(Left) Cameron Monaghan in ‘Paradise Highway’. Photo: Lionsgate. (Right) Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in season 2 of ‘Bosch: Legacy.’ Photo Credit: Warrick Page.
Preview:
Cameron Monaghan will play Detective Harry Bosch in a new prequel series.
‘Start of Watch’ will be set in 1991.
Omari Hardwick co-stars.
Amazon is continuing to visit the ‘Bosch’ well. With two shows featuring author Michael Connelly‘s LAPD detective character Harry Bosch, played by Titus Welliver and a spin-off around the character of Renée Ballard (Maggie Q), the company now has a third in the works.
A prequel series that will explore Harry Bosch’s younger days with the LAPD is has the greenlight, with Cameron Monaghan (‘TRON: Ares’) as Bosch and Omari Hardwick (‘Army of the Dead‘) portraying his training officer, police veteran Eli Bridges.
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Monaghan makes the latest person to play a younger Harry –– both of Welliver’s sons have appeared in the role on ‘Bosch’ in the past.
And just in case you weren’t already confused where to find Bosch’s cases (since Amazon has released the main show to Prime Video and spin-off ‘Bosch: Legacy’ to the since-defunct Freevee, ‘Bosch: Start of Watch’ will debut on MGM+.
Omari Hardwick in ‘Xeno’. Photo: Blue Fox Entertainment.
The new series, which is not based directly on any of Connelly’s books, sets the clock back to 1991 Los Angeles and follows 26-year-old Harry Bosch during his earliest days as a rookie cop.
The series will explore a city on the edge, teeming with racial tension, gang violence and a fractured LAPD. Amid routine calls and growing unrest, Bosch finds himself drawn into a high-profile heist and a web of criminal corruption that will test his loyalty to the badge and shape his future as the detective who lives by the code, “Everybody counts or nobody counts.”
‘Bosch: Start of Watch’: his creator talks
Author and ‘Bosch: Legacy’ Season 2 executive producer Michael Connelly.
This was Connelly’s statement on the new series:
“I’m deeply grateful to Michael Wright and the team at MGM+ for championing this next chapter in Bosch’s journey with such remarkable care and integrity. Being able to see how Harry Bosch became the man we have loved for 10 seasons is a gift to me and his many fans. I can’t wait to dig in with Cameron and the writers to explore this uncharted character territory.”
When will ‘Bosch: Start of Watch’ be on screens?
MGM+ has yet to specify when the show will debut, but like its sibling series, it will shoot in Los Angeles, especially having received a tax credit from the California Film Commission.
(L to R) Courtney Taylor, Maggie Q and John Carroll Lynch star in ‘Ballard’.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with Maggie Q, John Carroll Lynch and Courtney Taylor to talk about their work on ‘Ballard’. Q discussed introducing the character first on ‘Bosch: Legacy’, working with Titus Welliver, the team Ballard puts together and the future of the series, while Lynch talked about his character’s past with Ballard and his brother’s love for author Michael Connelly’s work, and Taylor talked about her character’s backstory and working with the cast.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
Maggie Q (Renée Ballard) in ‘Ballard’. Photo: Greg Gayne/Prime Video.
Moviefone: To begin with, Maggie, coming off the introduction of Renée Ballard in ‘Bosch: Legacy’, what has it been like for you as an actress to have the opportunity to really explore not only her past and her present, but her future with this new series?
Maggie Q: I mean, how cool is it that we were able to introduce her in that way, and I was able to just feel out the world through the eyes of obviously the ‘Bosch’ community and universe who have been established and obviously have all known each other? It was just this club, right? I come into this club, and it’s so warm and welcoming and wonderful that it just gave me such a grounding in the universe. Without that cast, and the producers and their reaction to me and the welcoming that they gave me, I mean, I don’t know that I would’ve been as grounded going into ‘Ballard’, so that was a huge gift. I mean, the episode is fun, and our outro, Titus and I, maybe we have a future together, maybe we don’t. She thinks he’s kind of a dangerous guy, and I think it set us up for a nice friendship that allows for Bosch to dip in and out and be that person that she can confide in about high-level stuff, and someone who understands her. I mean, the only other person she really has that she has history with is Laffont. It provides her something that I think we wouldn’t have without his presence. I think, building and going to the future, we’re obviously making something very different from ‘Bosch’, similar but different, in that we really wanted to create a world that was honoring the past, but also building on what they obviously did so successfully. I think that everything they did successfully, if we were smart, we would nod to wherever we can.
MF: John, can you talk about Thomas Laffont’s past with Renée Ballard, and why he decides to come out of retirement and help her on this new journey?
John Carroll Lynch: It’s funny to think about that somewhere, while all these stories were told in the ‘Bosch’ universe with Harry Bosch, somewhere in the department, Tom Laffont’s working. It’s an interesting thing to play a character that you hadn’t met in a whole new light. He retired from the police force. He changed his life. Then I think he came back to help Renée because not only of the connection that they have and that she needs the help right now, but also, I think there’s a sense he has of a debt to pay, because he wasn’t truly himself with her and he wants to be. More importantly, he wants to support her through this. I think he wants to help a good cop that he knows is a good cop.
(L to R) Courtney Taylor (Zamira Parker) and Maggie Q (Renée Ballard) in ‘Ballard’. Photo: Greg Gayne/Prime Video.
MF: Courtney, just like Ballard, Parker has also had a bad experience working with the LAPD in the past. How has meeting Ballard and working with her team began to heal the trauma that she went through as a police officer?
Courtney Taylor: I believe for Parker, it allows her to see that the job that she loves did come with good people, and I don’t think she’s ever been able to lean on people the way that she’s always wanted to, and I think because of her bad experience, it made her go inward. When she meets Ballard and she meets Laffont and meets this team of passionate people on the cold case unit, I think it just reminds her of like, “Oh, that’s right. I got in this job for a reason, because not only do I love it, but I wanted to work with other people who loved it too.” I think that’s part of her healing journey, which is recognizing she’s not the only one who loves the job as much as she does.
MF: Maggie, can you talk about the team that Ballard puts together to help solve these cold cases and what it’s been like for you working with this ensemble cast?
MQ: It’s perfectly cast, right? Everybody brings something so unique to the table. What I love about that is how the writing is very clear with each character, what their journey is, who they are to the team, so that’s a huge leg up. A lot of times you’re having to create something out of thin air that doesn’t exist on the page, so having that was huge. I was able to know the whole entire arc from episode one to ten before I ever signed on. In knowing that, it was hugely invaluable to have the gift of going to be able to do character studies on each person and know really what I want to achieve with each person, and in doing that, what that would bring to the show. You don’t get that, because you’re not able to see it. I mean, people usually sign onto a show and it’s a Hail Mary, right? “I hope it’s good.” I knew that the arc of the season was great, and if the cast was going to come together correctly, that it was going to be great. I was betting on a horse that I knew was fast, thank goodness, and it doesn’t happen like that. You don’t get that gift, and so that was huge.
