‘Ballad of Buster Scruggs’ Star Talks HBO’s ‘Watchmen’ Role

Actor Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother, Where Art Thou?) may be relatively unknown in Hollywood, but that is all about to change. He is the star of the Coen Brothers upcoming film, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. The six-part anthology feature is gaining traction with the critics. It looks to be a hit with the fans when it hits theaters.

Nelson also landed the role of Looking Glass in Damon Lindelof’s Watchmen television series for HBO currently in production. In a recent interview with Collider, Nelson spoke about his role in Watchmen, and how the character evolved throughout production. According to Nelson, it was Damon Lindelof growing the role, that led to his signing on for the project:

“I talked to [Lindelof] on the phone, and it was an evolving process for Watchmen, which in part is what makes Damon so interesting. He, like the Coens, is very much in control, but he also improvises, to a degree, with what he has. And so, I was approached for Watchmen by his (producing) partner, Tom Spezialy.

I read it and I read my character, and I found him interesting, but one doesn’t want to leap into television without knowing where a character is headed. And Damon, frankly, said, ‘Well, I’m not sure about this guy and whether there’s going to be enough for you, to where you would want to play this role.

I’m not sure that having you in this role would be gesturally right, in terms of the casting, with what I have in mind for him. You may be, in a sense, too big of a gun to shoot a fly.’

But then, he started thinking about it and he changed his take on the role. He said, ‘You know what, I really would like you to be a part of this. Here’s how I wanna enlarge the role. If you’ll trust me, then I’d really like you to come on board.”

What he had to say was certainly enough. More importantly, the pilot script and what it seemed like he wanted to address with the show, which is way beyond your run of the mill comic adaptation, really intrigued me.

I’ll only say that I haven’t encountered a false note [tone wise]. And I’ll also say that I’ve been allowed to color my own work, in a way that’s very specific to the world that I knew, growing up. That’s been great for me. It’s been really rewarding, and I very much appreciated Damon’s openness to that.”

Watchmen stars Jeremy Irons, Regina King, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr., Jean Smart, Adelaide Clemens, Andrew Howard, Tom Mison, Frances Fisher, and Jacob Ming-Trent. The series will hit HBO sometime in 2019.

Let us know your hopes for HBO’s Watchmen series in the comments below!