Rami Malek talks about 'The Amateur,' a bloody and clever revenge thriller coming to Disney+.

Charlie Heller is a genius, a brilliant mind who works for the CIA as a codebreaker; he's one of those "lab rats" who spends his days behind a computer, decrypting messages and deciphering their meaning. His work is extremely important because thanks to what he finds, terrorists are brought down, conspiracies are uncovered, and strategies are devised that can change the course of a country. But one day, his intellect will become his most powerful weapon.

Starring Rami Malek —the Oscar-winning actor for his role as Freddie Mercury in 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and who rose to fame in the series 'Mr. Robot'—'The Amateur' is a disturbing and intelligent thriller.

"Charlie works as a CIA agent in a department where he arguably flies under the radar due to the nature of his work. He's not your typical CIA or FBI tactical agent. He's extremely intelligent and resourceful," Malek said of his character in a 20th Century Studios interview.

But Charlie's life is shaken up in the worst way: Sarah, his wife, is killed in a terrorist attack. Heller goes from analyst to avenger in a fascinating story of love, loss, and revenge, in which he uses his intellect in a relentless pursuit of justice, guided by seasoned CIA agent Henderson, played by Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix).

'The Amateur' premieres Thursday, July 17 on the Disney+ streaming service. Joining Malek and Fishburne in the cast are Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, and Julianne Nicholson.

With a sophisticated and striking production, this story alternates action with suspense, as the viewer witnesses Heller's transformation, a peaceful and analytical man who ends up immersed in a spiral of violence and revenge, driven by rage and pain.

"The surprising response to what I wanted to do next was an action movie, but not just any action movie," says Malek. "I wanted to make something that was stylish, sophisticated, intelligent, and from the point of view of someone who's underrated."

For Rami Malek, the film explores a universal theme: grief and loss. "At its core, it's about grief. You lose the love of your life, and how far will you go to make sure your soulmate, that extraordinary person who changed your life, isn't forgotten?" he said in the interview.

In the role of Sarah appears Rachel Brosnahan, winner of an Emmy Award for her role in 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' and who can be seen these days in theaters as Lois Lane in the new 'Superman' film, from director James Gunn.

"Sarah attends a conference on climate change and development, and while she's at St. Pancras, a terrorist attack occurs, where she's taken hostage and ultimately brutally murdered," the actress explains.

The power of their deep, transformative love is the emotional core of "The Amateur." "The two characters complete each other. They bring out the best in each other. It's simply pure love, and that's why it's so much harder when he loses it," she says.

The film is directed by James Hawes, whose credits include the series "Slow Horses," "Snowpiercer," and "Raised by Wolves." When he heard about "The Amateur," he knew it would be a perfect fit. "It's the kind of film I'd love to see. It has the balance of emotion and emotional resonance that defines the project."

Rami Malek praises the director's work. "James is decisive, intelligent, and collaborative. He's so aligned with the idea of Charlie being the amateur that there was no pressure to force anything. He understands the genre, but he also brings a new energy to it," he points out.