(L to R) John Carroll Lynch (Thomas Laffont) and Maggie Q (Renée Ballard) in ‘Ballard’. Photo: Tyler Golden/Prime Video.
MF: John, were you a fan of Michael Connolly’s books or TV shows before joining the cast of ‘Ballard’?
JCL: I was aware of the work, and I had seen the work. I really liked the ‘Bosch’ shows. I really liked ‘Lincoln Lawyer.’ I liked those shows and I thought they were good, and I also loved the feeling of different parts of the city. Truth be told, the person in my family who knew it was my brother. When I got the offer, he was like, “I’ve read every single book. I’m waiting for the next one.” He goes, “Oh, you got to take this.” Thanks, David.
MF: Courtney, what has it been like for you personally to join this world that Michael Connolly has created and to be joined by former ‘Bosch’ and ‘Bosch: Legacy’ actors, essentially giving their blessing for this new series?
CT: Well, I was always a fan of Michael Connelly’s stuff. I think ‘Lincoln Lawyer’ is great and the ‘Bosch’ series has done so well, and I think it’s an honor to be able to be a part of Michael Connelly’s legacy, which is this new ‘Ballard’ inspired series. I think just watching Titus and seeing him whenever he came to set and him not even tripping, just very much like, “You guys got it.” He was so supportive, and no giving us notes. He’s like, “You guys got it. You guys understand it. I don’t need to really say anything. I’m just here to read the lines they told me to do, to serve whatever you all need.” It was a very big support from his end, in a way where he was just like, “I don’t need to say anything. You guys have got it in the bag.” It was nice to feel that.
(L to R) Maggie Q (Renée Ballard) and Titus Welliver (Bosch) in ‘Ballard’. Photo: Tyler Golden/Prime Video.
MF: Finally, Maggie, what does it mean to you to have Titus Welliver reprise his role as Harry Bosch in season 1 of ‘Ballard’ and in a sense pass the baton of this franchise on to you?
MQ: Literally, and he was so generous. I say this to anyone who’ll listen. People who’ve had that amount of success for a decade, who look at the people who will carry the torch forward and carry the baton forward and give them their blessing and have graciousness in their spirit, in their heart, and want to contribute to good things for us, that is not normal, by the way. I wish it was, but Titus ends up being somebody very special because that is who he is to us, and that’s what he wants to do for the show. It’s awesome.
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What is the plot of ‘Ballard’?
Ballard continues to bring Michael Connelly’s bestselling novels to life, following Detective Renée Ballard (Maggie Q) as she leads the LAPD’s new and underfunded cold case division, tackling the city’s most challenging long-forgotten crimes with empathy and relentless determination. As she peels back layers of crimes spanning decades, including a serial killer’s string of murders and a murdered John Doe, she soon uncovers a dangerous conspiracy within the LAPD. With the help of her volunteer team and retired detective Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver), Detective Ballard navigates personal trauma, professional challenges, and life-threatening dangers to expose the truth.
(L to R) Maggie Q (Renée Ballard) and Courtney Taylor (Zamira Parker) in ‘Ballard’. Photo: Greg Gayne/Prime Video.
Based on a character created by author Michael Connolly and technically a spinoff of ‘Bosch: Legacy’, ‘Ballard’ is an adequate cop series but lacks the style and magic of its predecessor. While the title character was introduced in the final episode of ‘Bosch: Legacy’, the new series has almost nothing in common with the former other than a few mentions of past characters and an occasional appearance from Titus Welliver and other ‘Bosch’ actors.
It’s more akin to ‘The Closer’, ‘Cold Case’ or ABC’s ‘Highly Potential’ with Kaitlin Olson. Maggie Q does the best she can with the role but lacks the charisma or gravitas to truly lead the series. John Carroll Lynch and the supporting cast also do their best to fill in the gaps, but it’s not enough to pick up the pace and tone, which otherwise falls flat. The series does get better as it goes on, gaining momentum as the audience gets to know the cast of characters and their backstories, but it never exceeds the level of just your generic cop series.
Story and Direction
Maggie Q (Renée Ballard) in ‘Ballard’. Photo: Greg Gayne/Prime Video.
The series begins by reintroducing us to Los Angeles detective Renée Ballard (Maggie Q), who has recently gone through an internal affairs investigation after reporting misconduct by one of her colleagues and has now been assigned to lead her own cold case department, which she sees as a demotion. Ballard’s first case is to solve the murder of councilman Jake Pearlman’s (Noah Bean) sister, which leads to discovering other victims.
Ballard puts together a new team of her own including her former partner, retired detective Thomas Laffont (John Carroll Lynch), volunteer and possible psychic Colleen Hatteras (Rebecca Field), intern Martina Castro (Victoria Moroles), reserve policeman and Pearlman’s friend Ted Rawls (Michael Mosley), and former detective Samira Parker (Courtney Taylor), who was also forced out of the department because of accusing her co-workers of misconduct.
In addition to investigating the councilman’s sister’s murder, Ballard and her team take on several other high-profile cold cases, eventually leading to an investigation into a team of crooked cops, that is directly connected to both Ballard and Parker’s pasts. While carefully investigating the dirty police officers, Ballard confides in her old friend Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) for advice, as he is a former LA detective turned private investigator who has had his own troubles in the past navigating the politics of the Los Angeles police department.
(L to R) Maggie Q (Renée Ballard) and Michael Mosley (Ted Rawls) in ‘Ballard’. Photo: Patrick Wymore/Prime Video.
I know that ‘Ballard’ is technically a spinoff of ‘Bosch: Legacy’, but the series tries to have it’s cake and eat it too by completely stripping the tone and style of its predecessor and yet still shoehorning in ‘Bosch’ characters as if to say, “Hey, remember this is still ‘Bosch’!” And it’s not just the great Titus Welliver who returns with almost nothing to do, but more on that in a moment.
The series jumps right in as if we are supposed to already care about these characters, with no backstory explaining how they got here. To be fair, the backstories unfold as the series progresses, and that’s when you begin to care about these characters and the team they have created, but its several episodes in before that happens, and I’m afraid the casual watcher won’t give the series that long to get going.
‘Ballard’ is also missing the style and substance of ‘Bosch’ and ‘Bosch: Legacy’, which is what made the show so compelling. Those series had a noir feeling that ‘Ballard’ just can’t replicate. Ballard lives on the west side of LA, by the beach, which is in stark contrast to the Downtown LA/Hollywood vibe of the original series and fails to create an intriguing atmosphere. While the series builds some momentum as the episodes progress, it’s not enough to transcend the standard cop show syndrome the series is stuck in.
With the character of Renée Ballard only introduced in the final episode of season 3 of ‘Bosch: Legacy’, it’s not like even ‘Bosch’ fans have a long history with her and the series does nothing in the first few episodes to show us why we should care about her or the show. Ballard’s catch phrase is “The past is always present”, which holds a different meaning through the prism of solving cold cases, but rings hollow in the context of the series and just seems like a substitute for Bosch’s famous motto, “Everybody counts, or nobody counts.”
