The Americans star Matthew Rhys is worlds away from his previous roles in new comedy-horror Widow’s Bay, with even the show’s creator admitting she couldn’t initially imagine him in the leading role.
Katie Dippold (who previously wrote on Parks and Recreation) is the showrunner behind the new series, which follows Rhys’s sceptical mayor Tom Loftis, who is faced with a overwhelming superstition from the residents of his small town. But, as his attempts to bring in tourists are foiled by strange happenings, he might be forced to admit they’re right.
Speaking exclusively to Radio Times, Dippold said: “I had no one in mind for the part, which was a good thing, but it was also very challenging to cast it.
“Hiro Murai, the director of five of the episodes, we Zoomed with Matthew. I was huge fan of his. I love the Americans. I think he’s brilliant, but I still couldn’t quite imagine it or envision him for this.
“Then we Zoomed with him, and he’s so lovely and charismatic and so funny. And we got off the Zoom, and Hiro and I talked, and we both just had this gut feeling, we just had such a good feeling about it. It was just crystal clear, like, ‘Oh, this is our Loftis’. And now it’s just crazy. I cannot imagine the show with anyone else. He’s so perfect for it.”
As for what exactly made Rhys perfect for the role? Dippold says it’s down to his decision to play it straight rather than overdo the comedy.
“I honestly think he’s one of the best actors ever to exist, and he is so naturally funny,” Dippold added.
“So he does this thing where he just plays the part, he just really plays the part, and it’s the best acting I’ve ever seen. But he’s naturally funny, and he has pitch perfect comedic timing… he just takes you on this ride with him.”
Also speaking to Radio Times, Rhys gave some insight into his process, adding: “A real eureka moment for me was when Hiro went, ‘Listen, we’re not making a comedy or a horror.’
“Because I said, ‘I’ve never done a comedy, and he says ‘You’re not doing one now, you’re just doing another drama. So play it like that.’…I felt a great sense of relief from that.”
Joining Rhys on the cast are Stephen Root, who plays the ultra-superstitious Wyck, and Kate O’Flynn as Loftis’s rather unique Patricia, who has a storied history with the town.
Widow’s Bay is streaming weekly on Apple TV+.
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