Olivia Wilde makes her feature film directorial debut with the coming of age comedy Booksmart which is showing off a new restricted (not cool for kids or watching at work) trailer. Booksmart just had its premiere at the SXSW Film Festival and both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter critics approved of Wilde’s work behind the camera.
The Hollywood Reporter’s John DeFore says Wilde’s film rebuts the “idiotic refrain that ‘women aren’t funny.'” Variety’s Peter Debruge claims “not since Superbad has a high school comedy so perfectly nailed how exhilarating it feels to act out at that age, capturing the thrill of making a series of potentially irreversible mistakes with the person whoās always been there for you, even as it acknowledges the inevitability that said confidante canāt be your wing-woman forever.”
The cast of Booksmart is led by Kaitlyn Dever (Last Man Standing) and Beanie Feldstein (Lady Bird). Jessica Williams (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald), Lisa Kudrow (The Girl on the Train), Will Forte (The Last Man on Earth), Billie Lourd (American Horror Story), Skyler Gisondo (Santa Clarita Diet), and Jason Sudeikis (Permission) are also featured in Wilde’s directorial debut.
Megan Ellison, Jessica Elbaum, Chelsea Barnard, David Distenfeld, and Katie Silberman produced. Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Jillian Longnecker, Scott Robertson, and Alex G. Scott served as executive producers.
Wilde’s behind the scenes team includes director of photography Jason McCormick, editor Jamie Gross, production designer Katie Byron, casting director Allison Jones, and costume designer April Napier.
Annapurna Pictures is set to open Booksmart in theaters on May 24, 2019.
The Plot:
“Told from a wildly original, fresh and modern perspective, Booksmart is an unfiltered comedy about high school best friends and the bonds we create that last a lifetime. Capturing the spirit of our times, the film is a coming of age story for a new generation.”
Ricky Whittle in ‘American Gods’ season 2 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Starz’s American Gods season one finale aired on June 18, 2017 and ended with Mr. Wednesday attempting to gather the Old Gods for a war against the New Gods. The action in season two episode one begins on a West Virginia golf course where a man about to tee off is run over by Technical Boy (Bruce Langley) who seems a bit irritated at his navigation system trying to lead him to his destination. Tech Boyās driving a limo with an injured Mr. World (Crispin Glover) in the back. Mr. World appears to have pulled himself back together by the time theyāre escorted into the Black Briar Country Club.
Technical Boyās anxious to wipe out their enemies, but Mr. World warns they need to first gather their forces and prepare for war. He also canāt move forward without his best salesman, demanding Tech Boy immediately find Media.
The action then traces the path of Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle), Wednesday (Ian McShane), Laura Moon (Emily Browning), and Mad Sweeney (Pablo Schreiber) from Kentucky through Illinois to Wisconsin. The foursome travel mostly in uncomfortable silence. At one point Laura reaches for Shadowās hand, and he jumps in response to her touch.
Laura asks Wednesday how he could possibly have so many enemies, and he claims itās because everyone is jealous of what he has. He also explains their destination ā the House on the Rock ā is where people come to ālook, play, and wonder.ā
The talk turns to mermaids and Laura wonders if her hubby believes in them now. Shadow Moon confesses heās not sure what he believes in anymore.
We’re provided a little history of the House on the Rock as the road trip companions near their destination. Alex Jordan built the House on the Rock 50 years ago, although he wasnāt sure why he felt compelled to create such a building. It became an instant tourist attraction. However, the tourists also were confused as to why they felt the desire to visit the House on the Rock.
As weāre informed by the narrator, Alex Jordan began charging people money to visit his creation. He then used that money to continue building and expanding the place. Tourists were drawn to Jordanās House on the Rock and he filled the area under the house with bizarre items that were irresistible to visitors.
The House on the Rock drew millions of visitors each year. It also drew the Old Gods.
Bilquis (Yetide Badaki) is one of the first to arrive for Wednesdayās meeting, although she wasnāt actually invited. The Jinn (Mousa Kraish) is there to greet the attendees and to his surprise, Salim (Omid Abtahi) shows up – also uninvited.
Meanwhile at Black Briar, Mr. World demands to see through the eyes of ARGUS. He’s informed only the President can use ARGUS, but heās dismissive of that restriction. Mr. World claims heās the man behind everything including the president, the Moon landing, and Roswell. Everyone works for him.
The news alerts us to the fact Easterās destruction of the land surrounding her estate in Kentucky has wreaked havoc on farmersā crops. The news is on television as a maid cleans room 208 at Motel America in Danville, Illinois. Finished with her cleaning, the maid (Mama-ji) scans the parking lot, on alert.
Wednesday and his group arrive outside the House, but Shadow has a difficult time opening the gate. He mutters, āYouāre a god but you canāt open the f**king gate,ā under his breath when Wednesday wants to know whatās the hold-up.
Shadowās problem is solved when Mr. Nancy (Orlando Jones) arrives and opens the gate, sniffing the air in disgust. The smell, of course, is Laura who Mad Sweeney refers to as Roadkill Rhonda. Wednesday and Mr. Nancy immediately begin discussing which of the Old Gods will be attending this meeting. Easterās out because Wednesday mowed over her rabbits. John Henryās also not coming and neither is Whiskey Jack.
As Mr. Nancy, Shadow, and Mad Sweeney walk toward the House, Wednesday lags behind to make sure Laura knows sheās not invited. She explains sheās just there to keep an eye on Shadow, but Wednesday assures her Shadowās doing just fine. He even has a new spring in his step.
Laura, of course, brings up her murder and Wednesday reveals she doesnāt have to be roadkill forever. āIām sure we can come to an arrangement,ā he teases. Laura replies, āF**k you and your glass eye.ā
Inside the House on the Rock, Salim explains heās simply following his heart. The Jinn reminds him what he is ā just a mortal man. Salim knows The Jinn desires him but The Jinn denies it. He claims to be solely focused on the task at hand. He then, in a much kinder tone, warns Salim itās not safe and that he should leave this place.
Salim doesnāt leave. In fact, he even introduces himself to Wednesday by saying heās with The Jinn.
The Jinn informs Wednesday only a dozen have shown up for the meeting. And he points out that Bilquis is also in attendance although she wasnāt on the invitation list. Apparently, Mad Sweeney and Laura are also not on The Jinnās list, and he refuses to allow them entry because they donāt have the required coin.
Mad Sweeney, angry to be left out of the action, doesnāt understand why Wednesday would specifically leave him off the list. Wednesday just shrugs as Mad Sweeneyās forced to wait on the sidelines with Salim and Laura.