Cast and Performances
(L to R) John Carroll Lynch (Thomas Laffont) and Maggie Q (Renée Ballard) in ‘Ballard’. Photo: Tyler Golden/Prime Video.
Maggie Q is a capable actress and has been quite good in action driven movies like ‘Mission: Impossible III,’ ‘Live Free or Die Hard’ and ‘The Protégé’ but lacks the charismas or gravitas to lead a series like this in the same way Titus Welliver did with the ‘Bosch’ franchise. Welliver became synonymous with the character, and it was hard to know the difference between Bosch and the actor playing him. Welliver also had a magnetic quality on screen, you couldn’t take your eyes off him, and Q does not possess the same characteristics as Ballard.
With popular series like ‘Nikita’ and ‘Designated Survivor’ under her belt, Q is more than qualified to lead her own series, but perhaps this was not the best marriage of actor and character, as she has difficulty being believable in the role. What should be a showcase for another complex and likable Michael Connolly character instead seems like a run-of-the-mill cop you would find on any network police procedural.
The supporting cast does their best including acclaimed actor John Carroll Lynch (‘Zodiac’ and ‘The Founder’), who plays Ballard’s former partner Thomas Laffont, who has come out of retirement to back up Renée. As their past together and the reasons why Laffont retired come to the surface, there is more for Lynch to work with, but his character is a standout from the very beginning of the season.
(L to R) Courtney Taylor (Zamira Parker) and Maggie Q (Renée Ballard) in ‘Ballard’. Photo: Greg Gayne/Prime Video.
Courtney Taylor’s Samira Parker has a big redemption arc in the first season and the actress is solid in the role. Having her past connect with Ballard’s was smart, if not also predictable, but works for the conspiracy plot and bringing Parker and Ballard closer together as friends.
Rounding out the cast are Michael Mosley, whose Ted Rawls is annoying at first but grows on you as time goes on, Victoria Moroles’ Martina, who’s not given much to do until the final episodes, and Rebecca Field’s possibly psychic Colleen, who is bubbly and funny, and is a standout the entire season.
Connections to ‘Bosch’
(L to R) Maggie Q (Renée Ballard) and Titus Welliver (Bosch) in ‘Ballard’. Photo: Tyler Golden/Prime Video.
While the series seems completely devoid of any connections or even a similar tone to ‘Bosch’ in the opening episodes, several characters, both big and small, make their return in ‘Ballard’. The most obvious is Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch. While Welliver’s appearance is always welcome, Harry seems out of place in ‘Ballard’, regulated to basically an advisory character.
Keep in mind, when ‘Ballard’ was first announced, it was assumed that ‘Bosch: Legacy’ would get a fourth season after she was introduced in season three, but after ‘Ballard’ got picked up, the decision was made to cancel the show. Unfortunately, Ballard was not introduced early in ‘Bosch: Legacy’s final season and given time to build, instead she was injected into the final episode, which always felt more like a backdoor pilot.
Let’s get this out of the way: ‘Bosch: Legacy’ never should have been canceled! Sadly, it was and while I want nothing more than to see Titus Welliver on screen as Harry Bosch once again, this was not the right way to do it. Major kudos to Welliver for being a class act and donating his time to appear on the new series, but why the showrunners would waste his appearance like this is beyond me. If you are going to bring Bosch back, make him part of the story. Give him some actions scenes and something to recite other than exposition, please!
Jamie Hector on Prime Video’s ‘Bosch.’ Credit: Hopper Stone. Copyright: Amazon Studios.
Hardcore ‘Bosch’ fans will be over-the-moon to know that Jamie Hector returns as Detective Jerry Edgar, but again, don’t get too excited. His appearances are nothing more than cameos, and a way of bridging the gap between the two series and making ‘Ballard’ feel more like it is part of the ‘Bosch’ world. But again, these attempts feel hollow and not only don’t work to connect it to the overall ‘Bosch’ universe but keeps it from standing apart as its own distinct series.
It’s also particularly disappointing as ‘Bosch’ fans were really hoping for J. Edgar to reunite with Harry on screen before the end of ‘Legacy’, which didn’t happen. So, seeing him here seems like another wasted moment. Speaking of wasted moments, Stephen Chang who was a series regular on ‘Legacy’ for three seasons as Mo Bassi returns for one scene where he has no dialogue and only walks out of a house. I appreciate the continuity, but why make Chang return for that?
Several other recognizable faces from the two previous series return, including Troy Evans as Barrel and Mimi Rogers as Honey “Money” Chandler. Just like Welliver and Hector’s returns, they don’t amount to much other than connecting ‘Ballard’ to the greater ‘Bosch’ universe. But since the show goes so far out of its way to establish that this show is not ‘Bosch’, it confuses me as to why they even bothered with the cameos. In all other ways, style, substance, tone, music, there are no connections to the previous shows, so these cameo appearances feel a bit off. But if you are going to bring back these excellent actors in the future, please give them more to do.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Maggie Q (Renée Ballard) and Courtney Taylor (Zamira Parker) in ‘Ballard’. Photo: Adam Rose/Prime Video.
While ‘Ballard’ is a fine cop show, it just can’t hold a candle to the previous two ‘Bosch’ series, which is probably an unfair comparison. But since ‘Ballard’ tries so hard to both be part of the ‘Bosch’ universe and something completely new, it fails on both counts. Maggie Q lacks the gravitas required for the role and the series fails to create any real urgency to watch. In the end, ‘Ballard’ is just another cop show and does not live up to the legacy of ‘Bosch’.
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What is the plot of ‘Ballard’?
Ballard continues to bring Michael Connelly’s bestselling novels to life, following Detective Renée Ballard (Maggie Q) as she leads the LAPD’s new and underfunded cold case division, tackling the city’s most challenging long-forgotten crimes with empathy and relentless determination. As she peels back layers of crimes spanning decades, including a serial killer’s string of murders and a murdered John Doe, she soon uncovers a dangerous conspiracy within the LAPD. With the help of her volunteer team and retired detective Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver), Detective Ballard navigates personal trauma, professional challenges, and life-threatening dangers to expose the truth.
Currently available to stream on Prime Video is the third and final season of ‘Bosch: Legacy’, which is based on characters created by author Michael Connelly and is a continuation/spinoff of the groundbreaking seven season series, ‘Bosch’.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with actor Titus Welliver about his work on ‘Bosch: Legacy’ season 3, the decision to end the series, playing the character for the final time, if he is happy with how Harry’s story ends, if he will reprise his role on the upcoming spinoff ‘Ballard’ starring Maggie Q, and bringing back fan favorite characters like Paul Calderón’s Jimmy Robertson.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
Moviefone: To begin with, as a hardcore fan, I’m heartbroken by the ending of ‘Bosch: Legacy’. Can you talk about the decision to end the series now, and what was it like for you to play this character for a final time?
