The return of a legend.
Robert Redford, 88, made his first on-screen look in six years through the Season 3 premiere of “Dark Winds” (at present airing Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC and AMC+). The episode’s director, Chris Eyre, completely took The Put up inside Redford’s uncommon taping.
“He was adamant that – I remember distinctly him saying, ‘Whatever Chris wants.’ As we said, ‘How do you want this, and how should we do this?’ [Redford] just kept saying, ‘Whatever Chris wants,’” Eyre recalled.
In 1995, at first of Eyre’s profession, the director recalled being within the Sundance labs with Redford – who co-founded Sundance Institute, together with the movie pageant, in 1981.
“He has always been generous,” Eyre mentioned in regards to the “All the President’s Men” star.
“I think what he wanted was to give me that right as a director and a filmmaker.”
Together with George R. R. Martin, 76, who wrote the books on which “Game of Thrones” relies, Redford has been an govt producer on “Dark Winds” for the reason that present first premiered in 2022.
Starring Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon, “Dark Winds” is a criminal offense drama set within the ‘70s about Navajo Tribal Police officers. It’s already been renewed for Season 4.
Redford and Martin appeared within the Season 3 premiere as jail inmates taking part in chess. As Redford’s character says, “George, the whole world’s waiting, make a move!” the present’s essential character, Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon), provides Martin recommendation. He makes use of it to beat Redford’s character, who sarcastically quips to Leaphorn, “Thanks a lot.”
“[There were] not a lot of takes. It was very easy, I think, for Bob and George to do this,” Eyre advised The Put up.
The director defined that the shoot lasted about 4 hours, and round ten to 12 individuals have been on set. Apart from Redford’s request to movie his cameo with a closed set, the “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” star had no different stipulations and left the whole lot as much as the director — together with how his hair ought to look.
“We said, ‘Well, it looks good with this kind of messy look that has that signature look of Redford … like his great, familiar handsome self,’” Eyre mentioned.
The ambiance on set that day was “just complete fun and joy and generosity,” he famous.
“I remember [when I did] the Sundance Labs, [Redford] being that generous with filmmakers. I think about the role model he’s provided for me, and so many other filmmakers over the decades, from Paul Thomas Anderson to Alfonzo Cruz … What we wouldn’t have if he wasn’t there to guide the voice of independent filmmakers for the past four decades or so.”
Eyre mentioned that it was “startling” to get to direct the Hollywood legend.
“I’ll never forget it. Zahn said to me, ‘I’m working with Robert Redford. Can you believe it?’ And I said, ‘Zahn, would you be quiet? You’re making me nervous!’”
The director defined that Redford wished it to be a closed set, “Just because I think he wanted to give the deference to the filmmakers … And really just have a focused little communal pocket that the four of us could really work within.”
McClarnon may even make his directorial debut on an episode of “Dark Winds.” Eyre recalled McClarnon saying to Redford, “Hey, what are your tips for going in front of the camera and behind the camera?”
Behind the scenes as they have been capturing, he mentioned, “Bob is giving us tips on how to toggle directing and starring.” (Redford’s essential tip was, “Don’t direct from a monitor.”)
Earlier than his cameo, Redford’s final on-screen look was in 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” reprising his position from 2014’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
The “Out of Africa” star introduced his retirement earlier than considered one of his ultimate films, 2018’s “The Old Man & the Gun,” however on the premiere, he advised Selection that pronouncing his retirement “was a mistake.”
Since Redford and Martin govt produce “Dark Winds,” their cameo was within the works for a very long time, however it didn’t occur till Season 3 due to scheduling logistics.
“He didn’t say anything about coming out of retirement [from acting]…I think [this on-screen appearance was] a one and done,” Eyre defined.
“But, I think in one of Bob’s interviews, he said ‘never say never’ when he retired from acting. So, we would certainly welcome them in front of the camera any time, because they’re here with us behind the camera [as executive producers].”
He added, “We had a lot of laughs and a lot of fun. It was just really a great experience. Afterwards, [other cast and crew members] said, ‘Wow, we got to do that!’”