Bilquis reminds Wednesday she’s one of the Old Gods and should be allowed a seat at the table. āThe wit and wisdom of Queen Bilquis defeated King Solomon,ā says Wednesday, inviting her to consult the fortune teller about her destiny. Bilquis retrieves the card from the fortune-telling machine, keeping its contents to herself. Wednesday does likewise, chuckling at what he reads but not disclosing its contents when Shadow asks what it says.
Shadowās next. His card reads:
āSelinaās Prophecies
Every ending is a new beginning
Your lucky number is none
Your lucky color is dead
Motto: Like father, like sonā
Wednesday confirms Shadowās fortune is like all fortunes: opaque on arrival; inevitable in retrospect.
Mr. Nancy leads Bilquis and Shadow Moon through the House while Wednesday lags behind. He meets up with Zorya Vechernyaya (Cloris Leachman), the Evening Star. He flirts and she reminds them theyāre both old. As they speak, Czernobog (Peter Stormare) arrives and Wednesdayās happy to see him. Czernobog says heās only there because he lost a game of checkers to Shadow Moon.
Mr. Nancy and Bilquis admire Shadowās physique. Mr. Nancy, however, doesnāt approve of Shadowās posture. He hunches over too much, making himself small and less a man. When Mr. Nancy says Shadow reminds him of his own slow son, Shadow takes it as a compliment which puzzles Mr. Nancy. Shadow explains he took it as a compliment to be compared to a member of Mr. Nancyās family.
Laura demands a coin from The Jinn but he refuses. Salim warns The Jinn heās seen what Laura can do when sheās angry, but Laura advises Salim he hasnāt seen everything. Mad Sweeney also tells The Jinn to give the corpse a coin. He finally gives in.
Laura uses her coin and retrieves her fortune. But, itās empty. Mad Sweeney decides to fill it in for her. āIn the very near future, you give the f**king leprechaun his coin back and lie down and rot.ā
Laura asks Mad Sweeney if he wants to try his luck, but he refuses because he doesnāt have any luck. She has all his.
Wednesday reunites with Shadow Moon, Bilquis, and Mr. Nancy and takes them to the carousel room. The door slams behind them as Mr. Wednesday says, āTime to ride.ā
Shadow sees Mr. Nancy has already taken a seat on the carousel. He then notices a sign that warns no one is allowed to ride it. āYou follow the signs, you never have any motherf**king fun,ā says Mr. Nancy, laughing.
Wednesday and Bilquis invite him to join them on the carousel and, finally, Shadow hops on board. The carousel speeds up until itās going so fast itās impossible to make out any individual horse.
In the special effects equivalent of an LSD hallucination, the foursome fly through the universe. Wednesday cackles like a mad man.
The scene switches to Shadow Moon washed up on a beach at the feet of Bilquis. She reveals theyāre ābackstage,ā which is actually Wednesdayās memories. When Shadow asks if theyāre in Wednesdayās head, Bilquis replies, āMore or less.ā
Orlando Jones in ‘American Gods’ season 2 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Starz)
They arrive inside a building where the Old Gods have gathered. Shadow Moon is astounded by the sight as he sees Mr. Nancy, Wednesday, and the others in their God forms. Wednesday/Odin reminds his friends that when the people came to America, they brought the Old Gods with them. Eventually, the people abandoned the Old Gods and moved on. He speaks of the New Gods in America whoāve replaced them and who want to destroy Odin and the rest of his kind. Czernobog promises his hammer will swing when the time is right. Mama-ji does not believe war is coming and believes the New Gods will go away, as others have before them.
Bilquis addresses the group, advising her peers that the New Gods have more power than others have had. She reveals the New Gods have shown her their ways and how they can assist her in growing in power. āThe choice is yours: evolve or die,ā says Bilquis.
Shadow Moon speaks up, telling the Old Gods he believes in them. He lost everything, including his light, but Odin’s helping him regain who he was and be worthy of the unwavering faith his mother once had in him. He wonders why the Old Gods wonāt help Odin remind the people who they are. He thinks they need to take the chance to be worthy of the peopleās belief.
When Shadow concludes his speech, Wednesday returns the group to the real world. They’re now hanging out in a regular diner. Wine is poured, food is eaten, and the Old Gods ā back in human form ā enjoy each otherās company. Shadow spots Laura off to the side but doesnāt go to her. Instead, he sits near Mr. Nancy as Wednesday tells Shadow he believes the Old Gods are coming around to his way of thinking.
Shadowās confused as to whatās real and whatās not, and Mr. Nancy doesnāt help when he laughs at the idea that they rode a carousel. Czernobog pulls up a seat and Shadow asks him if everyone in the dinerās a god. Czernobog and Mr. Nancy respond by laughing at the suggestion, with Czernobog referring to the assembled group as idiots.
Bilquis asks Laura for her story, flattering her by saying sheās the most beautiful thing sheās ever seen. She wonders if Lauraās the Goddess of Death, but Laura says sheās just from Indiana. Bilquis is surprised Lauraās the bodyguardās wife, and Laura warns her if she hurts Shadow sheāll kill her.
Bilquis smiles and leans in for a kiss as Mad Sweeney watches from close by.
Mr. World and Technical Boy watch a live feed of Bilquis leaving the diner. Mr. World instructs someone on the other end of the phone to recover the package.
Shadow and Laura finally talk, and they acknowledge this is beyond weird. Shadow confesses he never expected to see Laura again. Laura says she always knows where he is and then asks about backstage. Shadow tells her these people donāt want to fight the war that Wednesday believes needs to be fought. Their conversation is interrupted when Wednesday calls out to Shadow to come meet Mama-ji, introducing her as a badass demon killer.
When Shadow walks away, Laura and Mad Sweeney debate whether Shadowās still Lauraās or if heās all Wednesdayās man now.
Mr. World sends in Mr. Town to strike the target, admitting the old ways are sometimes the best. āThereās nothing like a knife in the back,ā says Mr. World, adding, āI need to put the fear of me into some Old Gods. Let them feel shock and awe. Pain and grief. Let them know what real sacrifice feels like.ā
As Mr. Worldās speaking, the diner is simultaneously being shot up. Bullets with āDeus Mortuorumā (god is dead) engraved on their sides fly as gods are hit. Blood flows as Shadow runs across the room and tackles Laura, removing her from danger. Mad Sweeneyās huddled under the counter, drink in hand. Wednesday stands in the middle of the carnage, a look of utter shock and despair on his face.