Titus Welliver: Well, here’s the thing. I did not know that. Nobody knew that. We were already talking about what we were going to be doing in season 4. So, as Harry would say, “That’s above my pay grade”. I don’t know all the different machinations or reasons. Am I saddened by that? Deeply. You know, I love the people that I work with. I have formed a very close, deep bond with the character, even though he’s a fictional character. There’s a part of that that penetrates you to a certain degree when you do that. When you breathe life into a character, they become some sort of odd manifestation. So, I miss Harry. I really missed him. I know if I could get on the phone and call him, I would. I really do miss the character. I miss working with this group of people and the joy that it’s brought me for a decade was such a tremendous privilege.
MF: Without giving away any spoilers, can you talk about crafting Harry’s final moment on screen? How involved were you with that, and are you satisfied with how Harry’s story ends?
TW: No, because we were not aware at that point when we shot that. There’s no closure at all. That’s not atypical for ‘Bosch’. We would leave things kind of hanging. But as far as when you see the final scene, it’s not a ride off into the sunset. It’s not a so long. It feels like the end of a season, but it doesn’t feel like the end. As Harry would say, “Closure is a myth”. There is no closure. What it does do is it introduces the character of Renee Ballard, who’s played brilliantly by Maggie Q. She fully embodies the character, and it was such a tremendous pleasure working with her. We got to do some solid work together and laughed our asses off. She’s very deeply funny, and very gracious and generous as an actor. That relationship is introduced, and I think very well realized. So, in that regard and that they are doing this ‘Ballard’ show, I think it tees it up well for that, but it will not feel like this is teeing up for a spinoff. The only finality is that it’s the 10th episode, but there is no closure.
MF: So, here is the million-dollar question: With the ‘Ballard’ series in the works, is it possible that we could see you return as Harry Bosch on that series at some point?
TW: You never know. Hollywood is a strange and aerial place, right? There’s talk. Since this season has come out and it’s the final season clearly even on the poster and all the ads and everything. I have people coming up to me on the streets very vexed and not happy about it at all. But they’re also really enjoying this this season, which always makes me feel good because that’s what it is for. It is meant to entertain and to give our audiences that which they have invested so much time in, not only the viewers of the show, but the readers of the books. They get that it’s a kind of mutual gratification there. But the temperature in the public over the years has been very warm, and there’s a kind of personal connection that people feel with this character, which I find interesting. They feel a connection and a kind of ownership of the shows. I was just in in New York, and I had this one guy who was a New York cop say to me, “This is our show. We’ll let you know when we’re tired of watching it. So go back to these guys and tell them we’re not ready to go. We’ll let you know.” I was very moved by it, but it was also great because it was coming from a cop, and it had a genuine emotional tone to what he was saying. He wasn’t doing it with a smile. He was kind of emphatic in a way, which I was touched by.
MF: Finally, can you talk about how this season ties up loose ends from not only ‘Legacy’ but the original series as well, and having the opportunity to bring back fan favorite characters like, for example, Paul Calderón’s Jimmy Robertson?
TW: Paul Calderón and I have known each other for 30 years. Prior to even knowing him, I was always very aware of Paul. You know, we both come from New York. We’re New York theater guys and then we worked together a million years ago on a show called uh, ‘New York Undercover’. So we go that far back. His realization of the Jimmy Robertson character is an absolute chef’s kiss of work. First, you get an actor who brings a level of gravitas and we’ve been blessed over the years to have actors on the show that have a certain caliber. Obviously, any opportunity to see Crate (Gregory Scott Cummins) and Barrel (Troy Evans) again always brings a smile. I love those guys so dearly. I never had to really act with those guys. First, Troy Evans and I have known each other also for probably about 30 years and he and I are extremely close. Playing any element of humor or buoyancy with them, the hardest part of my job doing scenes with Troy and Greg was not losing it and cracking up because that was the banter that existed in between takes. We were all crying laughing. But to bring back Jimmy Robertson and then to circle back and that relationship between he and Bosch, their contemporaries, they are from the old school, and their relationship in the past has been contentious. He’s investigated Bosh once before and now he’s thrust into this. So, there’s mutual respect that exists there, but he saves Bosch’s life, and we see the beginning gestation of a different kind of relationship between those two characters. But Bosch maintains his silence about certain elements of things. Robertson respects that, but they move past that and the fact that Harry says, “Let’s do this again sooner than later”. So, as an audience remember, you go, “Oh, that’s cool. These guys, it’s not a love fest, but it’s a genuine relationship”. But we never get to see it realized and then his character is so suddenly taken out and that infuriates Bosch. So, then you see Bosch ignited into this parallel investigation, which leads and connects other threads. All cases are personal with Bosch, but I think in this season, when he’s hired to find this family that’s disappeared, any detective will tell you that all cases that they work, and I’m speaking particularly about murder cops, takes a piece of them. We see that with Harry and him looking into the abyss, but they will all say unanimously, the cases that haunt them are cases that involve children. So, Harry investigates the darkness probably deeper than he’s ever looked, maybe except for the times where he confronted the killer of his mother, and when he confronts Dockweiler, who kidnapped Maddie. We see an element of that with this. It penetrates him in a way. I think the audience will really worry and or question if this is something that will push Harry into a place of compromising his moral compass, which we know to be flawless, right? “Everybody counts or nobody counts”. But this one is very specific, and we see him unravel a bit.
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What is the plot of ‘Bosch: Legacy’ Season 3?
Season Three of ‘Bosch: Legacy’ is based on Michael Connelly’s best-selling novels ‘Desert Star’ (2022) and ‘The Black Ice’ (1993). The murder investigation of Kurt Dockweiler (David Denman) brings dangerous secrets to light and threatens to ruin the lives of our three principal characters. The disappearance of a family haunts Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) and forces him to confront the limits of justice. In a hotly contested race, Honey “Money” Chandler (Mimi Rogers) is poised to become the next District Attorney of Los Angeles, and Maddie Bosch (Madison Lintz) gets entangled in a series of violent follow-home robberies.
Premiering March 27th on Prime Video is the third and final season of ‘Bosch: Legacy’, which is based on characters created by author Michael Connelly and is a continuation/spinoff of the groundbreaking seven season series, ‘Bosch’.
As a hardcore fan of both ‘Bosch’ and ‘Bosch Legacy’, it is bittersweet to think that season 3 of ‘Legacy’ will be the end of Harry Bosch’s story and the last time we’ll get to see Titus Welliver (pound for pound the best actor working on TV today) in his signature role … at least for now (more on that later).
The third and final season of ‘Bosch Legacy’ picks up with a four-episode arc (which is all that we were allowed to see for this review), that completes the cliffhanger that season 2 ended with, as well as tying up loose ends from both this series and the original ‘Bosch’.
The first four episodes will lead the audience to begin to question everything they know about Harry Bosch, concluding in a redemption of sorts for the character. It also introduces another mystery, that presumably, will be the main plot in the remaining episodes.
Welliver once again gives a powerful performance as Harry Bosch, and brings the character full circle while dealing with the demons of his past. Madison Lintz, who we’ve practically watched grow up on screen as Maddie Bosch, continues to stretch the character in new directions and her relationship with her father is still the heart of the series. While Mimi Rogers’ Honey “Money” Chandler, runs for District Attorney, and fends off a threat of her own, with Bosch’s assistance.
