In a rare father-son collaboration, Kurt Russell and his son Wyatt Russell are set to share the same character in the upcoming Apple TV+ series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. The duo recently discussed the unique opportunity during an interview with Entertainment Tonight, emphasizing their commitment to making the portrayal compelling.
“We were being given this opportunity to play the same person, as opposed to the father and son, so we started hammering away at it and saying, ‘Let’s make this good!'” expressed Kurt Russell, 72, alongside Wyatt, 37.
The series, based on Legendary Television’s MonsterVerse, delves into the aftermath of 2014’s Godzilla. Both actors play the role of Army officer Lee Shaw in two different timelines, exploring the family’s connection to the enigmatic organization, Monarch.
Kurt, reflecting on his early fascination with Godzilla, stated, “What I love about sci-fi is [with] great sci-fi there’s an opportunity to examine some questions – huge questions. Where are we from? What’s it all about? What’s going on here?” He expressed enthusiasm for the project and the chance to collaborate with Wyatt.
Wyatt, portraying Lee Shaw in the 1950s, highlighted the unique approach of sharing the same character at different life stages. “Father and son is like low-hanging fruit,” he remarked, emphasizing their inclination towards more challenging and intriguing roles.
Kurt, who observed Wyatt’s earlier work to inform his own portrayal of the character at an older age, shared insights into their collaborative process. “I suddenly found myself saying ‘God, Wyatt’s going to create this character. I’m going to play him later on in life, so it’s all gotta make sense,'” explained Kurt.
As Monarch: Legacy of Monsters unfolds, the Russell duo’s multi-generational portrayal promises a captivating exploration of character dynamics within the MonsterVerse.