After making sure Lauraās safe, Shadow makes his way outside. He crosses the parking lot, eye on where the shooterās positioned.
Mad Sweeney stands up but slips in some blood and falls just as a bullet whizzes by and hits Laura whoās now standing behind him. She doesnāt winch but appears exasperated to have yet another wound to sew up.
Shadow finds the shooter, grabs him away from his weapon, and the fists fly. The fightās short-lived as a spotlight beams down and Shadow flies up into the light source.
Roxane Mesquida stars in ‘Now Apocalypse’ (Photo Credit: Starz)
Roxane Mesquida gets quite an introduction on Starz’s Now Apocalypse. When Ulysses (Avan Jogia) walks in on Severine (Mesquida) having sex, she just casually waves hello and continues with her lover. When asked about nudity waivers and intimacy coaches by the TCA, Mesquida said, āThatās such an American question. We donāt have that in France.ā
Severine is also a brilliant scientist, and science, sci-fi and sex all come together in Starzās new apocalyptic comedy. Would you expect any less from Gregg Araki? Showbiz Junkies spoke with Mesquida at Starzās TCA party.
Now Apocalypse premieres on March 10, 2019 on Starz.
What was it like to play a brilliant scientist?
Roxane Mesquida: “That was actually pretty cool. I liked it, except that it was a big challenge for me because I speak a lot of very complicated things and I have an accent and itās TV. So I was very stressed. I wanted people to understand what I was saying. So that was my stress about it, so I worked really hard on my lines. Nudity was not really scary to me, but more the lines.”
I loved what you said on the panel because I agree Americans are maybe too squeamish about sex.
Roxane Mesquida: “I feel like people misunderstood what I was trying to say. I was saying in France itās not in the contract. Itās more like a conversation with the director and the actors. It just always felt weird to me that you have to put everything in a contract and you have all these men and lawyers and all these people speaking about your own body.”
I think the reason we have to do that here is unfortunately Americans arenāt as respectful about sex and nudity as Europeans are, so a lot of actresses have to protect themselves.
Roxane Mesquida: “Really? You think so? I donāt know. I feel like Americans are more prudish than French people so I feel like they would be too scared to ask for anything.”
Until they get into a position of power. Then they ask and abuse it.
Roxane Mesquida: “Yeah, but you can always say no as an actor. What are they going to do? Theyāre not going to force you to be naked. We have more power than we think. Thatās the thing. We are women but weāre not victims. Weāre strong and we can say no.”
Fortunately a lot of women do say no.
Roxane Mesquida: “Thatās a good thing. Every woman should say no when they want to say no. Thatās where we need to teach our girls I guess to be strong. If you donāt want to do something, just say no and thatās it.”
Did you like that your introduction was very casual?
Roxane Mesquida: “Yeah, itās funny. Itās really funny because in real life Iām not like [that]. For example, in France you can show your breasts on the beach. Thatās something Iāve never done. I have no problem with nudity when itās for an artistic project. Not with every director. I trust Gregg and I love his work. Thatās why Iām fine and Iām not stressed about it, but I would never be as comfortable personally in real life.
I think itās really funny and works with the character. Sheās carefree. She has nothing to apologize for.”
Does Severine know the apocalypse is coming?
Roxane Mesquida: “She has a few lines. She says, ‘All we can be certain of is the here and now.’ She says there are so many uncertainties, we donāt know whatās going to happen. I think she knows a lot and she has a secret, but weāre going to need to watch more episodes and maybe more seasons to know exactly whatās going on. Itās true that my character is what brings us a few answers about the alien conspiracy.”
Sheās researching something so thatās probably important.
Roxane Mesquida: “Yeah, and she works for the government and itās super top secret and she doesnāt want to say anything.”
Youāve done movies with Gregg before.
Roxane Mesquida: “Kaboom!, my first American movie. I moved to L.A. because of him and I never left. Itās been almost 10 years.”
Welcome. Do you like it here?
Roxane Mesquida: “Love it. I became American, actually. Iām a U.S. citizen now.”
LA felt like home to me immediately.
Roxane Mesquida: “Me too, and I traveled everywhere. I worked with this French director. Her movies made me travel everywhere in the world to promote it. I never felt at home like the first day I arrived on the plane in L.A. and drove from LAX to Hollywood, which is not the brainiest part of L.A., I was like, ‘Oh my God, it feels like home.’ Also, Iām from the Southeast of France, Marseilles, and itās pretty similar, the landscape and the weather.”
So was doing a TV show with Gregg any different than a movie?
Roxane Mesquida: “No, I didnāt see any difference. It was exactly the same thing. I really felt like, because usually on a TV show, you have different directors coming in for every episode, so because we shot the TV show in 40 days and Gregg directed all of them and wrote them all, he created the show; itās his baby. I almost felt like it was not even a TV show but like a very long movie.”
What was the experience showing it at Sundance?
Roxane Mesquida: “It was so much fun. It was my first time at Sundance.”
You werenāt there for Kaboom!?
Roxane Mesquida: “No, I couldnāt go. I was shooting a movie in New Zealand at the time. So I was very excited to show the show there and it was fun. I hope Iāll go to Cannes now. That would be awesome.”
You donāt usually get to see TV shows with an audience so was it interesting to see what people reacted to?
Roxane Mesquida: “I didnāt realize that my character was that funny until I was in the room with everyone. Iām just saying a couple lines. Iām not trying anything. Iām just saying the lines and it just turns out to be funny, but Iām not trying to be funny.”
Kelli Berglund as Carly and Avan Jogia as Ulysses in ‘Now Apocalypse’ (Photo Credit: Starz)
Most movies or shows about the apocalypse have badass survivors like Will Smith or Andrew Lincoln. In Gregg Arakiās apocalypse itās a stoner who hooks up on Grindr and a webcam girl. Avan Jogia is the stoner Ulysses who starts having apocalyptic alien visions. Carly is his friend who works as a webcam girl while going on auditions in Starz’s Now Apocalypse.
Kelli Berglund plays Carly on Now Apocalypse. She has scenes as outrageous as anyone in Arakiās stories, including a spanking scene, and getting a webcam client to read lines with her. We met Berglund at Starzās party for the Television Critics Association in support of Now Apocalypse which premieres March 10, 2019 on Starz.
Did you audition for this?
Kelli Berglund: “I did. I went through the whole audition process, started with a bunch of other girls. We narrowed it down. I eventually did a chemistry read with the guy who plays my boyfriend, ācause he already had the job and booked it. Here I am now.”
What was the audition scene?