There are two different stories that run through the first four episodes of ‘Bosch: Legacy’ season 3. The main story involves an investigation into the death of Kurt Dockweiler (David Denman), the man who kidnapped Maddie (Lintz) at the end of ‘Legacy’ season 1. It is revealed at the end of season 2, that convicted criminal Preston Borders (Chris Browning) may have been involved, and that Harry (Welliver) may be involved too. With the current District Attorney, who is running for reelection against Honey Chandler (Rogers), eager to pin Dockweiler’s death on her friend Harry, Detective Jimmy Robertson (Calderón) and his new young partner (Miles Gaston Villanueva), are assigned to the case and begin investigating Harry.
Meanwhile, Chandler gets a threatening visit from former Detective Francis Sheehan (McShane), and asks Bosch for protection. The secondary story, involves a new case Harry is working on involving a missing family. Along with his client – Orla Brady (Siobhan Murphy), and his associate Mo Bassi (Stephen Chang), Bosch begins to unravel the conspiracy behind their disappearance, while at the same time trying to defend himself and protect Maddie from Robertson’s investigation.
At this point, ‘Bosch: Legacy’, and the entire franchise, is like a well-oiled machine. That’s not a criticism, but rather a fact. The tone, style, dialogue, locations, and music all fall into place perfectly and feels like an old familiar friend from the first frame of the new season. While season 3 does not start off with the same urgency that the previous season did, with the search for a missing Maddie, it is just as captivating watching past characters like Robertson and Sheehan return, and Harry have to defend his actions throughout his career.
Harry Bosch has always walked a fine line between the law and justice, but has never crossed over it. ‘Legacy’ season 3 explores that notion and allows the audience to really question the character in a way we never have before. More importantly, it allows the character of Maddie to wonder if she really knows what her father is capable of and question his tactics for herself. But this threatens her relationship with Harry, as well as her own career, and is fertile dramatic ground to explore.
Make no mistakes, ‘Bosch’ and ‘Bosch: Legacy’ have always been Titus Welliver’s shows, and a brilliant showcase for the veteran actor. Welliver fits the character of Harry Bosch like a glove, and I believe is now synonymous with the role created by Connelly in his popular novels.
In my opinion, this is Welliver’s signature role, and the part he will be remembered for. I also believe that he has continually been the best actor on TV for over a decade now and it is an absolute travesty that this man has not at least been nominated once for an Emmy for playing this role. Shame on you Emmy voters!
Welliver’s performance in the first four episodes is so reserved and layered, that if that isn’t an example of great acting, then I don’t know what is. And while he is certainly comfortable in the role after all these years, season to season, he is always growing the character in new and unusual ways, and never hesitates to take a risk or explore the different aspects of Harry’s complex personality.
The heart of the series is still Harry’s relationship with Maddie, who we first met as a teenager and is now a member of the Los Angeles police department, just like her dad. Madison Lintz continues to shine as Maddie Bosch, and watching her relationship grow with her father over the course of the franchise, has been one of the highlights of the series. However, that relationship is truly tested this season, and Lintz is terrific navigating those emotions as Maddie questions her father’s legacy for herself.
Mimi Rogers is given a lot to explore this season with Honey Chandler’s run for office, which I assume will carry through most of the season and resolve in the finale. Chandler was first introduced as an adversary to Harry, but part of the fun of the series has been watching them become close friends. She’s like a surrogate mother to Maddie now, and one of Harry’s closest allies. Rogers has been excellent in the role from day one, but she is given more to do this season, including introducing Chandler’s own daughter into the mix.
As a fan, its great seeing Paul Calderón and Jamie McShane return as Detective Jimmy Robertson, and former Detective Francis Sheehan, respectively. It’s kind of like a high school reunion or seeing old friends. But with this being the end of the Harry’s story, at least for now, I hope that the finale includes a few more familiar faces from the franchise like Grace Billets (Amy Aquino), and of course, Jamie Hector as Jerry Edgar. Dear Producers: You can’t end the series without J. Edgar!!!
Which brings us to the big question: Is this really the last we’ll see of Harry Bosch? Maybe, and maybe not. Season 3 of ‘Bosch: Legacy’ also promises to introduce a new character, Detective Renée Ballard played by Maggie Q (‘Live Free or Die Hard’). She is a cold case investigator, and while the character does not appear in the first four episodes provided for review, she does appear in a scene with Harry that was included in a preview of the remainder of the season. Presumably, she and Harry will team up together before the season’s end.
Prime Video is also developing a spinoff for Q and the Ballard character, so the “Bosch Legacy” really will live on, but it is unclear if Harry himself will appear on the proposed new series. In fact, it was recently announced that Titus Welliver has signed on for a potential spinoff of CBS’ ‘The Equalizer’, which could indicate that he is not planning to return to the character anytime soon, but never say never.
While it is sad to think that we will never see Titus Welliver play Harry Bosch again, fans still have the new season to enjoy and will not be disappointed. After eleven years of playing the character on TV (if you count both series), Welliver’s performance is just as powerful and complex as ever, and the final season is a fitting send off to one of the best TV cops of all time.
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What is the plot of ‘Bosch: Legacy’ Season 3?
Season Three of ‘Bosch: Legacy’ is based on Michael Connelly’s best-selling novels ‘Desert Star’ (2022) and ‘The Black Ice’ (1993). The murder investigation of Kurt Dockweiler (David Denman) brings dangerous secrets to light and threatens to ruin the lives of our three principal characters. The disappearance of a family haunts Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) and forces him to confront the limits of justice. In a hotly contested race, Honey “Money” Chandler (Mimi Rogers) is poised to become the next District Attorney of Los Angeles, and Maddie Bosch (Madison Lintz) gets entangled in a series of violent follow-home robberies.
Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch on ‘Bosch: Legacy’ season 2. Credit: Tyler Golden/Amazon Freevee. Copyright: Amazon Freevee.
Preview:
Prime Video and Freevee have announced that ‘Bosch: Legacy’ is to end.
Titus Welliver stars in the show as former LAPD detective Harry Bosch.
The series’ final season will be on screens next year.
We recently learned that Prime Video has decided to wrap its Freevee ads-based service in with its main offerings (especially now that all of Prime Video carries commercials unless viewers pay an extra fee).
With that, we’re also now getting word that one of Freevee’s biggest shows is coming to an end.
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‘Bosch: Legacy,’ which continued the story of novelist Michael Connelly’s veteran LAPD detective Harry Bosch –– brought to life with winning grumpy power by Titus Welliver across seven seasons of original Prime Video series ‘Bosch,’ launched in 2022.
Its third season, due in March next year, will be its last.
What’s the story of ‘Bosch: Legacy’?
(L to R) Officer Reina Vasquez (Denise G. Sanchez) and Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) in season 2 of ‘Bosch: Legacy.’ Photo Credit: Warrick Page.
