Timothy Olyphant of ‘Justified’ puts on a producer’s hat
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Timothy Olyphant may only wear one hat when he’s playing Raylan Givens on ‘Justified,’ but he’s sporting two behind the scenes.
Olyphant isn’t just the star of FX’s hit drama. In the second season, he’s also become a producer.
‘Last year I just pretended to be a producer and I rather enjoyed it,’ Olyphant said during a conference call with reporters Tuesday. ‘So I might as well get the credit. It’s really one of the great joys and one of the challenges of the job.’
Olyphant clearly is relishing working on the series, which is based on short stories and books by Elmore Leonard.
‘It’s all cowboys and Indians when it comes down to it,’ he said. ‘It’s child’s play. I get a great deal of fulfillment ... it’s cops and robbers or more in this case, it’s like cops and hillbillies. This one’s a blast. The tone of the show -- Elmore’s cool and Elmore’s funny. I guess they call it a drama but I think we’re making a comedy.’
Set in Kentucky, ‘Justified’ is filmed in Santa Clarita and kicks off its second season with the aftermath of the death of Bo Crowder and what that means for his son, Boyd Crowder (Walton Goggins), and Boyd’s relationship with U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. Will Raylan and Boyd, who teamed up for an epic gun battle in the first season finale, finally kiss and make up?
‘I don’t see them as friends,’ Olyphant said. ‘They have a history. There’s a knowingness, an understanding between them. But beyond that, that’s kind of it. It’s fun to see their worlds collide.’
Boyd, who last season found God while he was in prison, faces yet another existential crisis in the second season.
‘We had a lot of fun with him this year,’ Olyphant said. ‘As Elmore said, he’s one of these guys where I don’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth but I can’t stop listening to him. He’s one of those guys that just seems he can be whoever, whatever he needs to be given the situation ... He starts out lost in the woods, kind of regains his footing and finds his way, and comes back to life in a completely more dangerous and compelling way than last year.’
‘Justified’ will be more serialized in its sophomore season and will center on a family feud between Givens’ family and the Bennett clan, headed by matriarch Mags Bennet, played by Margo Martindale.
It premieres Wednesday at 10 p.m.
--Maria Elena Fernandez
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