Kelli Berglund: “It was actually the scene where Iām spanking Jethro and then episode five, we go to Palm Springs. Avan and I are sitting by the pool where we spot RJ Mitteās character and weāre like, ‘Oh, heās hot.’ That was one of the scenes as well. There was one more but I canāt remember what it was. They were fun, funny scenes to do.”
Did you research webcam girls?
Kelli Berglund: “I did. I know a little bit about them but I did especially also reading Karley [Sciortino], the writer, her book dives into that whole world. My character Carly is loosely based on her. So definitely wanted to do my research on Karley at least. Sheās had lots of different experiences in this sex world. So got a little bit of an insight there, did my own research definitely. I tried my best. All of my stuff is very lighthearted and funny. Itās not too serious but definitely didnāt know much about it before so I felt like I needed to.”
Is the spanking incident from Karleyās experience?
Kelli Berglund: “I think it is. She talks about in her book, I think she was working under a dominatrix for a little bit or something along those lines. That definitely, I think, comes from Karleyās world.”
Does your Carly believe the apocalypse is coming?
Kelli Berglund: “Honestly, every moment that itās been brought up to her is Uly trying to convince her of these alien creatures and Iām having these weird, bizarre premonitions. I pretty much just shut him down every time. Iām like the anchor to bring him back to earth sort of. I was trying to remember earlier, I donāt think thereās a moment where I personally encounter any sort of alien lizard thing, at least in season one. So I think Iām still very much in doubt about it but Iām curious to see if Iāll be exposed to it eventually.”
What other fun stuff is coming up?
Kelli Berglund: “I think itās episode eight, we go to a sex dungeon. Thatās a crazy episode. I bring my boyfriend there to try to spice up our relationship. My character decides after being an actress in L.A. and it not working out so well, she starts writing her own web series, films it and actually gets some traction. In the very last episode, she has a meeting with Starz about her web series and potentially picking it up. I wonāt give away what happens but thereās some really weird twists that come in that are pretty funny.”
Have you ever had people read lines with you over webcam?
Kelli Berglund: “I definitely Facetime friends for self tapes which is very hard, because normally you have another person there. I literally set up my laptop and have them on Skype while my phone was filming me doing my lines. Oh my gosh, Iāve read lines in crazy places, in the car a million times, on planes. The self tape over Facetime was an interesting one.”
Were you better at the audition grind than Carly is?
Kelli Berglund: “I mean, we all have our struggles. Itās so funny. Sheās really hard on herself about being a struggling actress and Iāve totally been there. There were so many moments where Iām like, ‘Why am I not booking anything? Do I suck? Am I just the worst?’ I think a lot of actors have gone through that.
Itās crazy. You can have success and be on a show or a really successful film, and then itās done and Iāve gotta search for my next job. Itās ironic, I guess, that Iām playing a struggling actress in a show while being a successful actress and booking a job, but I donāt know. I think I maybe had a little more luck in my life in terms of acting than Carly has. Potentially. Iām not on some crazy level yet but Iām trying.”
What was your experience at Sundance?
Kelli Berglund: “Oh, that was my first time ever going to Sundance. I didnāt really know what to expect. Iāve heard a lot obviously over the years about what Sundance is. Just as an actress, Iām excited thereās so much hype behind it. Everyoneās like, ‘Well, thereās just a lot of interviews and itās freezing,’ and yet, it was cold and there were a lot of interviews but we did most things all together as a cast.
I have such a fun cast that Iām surrounded by that it was so fun and it didnāt feel like work. The way it was all set up at Sundance, they make it entertaining for people. Youāre not just going into a room. Itās a whole setup event type of thing so I had an amazing first time at Sundance. It really didnāt feel like work. We got to premiere the first two episodes there which was surreal and weird because that was my first time watching it in a room full of strangers and seeing their reactions and being like, ‘Oh God.’ It was fun though. It was wild.”
What did they react to?
Kelli Berglund: “I think with this show thereās definitely going to be a mixed reaction. After Sundance, the initial audience that was in the room seemed to really respond to it well and the questions that people were asking and praising Gregg for his work and what it meant to them which was cool. Reading stuff online too, the show is so outrageous that not everyoneās gonna get it which is fine. Weāre expecting that but weāve had a lot of good reviews about it being positive and lighthearted.
Youāre never going to please everyone but the majority has been really great feedback. So thatās all I can really ask for.”
Poster for ‘American Gods’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Itās been a long wait, almost two years, but American Gods is back for season two on Starz. Fans of the book know that American Gods is just getting started. Season one ended with Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane) revealing himself at Easterās gathering, and they havenāt even gotten to the House on the Rock yet.
Well, season two picks up there and Ricky Whittle couldnāt be more excited. He loved our questions so much he just kept talking to us. Whittle plays Shadow Moon, the human drawn into the battle between Old Gods and New Gods. Heās also got a personal interest as his wife Laura (played by Emily Browning) is back from the dead, thanks to a Leprechaunās coin.
American Gods season two premieres on March 10, 2019 on Starz.
It was a different actor but was it informative to get to see Shadow as a child?
Ricky Whittle: “It helps us feel an empathy for him and what heās been through and how much heās lost because at the beginning of the first season, he really is this empty shell, never knowing his father growing up. He lost his mother very young and then to lose Laura, he kind of drifted through the first season with nothing to really live for. But heās had this inner life, this hope and inner strength to keep standing up and moving forward.
Now weāre able to explain why and where that light came from. It was indeed his mother and you see how much love he did have in his life, how wonderful this person was and now you can kind of understand what heās searching for. Heās searching for that love again. Heās searching for that light and thatās why maybe he was so attached to Laura because she showed the slightest bit of love towards him. Heās very quick to grab onto those things.”
I was surprised it took until season two to get to the House on the Rock. How far into the book does season two take us?
Ricky Whittle: “I still think weāre struggling to break halfway. The fantastic thing, and I feel why the adaptation to screen was so successful in the first season, is we bring you everything you like in the book but weāre able to expand upon it. I constantly say this because itās so true, Pablo Schreiber is one of the best actors, if not the best actor, Iāve ever worked with. When you have talent like that, you want to use him and the rest of the cast as much as possible. So where Sweeney was only in the book twice, Laura was sporadic throughout the book, Bilquis, Tech Boy, you have these fantastic actors so why not use them? Why not use this opportunity to expand and delve into these characters and their past and where they came from and see their wants and needs?
Weāre able to really delve into Mad Sweeneyās backstory. We saw a little bit of it in season one. Weāre going to see an incredible story in season two. That just pads out the show to a point where we can really take our time and really enjoy every moment of that book and expand upon the little bits where fans of the book wonāt know whatās going on.