‘Bosch: Legacy’ follows Bosch, the retired homicide detective-turned-private investigator, as he embarks on the next chapter of his career; attorney Honey “Money” Chandler (Mimi Rogers), who struggles to maintain her faith in the justice system after surviving a murder attempt; and Maddie Bosch (Madison Lintz), as she discovers the possibilities and challenges of being a rookie patrol cop on the streets of Los Angeles.
‘Bosch: Legacy’ Ends: The Producer and Studio Talk
Author and ‘Bosch: Legacy’ Season 2 executive producer Michael Connelly.
Here’s executive producer Connelly’s statement on the show:
“I am so proud of what we have accomplished with this show. Ten years ago I asked Titus Welliver if he could stick with Harry Bosch for five seasons, and he said he could do it forever. Well, five became 10, and the character, thanks to Titus, will live forever in the hearts of viewers and in the streaming world as the detective who knows that everybody counts, or nobody counts. The good news here is that we have not seen the last of Harry Bosch. As in the books, Bosch is part of the Renée Ballard world, and I can’t wait for the next chapter to open.”
And this is what Vernon Sanders, Head of Television at Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement:
“For 10 years, Bosch and Bosch: Legacy have been two of our most defining series for Prime Video, Freevee and Amazon MGM Studios. They are a testament to the enduring power of the storytelling universe that Michael Connelly built for the fans. We are proud of the impact these series have made, and we are excited that Michael, Titus, Henrik and the creative team have more engaging stories to tell in the Bosch world with the final season of Bosch: Legacy, our new Ballard series and more to come.”
Is this really the end of ‘Bosch’ on TV?
Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch in ‘Bosch: Legacy.’ Photo: Tyler Golden. Copyright: Amazon Freevee.
Of course not! As Connelly alludes, the next iteration, which will follow the character of Renée Ballard (played by Maggie Q), is due in 2025.
The untitled series follows Detective Ballard, who is tasked with running the LAPD’s new cold-case unit — a poorly funded, all-volunteer unit with the largest case load in the city. Ballard approaches these frozen-in-time cases with empathy and determination. When she uncovers a larger conspiracy during her investigations, she’ll lean on the assistance of her retired ally, Harry Bosch (Welliver), to navigate the dangers that threaten both her unit and her life.
‘Bosch: Legacy’ season 2 premieres October 20th on Freevee.
List of Movies and TV Shows Based on Michael Connelly Novels:
Maggie Q as Tess in the action/thriller, ‘Fear the Night,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Preview:
Another ‘Bosch’ series is in development at Prime Video.
Maggie Q will star as the character of Renée Ballard.
Titus Welliver is likely to show up as Harry Bosch.
The “Bosch-iverse” based on author Michael Connelly’s grumpy LAPD (and now retired) detective character has proven to be quite the fertile franchise ground for Amazon’s Prime Video.
We had seven seasons of the main ‘Bosch’ show adapted from the books and starring Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch between 2014 and 2021. He’s a man unafraid of digging into Los Angeles’ darkest corners to figure out cryptic violent crimes, partially driven by the ghosts of his past, including the unsolved murder of his mother.
That was followed by the ongoing series ‘Bosch: Legacy’ on ad-supported sibling channel Freevee, which sees a retired Harry working as a private eye and allied with his one-time enemy Honey Chandler (Mimi Rogers).
(L to R) Mimi Rogers as Honey “Money” Chandler and Titus Welliver as Harry Bosch on ‘Bosch: Legacy’ season 2. Credit: Tyler Golden/Amazon Freevee. Copyright: Amazon Freevee.
Looking to keep the ‘Bosch’ party going (and this time back on the main Prime Video service), the company has now commissioned a second spin-off, this time one not featuring Harry Bosch.
Instead, Maggie Q will star in an untitled new show about Detective Renée Ballard, a character from another series of Connelly’s books, albeit one where Bosch pops up from time to time.
It’s personal for Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) as season 2 of ‘Bosch: Legacy’ kicks off with a two episode premiere this fall on Amazon Freevee. Photo Credit: Tyler Golden.
The new series follows Ballard, who is tasked with running the LAPD’s new cold case division — a poorly funded, all-volunteer unit with the largest case load in the city. Ballard approaches these frozen-in-time cases with empathy and determination. When she uncovers a larger conspiracy during her investigations, she’ll lean on the assistance of her retired ally, Harry Bosch (Welliver), to navigate the dangers that threaten both her unit and her life.
This new show will be based on the Ballard books, of which there are six. The character was introduced in 2017 tome ‘The Late Show’, named after the night shift, called “the late show,” that she works. It was followed by ‘Dark Sacred Night’ in 2018, ‘The Night Fire’ in 2019, ‘The Dark Hours’ in 2021 and ‘Desert Star’ in 2022. The sixth book, ‘The Waiting’, is scheduled for release on November 5th.
Who is making the new ‘Bosch’ spin-off?
Author and ‘Bosch: Legacy’ Season 2 executive producer Michael Connelly.
Michael Alaimo and Kendall Sherwood will run the new show, which is now in pre-production, while Connelly is as usual involved as a writer and producer.
Now, if only Amazon and Netflix could work out a deal, so we can have the TV version of Connelly’s other big character, ‘The Lincoln Lawyer‘ (with Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller) crossover with the Bosch-iverse…
When will the new ‘Bosch’ spin-off be on screens?
With the show at a relatively early stage, there is no official release date on the books just yet. ‘Bosch’ fans will for now have to content themselves with the third season of ‘Bosch: Legacy’, which is filming and could well be out later this year.
Maggie Q as Tess in the action/thriller, ‘Fear the Night,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
(L to R) Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, Zoe Colletti and Van Crosby in ‘The Family Plan,’ premiering December 15, 2023 on Apple TV+.
In his career, Mark Wahlberg has brought us plenty of family comedy and has also been part of some high-adrenaline action movies.
But he’s rarely had the chance to combine them. That changes now as he’s the star of Apple and Skydance’s ‘The Family Plan’, which sees him as a man who has to protect his family when his past comes back to haunt him.
In ‘The Family Plan’, Wahlberg plays Dan Morgan, who loves his quiet suburban life as a devoted husband, father of three and successful car salesman. But that’s only half the story.
Decades earlier, he was an elite government assassin tasked with eliminating the world’s deadliest threats. When enemies from his past track him down, Dan packs his unsuspecting wife Jessica (Michelle Monaghan), angsty teen daughter, pro-gamer teen son and adorable 10-month-old baby into their minivan and takes off on an impromptu cross-country road trip to Las Vegas.
Determined to protect his family — while treating them to the vacation of a lifetime — Dan must put his long-dormant skills into action, without revealing his true identity.
Directed by Simon Cellan Jones, who has worked on TV shows such as ‘See’, ‘Ballers’ and Netflix’s ‘The Diplomat’, ‘The Family Plan’ takes aim at being a fun watch for the family.
Moviefone recently attended a virtual press conference for ‘The Family Plan.’ Taking part were stars Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, Zoe Margaret Colletti and Van Crosby and director Simon Cellan Jones.
