From co-creators Chris Fedak and Sam Sklaver, and executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter, the Fox drama series Prodigal Son follows Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne), the son of the notorious serial killer “The Surgeon,” who has dedicated himself to helping the NYPD solve crimes and stop killers. With a manipulative mother (Bellamy Young), a TV journalist sister (Halston Sage) and a homicidal father (Michael Sheen) interfering in every aspect of his life, it makes it challenging for him to ever take a break from murder and have a normal life.
Best known for his breakthrough role as Ritchie Valens in the biographical drama film La Bamba and for his performance in the the Academy Award–nominated Stand and Deliver, Lou Diamond Phillips recently starred on the acclaimed streaming series “Longmire.”
Blackfilm.com recently spoke with Phillips regarding his role in the film.
What character do you play and what attracted you to the series?
Lou Diamond Phillips: My character’s name is Gil Arroyo. He’s the detective in the Major Crimes Unit of the NYPD. He works with Malcolm bright, played by Tom Payne, who is the prodigal son. He’s the prodigal son because he’s this amazing profiler. The reason he is so ingenious at it is because his father is a serial killer, played by the wonderful Michael Sheen. So automatically, it’s like dark, it’s twisted, it’s very intellectual, But then the more you read the script and the more you see this show, it’s funny and it’s complicated. It’s got these amazing relationships. And we’re going to be building on those so that it’s not just your typical crime of the week procedural.
Is this your first series regular role?
Lou Diamond Phillips: I was on a series called Longmire on Netflix for six years. I played Henry Standing Bear, and we had an incredible following for that. Like I said, six years on that show loved it. Very, very different. I was playing obviously a Cheyenne man living on the reservation of Wyoming for that one. So here I am in the Big Apple, big difference.
Can you talk about working with the cast?
Lou Diamond Phillips: I think everybody’s incredibly well represented in this cast. I’m so proud of the diversity. My team, especially, the homicide team with Aurora Perrineau, Frank Harts and Keiko Agena. It’s just nice to see. I like to call ourselves the Mod Squad. I had the great fortune of knowing a couple of the cast members. Bellamy Young and I did a movie together. Speaking of serial killers, I played Richard Ramirez and she was the lead who was a lawyer trying to get a secret out of him. With Tom Payne, I’ve known him from the conventions around The Walking Dead. I actually directed Fear of the Walking Dead last season. So I’ve been an extended family on that show for a while.
You’ve been doing this for over 20 years. What’s the secret to staying relevant and getting good projects?
Lou Diamond Phillips: It’s just keeping your eye on the work, looking for good material,
looking for good people to work with and Understanding that it’s all a bit cyclical. Nobody stays on fire forever. Knowing when to catch those waves and when to go with them, and not to self implode, when you’re in a slower period. It really is about just just looking at it as a career, and not something short term.
We’ve seen a number of these series before regarding chasing serial killers. What makes darkness sell as a series?
Lou Diamond Phillips: I think people are fascinated by the behaviors. Because there are real people out there like this. There are real people committing these crimes. I think we all wonder, what makes somebody slip over into insanity?. What makes a rational, seemingly upstanding person suddenly become that dark that they can do that? I don’t know. I think I think we’re fascinated by it. I think we’re repulsed by it. But at the same time, it’s hard to look away.
What’s next for you?
Lou Diamond Phillips: I just did a nice little guest host spot on Meet Bobby Flay. I’ve had a very long, wonderful relationship with the Food Network. Now that I’m back in New York, maybe I’ll be doing that a little bit more often. And I’ve got some other writing and directing things in the works. I’m actually supposed to direct an episode of Blue Bloods in the spring.
Clip – Gil recruits Malcolm Bright for a murder case.
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