Rufus Sewell said his first reaction to playing a post-World War II Nazi in the new Amazon drama "The Man in the High Castle" was reluctance.
In the pilot script, "you didn't see a lot of him outside strutting up and down corridors and torturing people," Sewell told a TV critics' meeting Monday. "I wouldn't necessarily be interested in playing that, especially for a long period of time."
But his character becomes more layered in episode two of the drama, which is set in a circa 1960s America that has lost World War II and is under oppressive rule by Germany and Japan. A resistance movement struggles for freedom.
In this alternate history, Sewell's John Smith is an "all-American hero," said Swell ("Killing Jesus," ''The Pillars of the Earth"). The drama explores how people can turn a blind eye to reality and how a cruel man can convince himself he is just, the English-born actor said.
The 10-part series, based on Philip K. Dick's novel, is available Nov. 20. Other cast members include Alexa Davalos and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa.
Frank Spotnitz ("The X-Files"), who developed and produces "The Man in the High Castle," said he hopes it makes viewers take stock.
"What are your values? What do you stand for? How do you differ from the people you see in this show?" he said. The novel, he recalled, compelled him to re-examine the expectation that "the good guys are going to win."
"I think we as Americans, because we are used to winning and because all of our movies and TV shows have us winning, we just have this, 'Of course we are going to win,'" he said. "Well, no, not of course. It's up to us if we are going to win. … I hope this show makes people think about that."
“Scandal” cast will reunite for online script reading for hurricane relief in western North Carolina
The cast of ABC's hit political drama "Scandal" may need to brush up on their snappy, speedy delivery known as "Scandal-pace," because they're reuniting for a good cause. Its stars including Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn and Bellamy Young will take part in a live virtual script reading on Nov. 17 to raise money for hurricane relief in western North Carolina.
Beginning Friday, fans can go online and donate to reserve a spot for the online reading. Proceeds will benefit United Way of North Carolina. Everyone who donates will be able to take part in a virtual pre-event with the cast and Shonda Rhimes will give an introduction.
Additional guest stars will also be announced. The online fundraising platform Prizeo is also holding a contest where one person who donates online via their site will be selected to read a role from the script with the actors. The winner should not worry about the "Scandal"-pace, assured Young over Zoom.
"Whomever the lucky reader is can read at whatever pace they want," she said.
Young, who played Mellie Young, the first lady and later Republican presidential nominee on "Scandal," was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. She came up with the idea for the effort with a friend and took it to her fellow "Scandal" actors, who all jumped on board. Young said this is the first script reading the cast has all done together since the show ended after seven seasons in 2018.
Which episode they will be reading has not been announced yet.
Young said it's "been devastating" to see so many parts of her hometown badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, which ravaged western North Carolina one month ago.
To research the best use for donations, Young spoke with numerous political leaders, including North... Read More