Here are 10 things we learned from the press conference, edited for clarity and length.
1) Michelle Monaghan and Mark Wahlberg appreciated different things about their characters
(L to R) Michelle Monaghan and Mark Wahlberg in ‘The Family Plan,’ premiering December 15, 2023 on Apple TV+.
The pair both found something to like about the people they were playing on screen, with Wahlberg as family man/former assassin Dan Morgan and Monaghan as wife Jessica.
Michelle Monaghan: I like how spontaneous [Jessica] is. Yeah, I think she’s a really spontaneous character. She is up for anything, and she really wants more of that in her life. And so that was fun. I got to do a lot of stunts and things related to that and I loved that. I loved the roller coaster, loved the all the stunts. That was all really, really fun for me.
Wahlberg, however ,was focused more on the side that Dan, his character, shows to the family, rather than his former life. It’s something he gets to do in real life when he swaps being a movie star for being a dad.
Mark Wahlberg: What I liked was that he was embracing being boring. I could relate to that. I’ve adopted that attitude quite some time ago. I get to be fun and exciting during my job, but other than that, I’m just boring dad.
2) Mark Wahlberg Really Enjoyed Working with Director Simon Cellan Jones
Mark Wahlberg in ‘The Family Plan,’ premiering December 15, 2023 on Apple TV+.
Wahlberg and his ‘The Family Plan’ director Jones clearly got on like a house on fire. They clicked so well, in fact, that Wahlberg has gone on to work with Jones on a new movie, ‘Arthur the King’.
MW: I’ve worked with him now two films, five seasons of a television show and I just learned how to pronounce his name! He’s like a brother. I mean, we bonded so quickly. Such fun, energetic, super talented, always prepared but game for anything. Willing to try anything. Very patient. This took me back to the days where movie-making wasn’t so labor-intensive and taxing. It was a joyful experience, it really was. And I accredit Simon and Michelle especially for that.
3) Doing a Keg Stand Was Michelle Monaghan’s Favorite Part of Making the Movie
Michelle Monaghan in ‘The Family Plan,’ premiering December 15, 2023 on Apple TV+.
Even given the stunt training she went through, or time with the movie’s family, Monaghan admits that a sequence where she heads to a college and ends up doing a keg stand was her most memorable moment.
MM: That keg stand was really fun. I loved to see that in the script. I’d grown up in the Midwest and I was very familiar with keg stands for better or for worse. So that was really funny, a little blast from the past. And I guess learning the little pole vault stunt and doing some of those scenes were really fun as well.
4) Simon Cellan Jones was a little daunted by the scale of the film, but ended up loving it
Mark Wahlberg in ‘The Family Plan,’ premiering December 15, 2023 on Apple TV+.
While director Simon Cellan Jones has made movies before (including 2000’s ‘Some Voices’ and 2002’s ‘The One and Only’), he’s largely spent the last few years making TV, such as ‘See’, ‘Ballers’ and ‘The Diplomat’. And ‘The Family Plan’ is by some measure the biggest movie he’s tackled so far.
Simon Cellan Jones: Working on a big film like this, for the first week, I was terrified. And then I went, “wait a minute, this is really fun. It’s really exciting.” I was working with fantastic people, actors and crew. We had enough money to do some ambitious stuff. Believe me, I don’t want to go back. I love it like this!
5) Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan related to the road trip scenes
(L to R) Michelle Monaghan and Mark Wahlberg in ‘The Family Plan,’ premiering December 15, 2023 on Apple TV+.
As Wahlberg’s Dan takes the family on what they think is an impromptu vacation, he realizes that those threatening them might track their phones. So he collects everyone’s devices and throws them off a bridge, much to their shock.
For Monaghan she felt seen as a mother who is occasionally frustrated with her kids’ phone use.
MM: For me, one of my favorite scenes is the scene were we’re in the road trip and Mark takes all the devices and throws them out the window. That is so relatable to my family. That is wish fulfillment! That is exactly right! The way that it is edited with everyone’s reaction, is just was such a great edit. But that is definitely something that I relate to so very much. In the car we think that we’re going to connect, and then everybody’s got their own headphones on and everybody’s doing their own thing and it makes me crazy.
Wahlberg also saw the reality of the situation.
MW: The only real power you have over your children still might be to be able to threaten them, to cut them off from what they think is the most important way to communicate even though it’s so impersonal. But yeah, that was a very fun moment.
6) Mark Wahlberg was happy to get the chance to film in Las Vegas
Mark Wahlberg in ‘The Family Plan,’ premiering December 15, 2023 on Apple TV+.
While the majority of the movie was shot in Atlanta, Las Vegas did serve as a location for the big finale of the film –– and some scenes were filmed there.
MW: It meant a lot. Being a new resident, I think I was excited to really be able to showcase Vegas in a way that I thought would, again just make it more appealing because obviously people know Vegas for the Strip, but there’s a lot more to it than that and it is very family oriented in, as far as its entertainment and appeal. And I moved there for my kids. So, I was very, very excited to not only shoot the film there but also premiere the film there and hopefully be able to build a studio and make films there.
7) Working with Babies is as Tough as You Might Imagine
(L to R) Van Crosby, Iliana Norris, Michelle Monaghan and Zoe Colletti in ‘The Family Plan,’ premiering December 15, 2023 on Apple TV+.
The old adage reads “never work with children or animals”, but ‘The Family Plan’s team needed a baby for the Morgan dynamic to work. Twins Vienna and Iliana Norris played Max, the youngest Morgan. Who certainly gets to take part in some big scenes…
Zoe Margaret Colletti, for one, was very happy to spend time with them.
Zoe Margaret Colletti: They’re my favorite costars. I love them. Their names are Ilena and Vienna, and they’re the cutest little sweetest girls. They are playing a boy, but they are two little girls and they’re precious.
Acting alongside them was one thing. But directing them and making sure all was safe during big action moments? That was quite another for director Simon Cellan Jones.
SCJ: They worked out in the end, but I’m going to level with you. We had a big, big fight in a supermarket, which, so far, so normal. But there’s one kicker on it. There’s a baby strapped into a baby Bjorn. And we had two twins playing the baby Max who were both fantastic, but this was their first big heavy day. And of course one of them is strapped to Mark Wahlberg and he’s lovely with kids, so he looks after them very well, but he’s fighting and he’s moving around and he’s doing all that stuff. And the babies were going, “Wait a minute, wait a minute. This is not in our contract!” So we had to be very, very patient that day. It worked out. But there were a couple of times when I was going, “Oh my God, my career is over.”
8) The Biggest Lesson Mark Wahlberg Took Away from the Movie Was About Family
(L to R) Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan in ‘The Family Plan,’ premiering December 15, 2023 on Apple TV+.
MW: We have to embrace [change] too though, to allow that to happen and embrace the evolution and the growth. Sometimes we find ourselves wanting our kids to stay small and little forever and we know that is impossible. It’s inevitable that they’ll grow and change. You want to be able to embrace that you’re giving life, you’re not having somebody that’s going to be your little pet forever. So you want to be able to hopefully just guide them and protect them and teach them and point them in the right direction and most importantly be a good example. But yes, it’s hard to see them grow and change and go off to college. My daughter now is at college, but at the same time I’m looking forward for my wife and I to have more time together to do things on our own and not have to lock the door!
