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Sean Penn has expressed his views on thefilming of right-wing personality Charlie Kirk, who passed away on September 10 following an outdoor speech at Utah Valley University where he was shot.

Penn appears in the latest film by Paul Thomas AndersonOne Battle After Another, where he portrays Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, a corrupt white supremacist military figure pursuing the daughter (Chase Infiniti) of former revolutionaries (Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor).

When questioned regarding the film’s cultural significance, as the outstanding new drama is filled with current political themes, the two-time Oscar-winning actor and political activist stated that he was “not surprised at all” by Kirk’s killing.

“Like many others, I’ve been concerned that this type of horror was becoming trendy,” he said.Vanity Fairduring an interview released yesterday, but which occurred only 24 hours following the shooting.

Penn stated: “It’s unsettling enough that I’d say I’m still working through it. And what the consequences might be.”

Penn has never hesitated to express his opinions on political issues, and has frequently criticized Donald Trump. This year, during an episode of The Louis Theroux Podcast, the actor and director referred to Trump as “the tough guy who never was.”

In the May episode, Penn and Theroux talked about the issue of Trump’s intellect. Penn stated: “What he prioritizes is quite low. I don’t compare that to intelligence. It’s genuinely lacking in spirit. And really – that’s another point – it frequently involves cruelty.”

Penn is also an advocate for Ukraine, regularly traveling to the nation since Russia’s 2022 invasion and evenpresenting one of his Academy Awards to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In 2023, Superpower, a documentary Penn co-directed with Aaron Kaufman, was unveiled at theBerlin Film FestivalThe movie highlights Zelenskyy’s unique journey to the presidency and his position as a leader during wartime.

When questioned if he is drawn to projects that address political themes, Penn responded: “E.L. Doctorow once said: The duty of the artist is to understand the era in which they live. Therefore, someone might create a historical film, but the best ones capture something very relevant today.”

He added, regarding One Battle After AnotherI believe this has become significantly more relevant after production concluded, as we watched it, somewhat in disbelief. It’s also a positive aspect that since he doesn’t rely on traditional satire, the film is adaptable. It isn’t dependent on an outlandish concept that merely amuses us. And now that some elements are no longer implausible, it gains a more complete quality.

The passing of Charlie Kirk has triggeredmourning, outrage and rising worries about freedom of expression in the US.

Trump has attributed the “radical left” to Kirk’s death and warned of targeting liberal groupsor anyone he believes is commemorating the activist’s passing.

At the public memorial ceremony for Kirk on Monday, Kirk’s wife stated that she forgave the man who killed her husband. Trump, however,expressed his “dislike” for his rivalsin a speech filled with political tension, which has reinforced the belief among many of his critics that the president is turning the death into a political issue.

One Battle After Anothercomes out in cinemas tomorrow. Keep an eye on Euronews Culture for the complete review, which will be released tomorrow as well.