James Norton on Becoming a Producer: ‘We Talk About Actors as the Artists … but a Lot of it is Nonsense’

variety.com:

Alex Ritman James Norton may be one of the busiest British actors currently working — with upcoming roles including “House of the Dragon,” “House of Guinness” and “King and Conquerer” on the small screen and Guy Ritchie’s now-in-production “Wife and Dog” on the big.

But he’s also emerged as a prolific producer through Rabbit Track, the company he co-founded a few years ago alongside Kitty Kaletsky — and landed backing from Banijay U.K.

Speaking at a Series Mania, Norton said the decision to move into production was a realisation of the “disconnect between the way actors are treated and the credit they take … and their actual contribution.” He said he “started to hanker after more creative contribution,” and noted that the pedestal actors are put upon isn’t often accurate. “We always talk actors as the artists,” he said. “I do believe that there’s a lot of contribution, but a lot of it is nonsense.” Rabbit Track’s slate, said Kaletsky, is about 20% film and 80% TV, and acknowledged that Norton’s star power was the initial hook to get its output commissioned. “We originally thought, ‘James will be in half of what we do, irrespective of the medium,’ but that’s not the case anymore.” she said, while Norton asserted the company “was not a vanity project.” ITV drama “Playing Nice,” scored great viewing figures for Rabbit Track in January, but this summer sees the launch of their biggest production, “King and Conquerer,” telling the story of the lead up the U.K.’s famed Battle of Hastings 1066 between King Harold and William the Conquerer.