9) Mark Wahlberg Watched an Early version of the Movie With His Kids
(L to R) Mark Wahlberg and Iliana Norris in ‘The Family Plan,’ premiering December 15, 2023 on Apple TV+.
As one of the producers of the movie as well as being the star, Wahlberg had access to the film at an early stage of the post-production phase. And he found a handy test audience to help judge if it was working.
MW: I think watching it the first time at a very, very early stage of the edit with my entire family was a lot of fun because it wasn’t a thing where I invited everybody to come and sit and watch the movie. I was just sitting at home in my living room in Vegas watching it and everybody just kind of started to gather around and watch and started to really enjoy it. And it wasn’t until Michelle flipped the toothbrush out of her mouth in the movie that everybody looked at me like, whoa, ‘you didn’t tell us about this part!’
10) A Joke About The Name “Van” Was in the Script Before Van Crosby was Cast
(L to R) Zoe Colletti, Iliana Norris, Michelle Monaghan and Van Crosby in ‘The Family Plan,’ premiering December 15, 2023 on Apple TV+.
As Dan puts his plans in place to try and have his family disappear under new identities to avoid his old associates, he gets them new passports. Kyle Morgan discovers he has the name “Van”, which leads sister Nina to crack, “you’re named after a vehicle!” It sounds like an in-joke about Van Crosby, who plays Kyle, but it predates him.
Van Crosby: That was in the original script. When I got the script for the audition, that was already in there, so that was completely by chance. That was not written in at all, so I was just as surprised too. I was like, “What? That’s my name.” Yeah. So yeah, that was already there.
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What is the Plot of ‘The Family Plan’?
Dan Morgan (Mark Wahlberg) is a seemingly normal family man, but was once the deadliest assassin in the world. When his past finally catches up with him, Dan takes his family on a “road trip” to Las Vegas so he can confront the man who wants him dead—all while trying to keep his old life a secret from his wife and children.
In “Fear the Night,’ eight women attend a bachelorette party at a remote farmhouse in the California hills. They are interrupted by the arrival of masked intruders who surround the place and begin shooting arrows at the home and the guests. One partygoer—Tess (Maggie Q), a military veteran who is fighting her addictions and her difficulty at fitting in with other people—leads the women in making a stand against the attackers as they fight back in an effort to save themselves over the course of a single dark night.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Maggie Q about her work on ‘Fear the Night,’ her first reaction to the screenplay, her strong character, the action sequences, and working with director Neil LaBute.
Maggie Q as Tess in the action/thriller, ‘Fear the Night,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to Neil LaBute’s action-driven and character-driven screenplay?
Maggie Q: I liked this character. I liked her issues. I liked her struggle with her issues. I liked that she was someone who was really trying. She was really trying to not be who she is. I love that she recovered from addiction and was trying to find the light. Then this huge tragedy happens, and it turns everything around for her, right? It really just turns her life completely upside down. She has to come to terms with the person she loves least in the world and make that work. I love sibling dynamics. The sister dynamic was really important to me, to get that right. So I really wanted in the end for you to see an arc that was real, where she actually was able to turn it around and forge that relationship. Because originally, that character died early in the movie, her sister. I just thought, and I said to Neil, I said, “My instinct is screaming at me to keep her alive because she needs that catalyst. She needs the person who pushes her buttons for her to make that change and come to terms with what she needs to do to be different.”
MF: What was it like for you collaborating with filmmaker Neil LaBute?
MQ: He’s extremely collaborative. I have to say he’s probably the most collaborative director I’ve ever worked with. I think maybe coming from theater, he just is used to things being very fluid and actors having all these ideas and making it better. So, he really doesn’t have an ego in that way, which is very un-Hollywood. I love that about Neil, and it’s a testament to his theater background and having roots in that, and really listening to actors and understanding what it is that’s going to make it work for them. So he was super open. In the beginning, before I even took the movie, I really felt like I kind of put him through the ringer with my notes on the script, as far as what I thought needed to happen to make it work. But because he was so willing to do that, I mean, that’s ultimately why I took the project.
Director Neil LaBute of the action/thriller, “Fear the Night,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Aaron Eckhart.
MF: As an actor, what’s it like working on a Neil LaBute set?
MQ: There wasn’t a ton of resources to make this movie, so we had to make changes that maybe we wouldn’t have wanted to change and because that changed, then we had to change something else. When you have all the money in the world to make a movie, that rarely happens. I just got off a movie where we had this enormous budget. It was like, everything about that was planned and happened the way it was planned. So you can have that luxury when you have a big budget and it’s scheduled a certain way. But when you’re making an indie and you’re sort of in this smaller thing, you’re restricted in certain ways, but there’s also some really creative things that can come out of that, too. So because of that restriction, those things are born.
MF: Can you talk about how with her military background Tess is uniquely qualified for the situation she finds herself in?
MQ: First of all, thank god she was a recovered addict at the time when this happened. So she has her wits about her and understands that she is the only person who’s getting these people out of this situation. I think because of her addiction issue, everybody sort of wrote her off because people like to do that. They like to take one element of a person, even though we’re all 100 things, and say, “Well, she’s a screw-up because she drank too much and had to go to rehab,” or whatever it was. Yet, I think what happened was they ignored the fact that she was this incredibly skilled person who had served and been through trauma. That’s probably why the addiction ended up happening. But she got out of that, and I think they only saw her as that, as Beth’s screw-up sister. So when she kicked it into gear and was like, “I’m going to use my unique skills to get us out of this,” I think everybody’s kind of in disbelief because they just wrote her off as an addict.
Maggie Q as Tess in the action/thriller, ‘Fear the Night,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
MF: Finally, you are no stranger to action sequences, were you involved in the choreography for the fight scenes in ‘Fear the Night?’
MQ: Always. One of the things that I just remembered was that in the beginning, the script, we had gunplay, we had fights, we had all of that, and I got rid of all of that. I didn’t want any issued weapons. I wanted the women and her to have to be creative and get themselves out of this situation. So I wanted to make sure she didn’t find her father’s weapons. I wanted to make sure that at every turn, they were screwed. So creatively, they had to really figure out what it was to get them out of this. So, whether that be a sneak attack on someone who’s outside, where you have that one opportunity because after that they know you’ve gotten out and they know you’ve hurt one of their guys, so you’re screwed. You got to get back in and you have to have a plan. So all of those things were born out of me saying, “Neil, let’s get rid of guns.” He was like, “Okay.” I said, “None. There’s no guns in this movie. It’s violent and there’s action, but they’re just trying to survive, and let’s figure it out.” He was like, “I love that.” So, he was super collaborative and he really listened.
Maggie Q as Tess in the action/thriller, ‘Fear the Night,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
This interview was accomplished prior to the start of the SAG-AFTRA strike.