Weāre starting to with certain things, I like to call it Marty McFlying the timeline. Things have happened, people have met so certain parts of the book canāt now happen. Like Mad Sweeney and Laura never meeting in the book. Now they have so thereās various things that we now canāt do from the book. Theyāve evolved. These characters have evolved and become their own thing.
Neil (Gaiman) said the book was going to last about five seasons. It has so much potential. Thereās so much material. With the constant evolution of characters that were lightly written about, there really is no end to how much material we can put in.”
Even with a bigger role for Laura, she and Shadow havenāt gotten to spend much time together.
Ricky Whittle: “Itās about not giving the fans what they want I feel in TV. In movies itās very quick. Itās 90 minutes, whatever it be, but you have your beginning, middle and end. You have to finish off that storyline pretty quickly. In TV, youāre able to tease that out.
I feel some of the best dynamics and relationships and ships as fans like to call them, itās about not giving the fans what they want. You want the audience to want certain people to be together. When they want that, producers are very savvy and tend to string that out as long as possible. Shadow and Laura need to have a conversation. They have history. Things have happened. Things will be approached in this season. Weāre not going to tease too much. We will get to that.”
Ricky Whittle stars in ‘American Gods’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Starz)
You had a longer than usual gap between seasons. Was there a period of getting your sea legs back?
Ricky Whittle: “Yeah, itās a monster show and everything needed to be right. I feel that if we came back too soon, the quality would have depreciated. I feel that with a monster show like this, you needed to take time to get the writing right, the stories right, the arcs right. Even in post, we have such a huge effects quality to the show, with our new fantastic effects team from The Shape of Water, you want everything to look great.
I feel like we set a bar in season one and if we came at season twi with anything less than that, weād have been found out. It was about having patience and doing it the right way.”
Was there a scene you couldnāt wait to do in season two?
Ricky Whittle: “Itās not arrived yet. I think season three or four is where the scene will come. I canāt talk about it right not but of the scenes I have done, I enjoyed the Sam Crow stuff. The Sam Crow stuff was fun because a lot of the book lovers were really looking forward to seeing that character come about.
Devery (Jacobs) is such a little cutie, sheās great. We worked on that car quite a bit, which youāll see later on in the story. That was the first time we saw two humans together in a car on the show. Itās always a human and a god or gods together. So finally Shadowās not the dumbest man in the room, or least woke so to say.”
Have you gotten to mix and match with the other gods more this season?
Ricky Whittle: “Yeah, yeah. Iāve always been the fortunate one that gets to play with everyone else. When we get together, Iād often have to introduce the various cast members because they work with me and then they leave, or they work with so and so and then they leave.
The dynamics have been mixed up a lot more this season, this season I got to work with Orlando (Jones) a bit more. I actually got to work with him a bit more [in season one] but that stuff didnāt make the show. We lost that in the edit so fans are going to get to see some fantastic scenes which involve Mr. Nancy, Shadow and Mr. Wednesday. It was a lot of fun.
You only saw him towards the end with Nancy but youāll see a blossoming relationship between the two in season two and also finally with Bilquis. Shadow finally gets to meet Bilquis. Watching Yetide (Badaki) work is a joy. Sheās a powerful actress and has a powerful presence.”
What did we miss in those deleted scenes with you and Mr. Nancy?
Ricky Whittle: “It was just a different way of saying the same thing that eventually was aired. It was an earlier version of Shadow realizing that Mr. Wednesday was Odin. Thereās also a bit more history between Wednesday and Nancy where Shadow was able to passively listen to the two gods speaking with the impression that Shadow didnāt understand, and then Shadow just turned around and hit them with a very woke statement where he actually understood the whole thing. It was kind of the moment where Mr. Nancy and Wednesday were taken aback.
Itās a shame because it was a fun scene, but I agree more with the direction that we took now. You never know. Itās something that could happen again. I just enjoyed that dynamic. You had Mr. Wednesday and Nancy kind of irritating each other and Shadow found it amusing.
Working with those two is a joy for me because I grew up watching these two guys, Ian McShane and Orlando Jonesā films constantly growing up. Now I get to work alongside them. I still get excited when they text me. Iām not going to lie. I canāt even pretend Iām really cool. I got excited when Orlando Jones texted me last week and then Ian texted me yesterday morning. He said, ‘See you tomorrow, kid.’ I got excited like a little schoolgirl.”
Thatās so Ian McShane.
Ricky Whittle: “Yeah, heās a sweet man. Heās raised my level to another height because coming from a CW show with great actors and fun stuff to do, this is a monster show. Itās a monster production. Starz have thrown so much in there and Iām working with elite actors, the best ensemble on TV. To learn opposite these guys and to watch Ian McShaneās nuances and choices, the things he does only adds to my catalog of tricks of the trade that I can use in future episodes, shows, films, movies, whatever that may be.
Two eyes, two ears. I try to watch and listen twice as much as I speak.”
Ricky Whittle: “Yes, very much so. The thing about fantasy fans, sci-fi fans, theyāre so passionate. If they do like someone and latch onto that someoneās performance, they tend to follow them everywhere and support that person no matter what. Iāve found them the most vocal and supportive group Iāve ever experienced.
The 100 doesnāt have a large audience. It has a loud audience. Those loud, supportive fans have come to American Gods. Weāve introduced them to the world of Neil Gaiman. Itās a similar genre so theyāre gonna like it. Neil Gaiman was new to me before I started investing into the project with the audition process. Itās great that a whole new generation now is reading Neil Gaiman and following Neil Gaiman. I think thereās definitely a lot of love from The 100 fan base that Iāll always be grateful for.”
Have you kept up with The 100?
Ricky Whittle: “Never, not at all. Not to be horrible, but just because itās painful. Not to sound dramatic, but it was a negative, horrible experience. If someone goes through something very horrible, you donāt really want to be reminded of it so you keep clear of it. I still keep in contact with Mike Beach, Devon Bostick, Chris Larkin, everyone who leaves the show basically because theyāre free and we can talk freely. We can chat.
I donāt pay attention to that show anymore. Itās not my business anymore. Iām on American Gods. Iāve got incredible creatives. Iāve got incredible producers. Starz are crazy supportive. Half the directors this season are female and youāve seen how diverse the cast is. It really is a joy to be on such a great show that really tries to include everyone and show the truth about America which is very versatile and diverse.
