Late last week, Variety reported that Pedro Pascal, a.k.a. Prince Oberyn Martell of Game of Thrones fame, will be starring in Narcos,
the new Netflix original series about the DEAs attempt to bring down
Pablo Escobar (who will be played by the interesting Brazilian actor
Wagner Moura).
There is a lot to like about this whole thing. The series will be directed by Jose Padilha (the Robocop reboot), and will be produced by Eric Newman (Children of Men) and Chris Brancato (one of the guys who brought us Hannibal ). Padilha is a competent action director, and even if Robocop had more ambition than execution that combination is better than having no ambition at all. Technique can be honed, and Newman and Brancato have demonstrated an ability to oversee and shape ambitious creative types.
But easily the most exciting part of this whole thing is a major role for Pascal. After his bloody departure from Game of Thrones, I told some friends (fine, I posted on my facebook wall, are you happy?) that one of the beauties of the current television climate is that its landscape is so broad and the number of quality shows is so high that it gives us a chance to see actors bloom who otherwise might be overlooked or ignored. Case in point: Pedro Pascal. Here is a question for you—what was Pedro Pascal’s most prominent English speaking role prior to portraying the Red Viper? Give up? It is a toss-up between his six episode arc on The Mentalist as Agent Marcus Pike, and his six episode arc on The Good Wife as Nathan Landry. Does either ring a bell? Even if they do, did you remember thinking to yourself “that’s the sexiest man in the history of television?” I didn’t think so. Game of Thrones was a break-out for Pascal in the truest sense of the word, a chance for his charisma to bubble over. There are not many actors on television who can deliver expository dialogue (either narrative or thematic) in as riveting a fashion. Brian Cranston set the previous high-water mark in this category—and Pascal blew him out of the water like wildfire on the Blackwater. That he gets a chance to shine in a major production all his own is only right. I can’t wait to see what he does with the opportunity.
This content appeared originally at Pop, Shop, and Troll
There is a lot to like about this whole thing. The series will be directed by Jose Padilha (the Robocop reboot), and will be produced by Eric Newman (Children of Men) and Chris Brancato (one of the guys who brought us Hannibal ). Padilha is a competent action director, and even if Robocop had more ambition than execution that combination is better than having no ambition at all. Technique can be honed, and Newman and Brancato have demonstrated an ability to oversee and shape ambitious creative types.
But easily the most exciting part of this whole thing is a major role for Pascal. After his bloody departure from Game of Thrones, I told some friends (fine, I posted on my facebook wall, are you happy?) that one of the beauties of the current television climate is that its landscape is so broad and the number of quality shows is so high that it gives us a chance to see actors bloom who otherwise might be overlooked or ignored. Case in point: Pedro Pascal. Here is a question for you—what was Pedro Pascal’s most prominent English speaking role prior to portraying the Red Viper? Give up? It is a toss-up between his six episode arc on The Mentalist as Agent Marcus Pike, and his six episode arc on The Good Wife as Nathan Landry. Does either ring a bell? Even if they do, did you remember thinking to yourself “that’s the sexiest man in the history of television?” I didn’t think so. Game of Thrones was a break-out for Pascal in the truest sense of the word, a chance for his charisma to bubble over. There are not many actors on television who can deliver expository dialogue (either narrative or thematic) in as riveting a fashion. Brian Cranston set the previous high-water mark in this category—and Pascal blew him out of the water like wildfire on the Blackwater. That he gets a chance to shine in a major production all his own is only right. I can’t wait to see what he does with the opportunity.
This content appeared originally at Pop, Shop, and Troll
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