‘Misplaced’ Duo Josh Holloway, J.J. Abrams Reunite on ‘Duster’

When “Misplaced” star Josh Holloway walks into the room of the imposing Resort Majestic in Cannes, his face is turned upwards in an enormous grin. It’s because he has noticed LaToya Morgan (“The Strolling Lifeless,” “Shameless”), one of many artistic minds behind his new Max present “Duster.” The opposite artistic behind the sequence is, in fact, J.J. Abrams, marking a much-awaited reunion between the 2 fellow “Misplaced” veterans. 

Having its world premiere out of competitors at Canneseries, “Duster” is a throwback to basic ’70s crime exhibits. Set within the Southwest in 1972, it follows the FBI’s first Black lady agent (“That is Us’s” Rachel Hilson) as she makes an attempt to cease a robust crime syndicate (led by veteran actor Keith David) with the assistance of an enthralling getaway driver (Holloway). 

The present is a long-time coming, initially given a straight-to-series inexperienced mild at HBO again in 2020 as a part of Abrams’s deal at WarnerMedia. A pilot was shot in 2021, then reshot in 2023, with the sequence going into manufacturing later that yr after which being halted as a result of WGA strikes. 

Talking with Selection forward of the premiere, Holloway says he’s “tremendous excited” for the sequence to be lastly out. “It was fairly a journey, life does that to you generally. J.J. known as me, then COVID occurred. We have been lastly in a position to shoot it, after which there have been a few regime modifications inside HBO, a few strikes, completely different pilots… [JJ] was like: ‘You understand what? We’re nonetheless going to do that.’”

“Our perseverance comes by within the present,” he provides. “Normally with regime modifications, they clear the slate rather a lot. I used to be proud each time we survived, as a result of it meant they knew that they had one thing good.” 

Requested about reuniting with Abrams 20 years after they first teamed up for “Misplaced,” Holloway exclaims: “Are you kidding me!? He known as me up and requested if I had a minute, and the reply is ‘sure,’ at all times ‘sure.’ No matter he’s asking.”

“It was simply so thrilling to speak to him,” he provides. “Then he advised me about LaToya, and all of the sudden I’m watching ‘Into the Badlands’ and going, ‘this lady is aware of what’s up.’ She brings this coolness to the desk, and a special perspective than J.J.. Their mixture is improbable. They’re so agile however not inflexible, it strikes the present ahead in a manner that’s delicate however poignant, the place the viewers can actually take it in and don’t even know precisely what occurred.”

Morgan recollects first assembly with Abrams after the lauded producer learn one among her scripts, saying he got here to the desk with a easy picture that might develop into the opening scene of “Duster”: a telephone rings in the midst of the desert, a muscle automobile pulls up, and Josh Holloway comes out of it to reply the decision. 

“That was intriguing as a result of I beloved Josh since first seeing him in ‘Misplaced,’” says Morgan. “We brainstormed for an hour and a half earlier than J.J. stated we should always work collectively. I at all times equate it to jazz, the place he would play a be aware, I’d play a be aware, and we simply had the identical style.”

“Duster” feels prefer it goes towards the grain of current tv tendencies in the way it doubles down on its earnest homage to the ’70s crime thriller, with zingy one-liners galore, revving rides, and cowboy boot-wearing baddies. Commenting on getting such a present greenlit, Morgan says it’s a “testomony to how a lot unique tv is required and in addition how a lot throwback exhibits at the moment are coming again in model.”

“Every part is cyclical,” she continues. “You may have one thing like ‘The Pitt’ throwing again to ‘ER,’ and our present could be very a lot a throwback to the greats like ‘Starsky and Hutch.’ I believe it’s a main instance of how every part is in a cycle.”

“After I watch TV nowadays, and a variety of occasions these are brilliantly written and extremely attention-grabbing exhibits, I’m often left with an emotional hangover,” provides Holloway. “They’re so heavy and darkish. What I really like about our present is that it captures the nostalgia of the ’70s. It’s groovy. Unhealthy issues occur, however you don’t really feel so unhealthy about it.” 

The actor says one among his favourite issues about “Duster” is how “every character brings a sort of enjoyable and levity to it,” occurring to reward his younger co-star. “Rachel’s character feels all this prejudice coming at her and simply retains going. I really like that she’s pulling me a method, and I’m pulling her the opposite. We’re each crossing traces and taking dangers. Their relationship is a twin belief. It was so nice to work along with her.”

One other good thing for Holloway was the chance to do his personal stunts as getaway driver Jim. Upon agreeing to tackle the position, the actor instantly signed up for stunt faculty and have become a licensed stunt driver. “Troy Brown, our stunt coordinator, had much more belief in me than I even did. He took me out to the monitor, let me follow, after which do these stunts. It’s such an unbelievable feeling to get to do these as a result of the automobile is a personality in itself. He’s a getaway driver, if he can’t drive, that’s not cool.”

With such a constructive expertise making the present’s first season, is the duo longing for a second spin aboard the titular experience? “Completely,” says Morgan. “We have now some plans and talked to the studio and the community about them, so hopefully of us will tune in and watch the sequence, so we’re in a position to do some extra. We would like a second season.”

“And I wish to return to stunt faculty and tighten up a bunch of stunts,” Holloway amusingly wraps up.