Iām in a happier place. Everything happens in your life for a reason and itās always darkest before the dawn. I wouldnāt truly appreciate how great American Gods is without going through something tough. Thatās just taught me how lucky I am to get on so well with this cast and the producers and with Starz and Amazon when we go international. They look after us and make sure that weāre okay.
It sounds silly but when you go through certain situations, you realize how important that is and how much we take it for granted. Weāve got a beautiful home here at Starz and they look out for their cast and make sure their cast is okay.”
CBS’s SEAL Team returns after nearly a two month break with season two episode 14 airing on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT. The episode titled “What Appears to Be” was directed by Holly Dale from a script by Brian Beneker.
The episode 14 guest cast includes Roger Davies as Roland Benga, Joe Flanigan as General Trask, Antonio David Lyons as General Sunda, Vaughndio Forbes, and Wills Canga.
The āWhat Appears to Beā Plot ā Bravo Team works with the Congolese Army on a covert mission to capture the head of a rebel militia group. Also, Jason argues with Emma about college, and Sonny and Davis make a big decision about their future.
The SEAL Team Plot:
SEAL Team is a military drama that follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high-stakes missions our country can ask of them. Jason Hayes is the respected, intense leader of the Tier One team whose home life has suffered as a result of his extensive warriorās existence. His team includes his trusted confidant, Ray Perry, the longest-tenured operator with whom Jason shares an ingrained shorthand; Sonny Quinn, an exceptional, loyal soldier with a checkered past who still combats self-destructive tendencies; and Clay Spenser, a young, multilingual, second-generation SEAL with insatiable drive and dedication.
Vital to the teamās success are troop commander Lt. Cdr. Eric Blackburn, who serves as a leader and confidant both on and off the battlefield; CIA analyst Mandy Ellis, who has sacrificed everything in her drive to root out evil and take down terrorists; and Lisa Davis, a no-nonsense, take-charge logistics officer and unofficial den mother responsible for outfitting the team with the necessary gear for each mission. Deployed on clandestine missions worldwide at a momentās notice, and knowing the toll it takes on them and their families, this tight-knit SEAL team displays unwavering patriotism and fearless dedication even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Fox’s Gotham edges closer to its series finale with season five episode 10, one of the show’s final three episodes. The upcoming episode titled “I Am Bane” will, obviously, feature Shane West in the key role of Batman villain, Bane.
Season five episode 10 will air on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 8pm ET/PT.
Season five episode nine found Poison Ivy carrying on her campaign to kill Jim but failing, even after taking over the minds of Victor Zsasz, Bruce Wayne, and Lucius Fox. On a happier note, the episode also found Jim and Lee tying the note, with Harvey officiating.
The cast of the comic book-inspired series’ final season is led by Ben McKenzie as Detective James Gordon. Donal Logue is Detective Harvey Bullock, Sean Pertwee is Alfred Pennyworth, Robin Lord Taylor is Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin, and Erin Richards is Barbara Kean. David Mazouz plays Bruce Wayne, Camren Bicondova is Selina Kyle/the future Catwoman, Cory Michael Smith is Edward Nygma/The Riddler, and Chris Chalk plays Lucius Fox.
The “I Am Bane” Plot: On the precipice of Gothamās reunification, Gordon and Bruce find themselves face-to-face with a newly transformed Eduardo, and discover the real mastermind behind the cityās current chaos. Meanwhile, a pregnant Barbara turns to Lee for help.
āGotham is an origin story of the great DC Comics Super-Villains and vigilantes, revealing an entirely new chapter that has never been told. From executive producer and writer Bruno Heller and executive producers Danny Cannon and John Stephens, Gotham follows the rise of Det. James Gordon (McKenzie) through a dangerously corrupt city teetering between good and evil, and chronicles the birth of one of the most popular super heroes of our time.”
The CW’s Supernatural has given us reason after reason why cutting back from 23 episodes to 20 in season 14 was well worth it. After another hiatus, “Ouroboros” exploded the show back onto our screens by delivering an outright resolution to the season arc; with six episodes still ready to air. What started out looking like a filler episode ā a trademark in the 23-episode era ā ended up with a final battle with the main antagonist.
Season 14 episode 14 began with a callback to the horror elements of the show, which were a mainstay in the earlier seasons, as a man devours a poor victim; this complete with cooking the manās organs and then swallowing his eyeball. The eyeball wasnāt just for his taste buds though, as he instantly saw Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) sneak into the house in pursuit. The man then calmly leaves with his pet snake, and the boys sneak into the house in pursuit ā yes, that just happened again.
The boys happen upon the remains of the eyes-less victim, and are shown to be accompanied by Castiel (Misha Collins), Jack (Alexander Calvert), and Rowena (Ruth Connell) of all people ā the scene gave off vibes of a fantasy police procedural, which now that you think about, would be an awesome spin-off for the show. The group discusses how this is the sixth case in New Mexico, and Rowena points out thereās a meaning behind the victimās black lips. She and Sam then engage in Samās favorite activity: Research.
By now, it appears Rowena isnāt just an occasional ally anymore, and she tries to get Sam to confide in her how they rescued Jack from death and how Deanās been holding an archangel in his noggin. Sam isnāt in the mood to discuss it, and brushes the matter off.
Meanwhile, Cas and Dean talk over coffee about Deanās struggle against Michael ā he hasnāt been sleeping now that Michaelās been looking for moments where he can catch Dean off-guard. In the bathroom, Jack coughs up blood; heād earlier told everyone he was fine, but heals his throat with magic, which isnāt a good thing because youāll remember using his powers means Jackās soul burns off.
Being the undisputed champion of research, Sammy and Rowena figure out that the monster is a gorgon ā not the Clash of the Titans style Dean was hoping for, but an ancient demigod. In what Dean calls āan A.V. Club presentation,ā Sam and Rowena conclude that the gorgon can see the future when it consumes an eyeball. This makes planning against it impossible as the gorgon can simply see whatās going to happen before it happens.
In the next crime scene, where the gorgon takes out a trucker heād pretended to seduce, Dean finds a note from the gorgon for him, asking Dean to back off or he, the tall guy and the red-head would be killed. The note explicitly leaves out Cas and Jack, despite the fact the gorgon saw this moment in the past, which means his powers donāt allow him to perceive angels or close-enough-angels like Jack.
Rowena advises to get an antidote running for the gorgonās poison, and she, Sam, and Jack head off to the vet to acquire some. The plan sees little Jackie boy being turned into a puppy by Auntie Rowena so he can infiltrate the medicine cabinet. But first, Sam and Rowena pull off a wildly accurate depiction of a bickering couple who donāt know what to do with their newly adopted puppy (and now all we can think about is how good Sam and Rowena would be if they were a canonical couple).
