Summary
ActorsDane DeHaanandKim Coateshave performed in their fair share of acclaimed films and television.
Now, they bring their fierce passion and dedication toPeter BergsAmerican Primeval, an epic new Western on Netflix.
In the miniseries, DeHaan plays pioneer Jacob Pratt and Coates as prominent historical figureBrigham Young.
Image via Netflix
CollidersSteve Weintraubhad the pleasure of chatting with DeHaan and Coates about their work onAmerican Primeval.
COLLIDER:I really want to start with congratulations to both of you.
I watched the whole series, and I absolutely recommend it.
You guys did great work.
DANE DEHAAN: Thanks, man.
KIM COATES: Thanks a lot.
Image via Netflix
At what point in the shoot did you realize what you were getting yourself into?
Because none of this is sound stage.
I’m thinking of his work onLone Survivorand stuff.
It follows the gritty and adventurous exploration of the birth of the American West, the violent collisions of cults, religion, and men and women fighting for control of the new world.
It’s one of the reasons I jumped in.
COATES: I concur with all that, Steve.
When I got offered to play Brigham Young, I was like, “What?
But Peter really, truly wanted to shoot thisalloutside.
There are no sound stages.
And where the stables were all true.
That set is incredible.
Dane, I have an individual question for you.
What was that experience like?
DEHAAN: I came in with a lot of trust because I knew Howard fromSpider-Mandays.
Howard did Jamie Foxx’s Electro makeup and stuff.
It was a lot.
Jamie and I had just worked together onOppenheimer.
He did my old-age makeup forOppenheimer, and it was a really wonderful collaboration.
I love when I get to do a whole lot of makeup.
I’m really proud of what we did.
He had just finished one of his incredible, incredible scenes.
I’m walking in to get all dolled up as Brigham Young, going, Hey Dane, Kim.
Hey Kim, Dane.
And his makeup, I don’t wanna give anything away, but it’s just spectacular.
“They’ll remember who dropped it.”
Oh, I 100% agree.
And to have to wear that all day on set is not pleasant.
At least, I wouldn’t think it would be.
DEHAAN: It’s not supposed to be pleasant, Steve.
Have you seen the show?
[Laughs]
I will say it definitely helps you.
It’s like a cheat code to get into your character when you see yourself looking like that.
Kim, I have a question for you.
I read that you stayed in character from when you got to set to when you left.
I don’t know if that’s true or not, but what is that like for you?
Why is that important to maintain that headspace the whole time?
But for this guy, I really had to work from the outside in.
Meaning, “What did he look like?
He had blue eyes like me.
Oh, his hair was crimson blonde, which I could dye.
He couldn’t grow facial hair, just mutton chops, until he was much older.
He had a big barrel chest.
Well, I kind of do too.
There was no time to really talk about anything other than being Governor Young.
Peter and Shea and I had the best time for our scenes.
Dane, I don’t know how much you’ve seen of this, but it really is different.
Your stuff is so beautifully different and horrifyingly, How did anyone survive?
It’s a different feel, and I think Peter did that on purpose.
American Primevalis available to stream on Netflix.
