Banshee blood will be shed
The high-octane Alan Ball thriller about an ex-con assuming the identity of the local sheriff — and continuing his criminal activities — is about to enter its third season. And it promises to come in with a bang. Fridays at 10pm on
Comic-con 2014 gets bansheed
The cast and crew talked at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 about conflicted Amish gangsters, Native American tribespeople, and their brand-new season. Find out what you can expect.
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Jonathan Tropper Creator & Executive Producer
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Antony Starr Lucas Hood
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Ivana Milicevic Carrie Hopewell
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Ulrich Thomsen Kai Proctor
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Geno Segers Chayton Littlestone
It always started with the character of Lucas Hood when I read The Count of Monte Cristo [in high school] and I had this idea about a cop who was really a criminal.
Can you set up a little bit of what Season 3 will be like?Season 3 definitely ups the ante both emotionally and physically. We have Chayton coming to unleash hell on the streets of Banshee and at the same time have Lucas, Carrie, and Proctor all on these parallel journeys of trying to figure out if they can ever be anything other than what they are. The show has always been about identity and [they’re all] trying to see if they can become who they would rather be as opposed to [who] they are, and that answer is going to be no … but a lot of people are going to be hurt while they try to figure that out.
I knew what the job was gonna be when I signed on, to a certain extent. Six stitches in my lip on day one was an indication of where things would go, and it hasn't gotten any better. [Jonathan] says I've just got one of those faces that looks better damaged.
How important is a sense of humor to help you find the character?It's a pretty intense show in a lot of ways. Adding humor into situations where you wouldn't ordinarily find anything funny allows the audience into a world they wouldn't otherwise have access to, to go in safely and come out safely.
What's your take on the status of Lucas and Carrie now?In any show that has a dramatic element, you've gotta take things that are in good shape and put them in bad shape. Unfortunately it was in pretty bad shape from day one … you just sort of take it episode by episode, to be honest. We have a good time together, but I have no idea where it's going next.
When I was shooting that prison scene I was really excited. I had a lot of aggressive energy that week, honestly, so it kind of felt good to beat up on that poor stunt girl who did not have any double.
How do you think the action makes your job more interesting?You get to play. You put your body into it. You literally bleed and sweat and tear up for the show so it's an all-encompassing mind body spirit situation that we are lucky to have because you get so physical.
Who is the real Carrie?She's [still] figuring it out, she's a bit of everything.
When I read the script originally, [it] resonated with me because he's more than just a bad guy. He's a person with feelings and we're going to explore more of that. If it's just a generic bad guy, I don't think people would root for him. You want to be able to know his thoughts, his reasons.
What would you say about Season 3?It won't disappoint. It's still hot and sexy and violent and bloody. I have an interesting turnaround with my family again. I will return as the Kai Proctor you know and hopefully like.
It is very difficult and exhausting to become someone so frustrated, so angry, so bitter, just driven by this one goal in life … and me, I'm just happy-go-lucky.
The hair and tattoos are fake, but your voice isn't?Yeah, nobody seems to believe Chayton has a voice like this. They think that someone actually dubbed over my real voice. There's no equalizer on the side of my neck or anything.
Who would win in a fight: Chayton or the albino?I've got him on testosterone after his operation, but pre- … I don’t know.