Jack turns back into himself when the vet leaves him, which would get any real-life vet fired for being so easily negligent, and meets back with Sam and Rowena with the anti-venom. He wishes, though, that the vet hadnāt checked his temperature firstā¦
Maggie ā yes, that chirpily annoying girl who Lucifer had killed and resurrected last season ā calls Sam from the bunker with gorgon-killing info, which turns out to be a simple sliver blade slice to the neck. As is the norm now, Castiel gets beaten by yet another villain-of-the-week and is infected by the gorgonās venom, while Jack is also knocked out. Remember, these two were the only ones the gorgon couldnāt see in his vision of the future, which is why they ambushed him.
Sam and Deanās intervention does nothing to make matters better, and Dean is severely injured by the gorgon, who repeatedly pounds Deanās head into a wall. Jack manages to surprise the gorgon and decapitate him, and cures Castiel by using his magic after the antidote didnāt work on him.
Dean is rushed back to the bunker (how the heck did they get him there so fast?), and is still under because Castiel canāt heal him; causing Cas such emotional stress that Misha Collinsā voice seeps through for a few seconds instead.
Castiel, who plays the role of the wise, straight-man in this episode, imparts some more sage advice to Jack by reminding him that Dean and Sam are still human, although they are extraordinary, they will still die one day and leave Jack behind. Jack doesnāt understand Casā point that it means he should appreciate the time he has with his two human fathers rather than wallow over how he could save them. Jackās still adamant he wants to use his powers to heal Dean when the manās voice erupts from behind them.
Deanās awake and frantically searching around for someone: Michaelās gone from within him. Before he can go on classic Dean tirade, the sounds of multiple dying screams attract the heroes to the main part of the bunker where every hunter from Samās set-up of the Apocalypse World survivors are shown to be slaughtered. Maggie races to Samās arms, only for her to be smote from afar. Michaelās here, and heās wearing Rowena as his meatsuit.
In a flashback, Michael is shown to have entered Rowenaās mind to threaten her with death lest she consent to his possession. She counters that only Sam can kill her, as revealed in a season 13 episode, and shows no fear. Michael counters that heāll just kill her friends, whom she truly has come to care for, leading to Rowenaās consent. Michael, never a man to honor deals, displays more of his awesome powers by cutting off Dean, Cas, and Samās breathing. He then turns them blind and then begins destroying their insides.
Jack is pushed too far and uses his powers to send energy blasts at Michael, whose own blasts prove ineffective. Jack, proclaiming himself both the son of Lucifer and a Winchester, expels Michael from Rowena, and then proceeds to destroy Michaelās essence, only leaving his grace which Jack then ingests; it was kind of like angelic cannibalism. The episode abruptly ends with a smiling Jack telling his bewildered friends that Michael is dead and heās fully healed, revealing angel wings and his original glowing eyes.
With six entire episodes still to go, this is the first time that Supernatural has ever had its current arc concluded. This can only be a bad thing because it either means Michael isnāt truly dead, or an established character will be taking the reins as the main villain ā remember Lucifer stirring in the empty and Nickās pursuit for him? It also appears Jack might not be as innocent as he once was after he displayed his disillusion with how the world and life worked. Everything seemed meaningless to him, which is what Lucifer had once said.
The episode was a solid outing for Supernatural as it avoided what would definitely have been a filler episode last season, and instead patched up the main storyline instead. This leaves the remainder episodes with the task of surprising us greatly; both a tall and easy task as itāll take something big to overcome the end of Michael, but by this point just about anything will surprise us.
Mr World (Crispin Glover) and Technical Boy (Bruce Langley) in ‘American Gods’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Starz)
Starz’s American Gods returns for what promises to be another crazy, intense season on Sunday, March 10, 2019. Season two picks up immediately after the events of the season one finale and will find the Old Gods and New Gods heading toward war. Mr. World (Crispin Glover) is plotting revenge while Wednesday (Ian McShane) continues his quest to gather Old Gods for a full-on battle.
Crispin Glover, Yetide Badaki (‘Bilquis’), and Bruce Langley (‘Technical Boy’) were among the American God cast members who participated in a panel at the New York Comic Con. Glover, Badaki, and Langley also teamed up for roundtable interviews to delve into Neil Gaiman’s world and what’s in store for their characters in season two.
What a crazy first season. Is season two going to top it?
Yetide Badaki: āItās pretty nutty.ā
Bruce Langley: āIt depends on which context you mean top it and blow it out of the water. Itās not going to pull any punches. Itās going to go strange very quickly, which I think was one of the beautiful things about season one. Itās going to go nuts and itās going to go nuts fast.ā
Yetide Badaki: āRight. One of the things I love about our show is itās the epitome of WTF TV. We will never disappoint on that.ā
How does your character evolve in season two?
Yetide Badaki: āFor me whatās been interesting is in the first season we saw Bilquis trying to survive. What Iām loving about the second season is weāre starting to see more of her beginning to thrive. She went from the first season where theyāre saying, āGet yourself a queen,ā and people are looking for a queen. And for this season I feel that Bilquis remembers that she is a queen.ā
Bruce Langley: āI would say itās a slightly deeper look into the inner workings of the power dynamic of the new gods. Iād say actually interestingly, it pushes a little bit into the loneliness that one can find in being worshipped. Because to be worshipped, you are essentially ostensibly isolated from everyone because theyāre putting you on this pedestal where you can not operate on the same pantheon as they do. And then in so far as the immediate people in your circle, if they think youāre a dick as well ā as in Tech Boyās case ā then I canāt think of a more isolating experience.
So, itās a nice opportunity to push a little bit into the psychology and the very real-world implications of living with that amount of loneliness while being constantly praised. Thatās something Iām interested in exploring.ā
Crispin Glover: āWell, for me thereās something that I haveā¦in the book, my character is not embodied really. It becomes more embodied as the time goes on, and thereās a mystery to it. Itās actually something that is a challenge that I recognize, and I think they recognize as theyāre continuing to write the show, is that if thereās too much known about my character it starts to demystify it. And part of the tension is the mystery. In fact, there was some stuff that was changed in one episode which I ultimately agreed with it because I felt they were starting to try to explore too much for the character in a way that could demystify it.
So, in a certain way, itās important that my character doesnāt develop too much. It sounds funny but there is something to that. You want it to be compelling, of course, but thereās a part of me that feels I should barely appear in it and yet Iām in this season quite a bit more. Of course, Iām glad to be working and all that, but thereās a part of me that feels like I should barely be seen. It is important to keep the mystery.ā
What was your first exposure to American Gods?
