Ron Perlman is reveling in his role in Amazon's "The Hand of God" and the expanding TV world.
"This is the most exciting period I've ever seen in television and it's probably the most exciting place to be if you're a storyteller," Perlman told a TV critics' meeting Monday.
He added a wry postscript: "Ten years from now it will be all (expletive) up, but for now it's a beautiful place."
Perlman stars in the 10-episode "Hand of God" as a judge who's seeking vengeance – which he believes is God-directed – for a violent crime against his family. The series is available Sept. 4.
Coming off a satisfying run in FX's "Sons of Anarchy," Perlman said he wanted to see if lightning strikes twice.
With "the infusion of so many new voices and new venues" like streaming service Amazon, the increased competition has put originality at a premium, Perlman said.
"The notion of just having a gig that reflects a bunch of stuff I've already visited … doesn't have as much resonance as coming into something where there's no playbook," he said.
For Andre Royo, "Hand of God" is a chance to break away from his memorable role as drug addict Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins in "The Wire."
"I guess I played a junkie really, really, really well," Royo said, recalling the "rabbit-hole" feeling of being typecast.
His friend Samuel L. Jackson wisely advised him to take the opportunities that came his way and play every character to the best of his abilities, Royo said.
Executive producer Ben Watkins said the actor's talented portrayal of Mayor Robert "Bobo" Boston "forced us to see him as the mayor."
"The defining role will not be Bubbles for him. It will be" Bobo, Watkins said.
The series also stars Dana Delany, Garret Dillahunt and Alona Tal. Guest stars will include Erykah Badu, Lance Bass and Jon Tenney.
