‘Don’t even try, Javier, to get even close to what De Niro did with that iconic performance,’ Bardem told himself upon being cast in the TV adaptation of ‘Cape Fear.‘

How Robert De Niro and Nick Nolte influenced Javier Bardem and the new ‘Cape Fear’ cast

'Don't even try, Javier, to get even close to what De Niro did with that iconic performance,' Bardem told himself upon being cast in the TV adaptation of 'Cape Fear.'

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

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May 25, 2026 12:00 p.m. ET

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Javier Bardem in Apple TV's 'Cape Fear adaptation; Robert De Niro in the 1991 film. Credit:

Apple TV; Universal/Courtesy Everett

- Javier Bardem arranged for a private screening of Martin Scorsese's *Cape Fear* and "asked for [Robert] De Niro's blessing."

- Amy Adams shares her admiration for Jessica Lange in the same film.

- Patrick Wilson explains why Nick Nolte was "one of those top guys" who got him into acting.

The stars of the new *Cape Fear* series have some big shoes to fill.

J. Lee Thompson's 1962 film adaptation of John D. MacDonald's novel *The Executioners* starred Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck in the lead roles, and in 1991, Martin Scorsese directed a new version of the same story with Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, and Jessica Lange leading the cast.

Now, Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, and Patrick Wilson are headlining Nick Antosca's 10-episode take on the story for Apple TV. All three actors are longtime admirers of both films, and they talked with ** to share how the performances in *Cape Fear*s past — particularly Scorsese's version — inspired them as actors.

In the series, Bardem portrays Max Cady, the unpredictable, charismatic ex-con embodied in 1991's *Cape Fear* by De Niro, who earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in the film.

"I've seen that movie many times," Bardem says, noting that he never thought he'd match the heights of De Niro's performance. "Once I knew I was going to play Max Cady, the first thought that came to me is, 'Don't even try, Javier, to get even close to what De Niro did with that iconic performance.'"

Robert De Niro in 'Cape Fear'.

Universal/Courtesy Everett

"You're not going to make it. You are far from him as an actor. Don't even try," Bardem remembers thinking.

Upon being cast as Max, the *No Country for Old Men* star immediately wanted to revisit De Niro's version of the character one more time.

"I watched the movie once again on a big screen. I made it happen," Bardem said, explaining that he arranged a private screening of Scorsese's film with a cinema employee in Madrid. "I went there with my popcorn and diet [soda], alone, and watched it."

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Bardem describes his rewatch of the movie as something of a spiritual experience.

"As I sat in that dark room, I kind of asked for De Niro's blessing," he remembers as he shares his message to the *Taxi Driver* actor: "You did this. It's absolutely iconic. And believe me, I'm not pretending to be near it. I'm just going to do my take. I hope you can bless it. And thank you for all that you've done. And I hope to be, at least, a reminder of how good your performance is."

Amy Adams in Apple TV's 'Cape Fear' adaptation; Jessica Lange in the 1991 film.

Apple TV; MCA/Courtesy Everett

Adams, whose defense attorney Anna Bowden is somewhat analogous to Nolte's Samuel G. Bowden, says that she "wasn't thinking about Nick Nolte, per se," but explains that she's always appreciated Lange's onscreen presence.

"There's such a gentle strength to Jessica Lange that I always love," the *Arrival* star says. "So it's something about that, about having a strength. But also there's something very permeable about that character, and so I wanted that balance between vulnerability and strength."

Meanwhile, Wilson plays Tom Bowden, an attorney who prosecuted Max before marrying Anna following the trial. Tom doesn't neatly align with any of the characters in previous *Cape Fear* iterations, but the *Conjuring* star says that he's a huge fan of one of the 1991 film's main stars.

Patrick Wilson in Apple TV's 'Cape Fear adaptation; Nick Nolte in the 1991 film.

Apple TV; Universal/Courtesy Everett

"I love Nick Nolte. I really do," he says. "One of my favorite movies ever, actually, is *48 Hours*.

"In that, he's so commanding on screen," Wilson says. "I've always been fascinated by his performances, and [*Cape Fear*] being no exception, because you always knew that even if he was playing a good guy, from the way that he talked, you knew there's some demons there. And I really, really, really love that. He's always been such a commanding force on the screen as both beautifully technical and really reckless."

Nick Nolte and Jessica Lange in 'Cape Fear'.

MCA/Courtesy Everett

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Wilson cites Nolte as one of his primary inspirations as an actor.

"He's one of those top guys to me that defined the reasons that I wanted to do this," he says. "I don't know him, but when I look at those performances, to me, there's a rawness that few movie stars have because it's all so polished, and he never looks or looked polished in his performances. And I always loved that about him."

The *Insidious *star adds, "I wanted to honor him."

And though Wilson notes that Peck's portrayal of Sam Bowden is "a much different thing" than his depiction of Tom, he also greatly admires the *To Kill a Mockingbird* star's work.

"You are carrying the mantle of some pretty significant screen icons," Wilson says. "And I kind of fashioned myself — I always feel like I was in the wrong era. I always loved those old-timey movie stars. So for me, that is something that I like to lean into and honor."

*Cape Fear* premieres on Apple TV on June 5.

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