Yetide Badaki: āItās no secret now what a big Neil Gaiman fan I am. I had read the book when it came out in 2001. I remember reading Bilquis and I was someplace public. Iām reading and I just kind of look up mind blown like, āMy life has changed. Does no one notice?ā And then gosh 15 years later to get that call to come and play that role. My heartās beating fast right now thinking about it. So, yeah, my initial introduction had been through the book, through Neilās words.ā
Bruce Langley: āMy first exposure was the audition and getting the script for the first episode of the first season. That was my introduction to the character and to American Gods. Before that I had had some exposure to Coraline and Stardust, and then after getting the role I read American Gods and then used it as a springboard to go further into Neilās world.
Iām in the world now, very much there. The waterās lovely ā come join.ā
Crispin Glover: āI worked with Neil Gaiman on Beowulf which he co-wrote with Roger Avary. I knew him as being a great guy. I could tell he was an excellent writer from the script, but I also knew that he was a well revered novelist, but I hadnāt read anything. And then I met with Bryan (Fuller) and Michael (Green) and they started describing the concepts behind it. I was quite impressed. I read the first scene which I thought was so well written.
I make my own films and thereās an actress in a film that Iām editing right now who was a big fan of Neil Gaiman in general but also specifically American Gods. When I told her about it, she said, āThis is going to be great. Youāve got to do it. You have to do this it.ā I had the script and she read it and said I had to do it. I was already wanting to do it. Now I have read the book and it is a beautiful book. I love it. I trusted that it would be, and it is.ā
My Nancy (Orlando Jones), Bilquis (Yetide Badaki), and Mr Ibis (Demore Barnes) in ‘American Gods’ (Photo Credit: Starz)
Do you try to avoid bringing any humanity to your characters?
Bruce Langley: āWell, I think the important thing to acknowledge is that while they are deities and they are avatars for human belief calcified into certain different forms and all of those things, at the same time there is a part of them that has to be intrinsically human. And the part of them that interacts in this world has to be human, and part of their hearts and part of their souls is indeed very human, very vulnerable, and personal in themselves. So, whether or not they have all the power in the world or not, they have to interact as a human being.
I think itās important to acknowledge that we have the capacity for everything inside ourselves already, in terms of emotional range and possibilities. We can be gods; we can be monsters. We can be saints; we can be sinners. So, in essence I think itās just getting comfortable with acknowledging that there may be parts of yourself that are incredibly deep and dark ā getting comfortable with that. And also acknowledging that thereās a counterpoint to that. But at the end of the day itās all us. So are the gods – theyāre all us. Theyāre not separate from us. They are us.ā
Yetide Badaki: āWe literally create the gods, so they are a reflection of humanity. So, then we get to play with that, which as an artistā¦ Well, I donāt want to speak for everyone, but for me thereās not much better than that.ā
Do you think the series has done well by the book?
Yetide Badaki: āI mean, one of the things that we are so lucky to have is the actual creator. Speaking of creation, we have the actual creator of this world and heās reading these scripts. Heās sometimes working on them. Heās seeing the dailies. Thereās no better reflection of how much respect we all have for this art piece than to hear him come in and say, āIām proud.āā
Do you ask Neil questions about your characters?
Yetide Badaki: āYou know, maybe itās just because Iām such a big geek but I still work at having an actual conversation with Neil. (Laughing) But, I think thatās part of the fun of the creative process. I think heās asking us to come in and collaborate. From our artistic viewpoint, bring our experiences, bring our viewpoints into that setup that heās giving us. I tend to not ask him if I can help it, and I trust though that he will say, āWell, thatās not working,ā if it doesnāt. And luckily, we seem to come to quite a bit of agreement on Bilquis. Which, again, is a testament to his incredible storytelling.ā
Can you tease anything about the new season we might not know?
Bruce Langley: āWe donāt get to Lakeside, but we do get to House on the Rock. We get to Cairo and various other locations.ā
Crispin Glover: āI donāt have any idea where we are in the book.ā
Yetide Badaki: (Laughing) āWeāre not very far. Weāre a couple of pages in. Thereās at least six more seasons in there.ā
Bruce Langley: āThe beauty of the show is we get to go in so much deeper and further than they were able to in the book, because in the book youāre limited by so many different things. A perfect example is pretty much all of our characters were in the book every now and then. But now we actually get to explore their backstories, their lives, how they live, how they function. We actually get to explore them. I mean, Sweeneyās got two and a half scenes in the book and now heās one of the favorite characters because we actually got to go into his story.
We get to explore more with the show, and weāll be doing more of that in season two.ā
The CW’s Riverdale cast was given time off to grieve for their beloved co-star Luke Perry following his sudden death on Monday, March 4, 2019 due to a massive stroke. The first episode to air following Luke’s death, season three episode 14, was dedicated to the actor who played Archie’s dad, Fred Andrews.
Aguirre-Sacasa took to twitter before episode 14 to share his thoughts on Luke Perry:
“Going through pictures on my way to set. From the early days. With Luke in the middle. Our heart, always. Tonightās episode of #Riverdale finds Fred doing what he does best–helping Archie. It is dedicated to Luke, as all episodes will be for the rest of our run. ?ā¤ļø? RobertoAguirreSacasa (@WriterRAS)
Up next, season three episode 15 titled “American Dreams” airing on March 13, 2019. Episode 15 was directed by Gabriel Correa from a script by series creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Episode 15 will be dedicated to Luke Perry as will every episode for the remainder of this season.
The cast of season three includes KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, and Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones. Madelaine Petsch is Cheryl Blossom, Marisol Nichols is Hermione Lodge, MÓdchen Amick is Alice Cooper, and Luke Perry is Fred Andrews. The third season also stars Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy, Casey Cott as Kevin Keller, Mark Consuelos as Hiram Lodge, Skeet Ulrich as FP Jones, Charles Melton as Reggie Mantle, and Vanessa Morgan as Toni Topaz.
The “Chapter Fifty: American Dreams” Plot: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FP ā As Gladys (guest star Gina Gershon) prepares for FPās (Ulrich) 50th birthday party, Jughead (Sprouse) questions his momās motives for returning to Riverdale. When an unexpected encounter brings Archie (Apa) back into the world of G&G, Jughead and Betty (Reinhart) devise a plan to help him face his past head-on. Finally, Cheryl (Petsch) and Toni (Morgan) find themselves at a crossroads, and Veronica (Mendes) reveals a damaging secret to Betty.
