything -- became a leader of industry high up in the rankings - very wealthy, very committed.  

But at the same time, heâs an underground man.  Heâs someone who lurks under the ground. So, itâs very interesting to understand a little bit about how both those things can cohese [sic] and coexist, and how close they are to each other.  

Was there any research you did or anything you looked into before taking on this role?

It was fun to be around all these people.  I mean, they were easy to be with. And it was one of the longest shoots Iâve ever been on.  This is a 10-parter. And itâs actually like doing a ten-hour film - and the first time for me doing this kind of thing, doing a series. This was different.  It felt more like a film than the other things Iâve done on television. It felt more ongoing - very interesting. I enjoyed it.  

Talk a little bit about that ensemble cast and working with them.  I know a lot of you were from the theatre.

We - well, Iâve worked with Carol Kane, who is phenomenal in this thing.  I mean, some of the stuff they do together, her and, and the actor who plays her husband, it just is very special.  You donât see it often. And Iâve worked with her, you know? I worked with her on stage, I worked with her in films. Carol Kane, sheâs great, just truly great. And the others too. All of them were so special. I just love working with âem.  And you know, youâre with them all the time - not with the new director.  

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I just felt I was with a troupe. So, I donât think I remember an incident that happened on, on the whole shoot that I would say was intense. It was always, you know - we were doing a thing.  That happens when youâre around people with experience, who have gone through things. They sort of understand. Maybe Iâm trying to recollect it now, âcause I was, âdid I dream this thing?â Because it was pretty good.

Talk about Meyer and Jonahâs relationship.

First of all, Iâm so crazy about Logan, and I think he is so great in this film.  He has this appeal, you know. He just takes it and he just - he drives this film. He drives this whole series. It was great working with him - I enjoyed it so much. Every time we, weâd get together and we - the camaraderie on the set was what it usually is with actors.  We always get together and, you know. Itâs so uncomfortable if somebody is acting out a little and causing trouble. It really is terrible.  

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Yeah, instant -  I had chemistry with [Logan].  This kid, instantly. Itâs just one of those things, you know?  Usually, if you donât, by the time youâve worked together awhile you get there.  But with him it was right. Instant. It was great.

From the storyâs perspective, what is the conflict the film is going through, and Meyer as well, in terms of bringing him into the hunt?

Well, he is, heâs young, so heâs being taken up into something that is hard to relate to, a lot because his grandmother kept him, sort of kept him out of it.  And it, itâs only because of happenstance, only because of her getting killed, that he is forced into it. So, heâs there reluctantly. And his conflict is trying to go back to something thatâs more tangible to him in his imagination.  It doesnât seem to work. Itâs not part of growing up and learning things.  

Heâs struggling with that thing, that - um, sort of classic in the sense that itâs sort of like The Godfather and Michael Corleone as a youngster.  Heâs, you know, reluctant to go into the family, sort of, and wants his own way, wants to go his own way.  And is in a way, by circumstances and, and life itself, is sucked into it. âCause if it was up to Michael, he would have never gone in that direction.  As well as Jonah.  

Jonah has to get there too.  He has to earn it. And so he goes through those transitions, and I think thatâs a very interesting dramatic structure to, to, to find your way, to struggle through something toâand, and heâs very much a hero.  You know, they say in, in, in theâitâs never the end, itâs always the journey, you know? My character even says to him this is about what a hero really is, what heroes are.  

I know Iâve played some, Iâve played heroes.  Iâve played in Kevo - Iâve played zealots too, like Kevorkian.  It is different. They are different. A lot of people claim thatâs, that title of a zealot, but theyâre not the real ones.  And thereâs a line in this where Meyer tells Jonah, you know, itâs not about doing the right thing. Itâs about doing whatâs necessary.  I think - I, I donât know if thatâs the correct line, but itâs something like that - ânot doing what is right, but what is necessaryâ. And thatâs - thereâs a difference. 

It seems like Meyer sees something in Jonah that he doesnât see in himself.  What do you think Meyer sees in him?

Well, he sees the energy, and the intelligence, of course, he sees. Jonah is extremely facile and, and very bright.  And he sees potential. Like, sometimes you see it. I see it sometimes in my own kids or others or young actors that I work with.  You, you see that thing. It's almost obvious, and Meyer is looking for it too. Heâs looking for it in this kid. So, heâs stopping to notice. 

You can catch Hunters on Amazon Prime, streaming here.

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