Wild Question Sold Rebecca Hall on Onslaught’s Dominatrix Role

The path to embodying an eccentric character often requires a little nudge from the universe—and sometimes, just one very odd question from the director. Actress Rebecca Hall recently shared the wild moment that instantly sold her on taking on the role of a dominatrix handler in Adam Wingard’s upcoming sci-fi action film, Onslaught.

Hall admitted that Director Wingard’s pitch alone was enough to convince her. When asked directly if she wanted to play Dan Stevens’ dominatrix handler, her response was an immediate, enthusiastic yes. It sounds simple, but for Hall, this moment marked the beginning of a delightful descent into wonderfully weird territory.

Beyond the initial pitch, Hall credited her close working relationship with Wingard for fostering an environment where she felt comfortable embracing the absurd. She described feeling that they always found a way to do “kind of crazy stuff,” allowing her to step outside her usual comfort zone and become ready for all the weirdos.

Finding the voice for Hanna Kammler was another journey filled with unexpected inspiration. Hall discovered the perfect cadence by referencing Marlene Dietrich’s unique speaking style. She recalled Wingard pointing out how Dietrich’s accent wasn’t textbook German—it had Americanisms, making it wonderfully idiosyncratic and non-textbook. This subtle observation unlocked the specific, idiosyncratic voice needed for her character.

But perhaps the most charming detail that helped Hall lock into her role was a completely mundane, yet surreal, on-set moment. On her first day of filming, Hall was tasked with chopping carrots for a breakfast scene. She found that just something so bizarre about chopping vegetables for a morning meal somehow made everything click and made sense within the context of the film.

This blend of directorial enthusiasm, historical inspiration, and sheer on-set oddity ultimately allowed Hall to transform her perspective. While she has spent years in more grounded roles, embracing this kind of eccentric character proves that sometimes the most memorable performances emerge from the strangest corners of the creative process.

The film Onslaught, starring Adria Arjona and Drew Starkey among others, is set to hit theaters on September 4, 2026, promising an adventure fueled by these delightfully peculiar performances.