Garret DIllahunt has had a long career in television and film, with recurring roles on shows such as Deadwood, Raising Hope, The Mindy Project, Justified and The Guest Book.
Dillahunt has appeared in such films as No Country for Old Men, Winter’s Bone, The Last House On The Left, and the Oscar-winning movie 12 Years a Slave. He will next be seen in Widows, directed by Steve McQueen, and The Long Home, directed by James Franco.
He stars in the 2018 action film Braven directed by Lin Oeding and starring Jason Momoa, Stephen Lang and Jill Wagner. He also appears in the fourth season of Fear The Walking Dead. Garret chatted with Jason Momoa News about Braven, working with Jason and his future projects.
Questions:
How did you come on board Braven?
I’d met Jason just randomly, and we compared injuries from various different jobs in our careers. I think I had nice things to say about Red Road. I thought he was a cool guy, quick to smile. Self-deprecating. We resolved to work together. Then he called one day and told me about Braven.
Tell us about your character.
I play Kassen, who’s in charge of safeguarding this drug shipment that falls into Joe’s hands. Kassen is a mercenary, has a military background, and is severely damaged. Zero social skills. Way too quick to resort to violence. But, as luck would have it, the worst possible guy he could have run up against was Joe Braven.
What’s it like working with Jason Momoa, who has directing and producing experience in addition to acting?
I love Jason. He’s got a real warmth, a real generosity, and a real tribal mentality. His enthusiasm is infectious. He tries to surround himself with talented people. He’s not threatened by that, he craves that challenge. He understands that it only makes him better. I have a lot of admiration for him, and would work with him again in a heartbeat.
Any funny set stories with Jason or other cast members?
There was lots of laughing on this set. But I particularly liked how Jason would greet each new cast member as they arrived to town. When I arrived, for example…met the gang at a local tavern, post-shooting day. Saw Jason, kinda shouted “Hey man” over the din, and then… I just remember bellows and glee and then I’m in the air…I might have hit my head on the overhead rafters and gotten a rib-cracking hug, and then a whirlwind of loud introductions to badass after badass….It was gonna be that kinda shoot.
How rough was the filming in Newfoundland with the snow and cold?
I guess it was rough because of the cold, and the physical demands were real. Take after take sprinting up a snow-covered road, or fighting bare-handed in the snow..but I always felt safe and in control. There was always a place to go to get warm, and there was always laughter. I don’t have a memory of it being particularly rigorous. Maybe the badassery of Jason’s crowd rubbed off.
Talk about your character on Fear the Walking Dead.
I can tell you I play John….you gotta wait to find out my last name. I really like this character a lot. He’s really fun to play. Independent sorta guy. And you’d like to have him on your side in a bar fight. He’s searching for something. There’s a real emptiness there… I’m sorry I gotta be so mysterious, but these questions will all be answered real soon. We premiere April 15.
How did you land that role?
Had developed an over-the-phone relationship with Scott Gimple. We spoke briefly about Negan but that was impossible, schedule-wise for me, so it was never a real possibility. But I think that planted me somewhere in his subconscious and later, when this whole restructuring of FTWD happened, he wrote a character for me.
You have quite a few westerns on your resume. What’s the appeal of that genre?
I love westerns, or western-type stuff. I’m kinda surprised I have had this much luck getting involved in them. It’s not the easiest genre. But, like sci-fi, I think metaphor lives very comfortably in that world. You can almost tell any story and locate any theme in a western.
What’s up next for you?
We are only mid-season on FTWD, so I have a lotta work to do here still. Talking to a couple directors about a film in the off-season, but I haven’t solidified anything yet.
Speed Round:
How do you survive the zombie apocalypse?
Stay vigilant. Carry something long and pointy. Learn to forage. Keep hope alive.
What do you like better- movie or television work?
I don’t have a preference. In fact, I like the different challenges each medium offers. I like the change required to move back and forth between film, tv or theater.
If not acting, what would you be doing right now?
I don’t know. Probably something with the elderly. Or rescuing missing children. I have hero fantasies.
Your favorite bad guy ever?
Hans Gruber
We thank Garret Dillahunt for taking time out of his busy schedule to talk to us. We look forward to seeing him on FTWD and wish him luck!
He can be found on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
You can check out our Braven filmography page, photo gallery and pre-order the film.
Be sure to check out our other exclusive interviews with director Lin Oeding and actor Stephen Lang.
(Article originally appeared on Jason Momoa News)