Benched will have its world premiere at the Nashville Film Festival next month. It will be screened in the Special Presentations category on May 13. If you’re in the vicinity, you can get tickets here.
Benched (World Premiere) – Based on the hit play “Rounding Third”, BENCHED is the tumultuous journey of two Little League coaches through an entire season, from their first tentative meeting to the climactic championship game. Cast: Garret Dillahunt, John C. McGinley, Directors: Robert Deaton, George Flanigen, Producers: Lindsey Clark, Brandon Gregory, Fred Roos (USA)
There is a new episode of Fear the Walking Dead tonight at 9 on AMC. Several new interviews with Garret showed up online this week. You can check them out at the links below.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You were a big Walking Dead fan. We spoke right as you were just starting, but you’re now quite a bit into filming. What has the experience been like being on the show?
GARRET DILLAHUNT: I knew I was gonna like it. I liked this character. I had already kind of liked the world, and I wanted to play in it. But I confess, I like it so much more than I expected. I really hate not being on set. I really look forward to each new script as it comes out. I’m learning a lot, which is embarrassing for an older, veteran actor to say. I should always be learning, but I’m realizing that I had sort of stopped. It’s really fun to be rejuvenated that way by this show, and unexpected. — Entertainment Weekly
Your name is often thrown out when fans start putting dream casts together. Once upon a time, you were even associated with the role of Negan on the flagship Walking Dead. Was there ever any truth to that?
It’s a little blown out of proportion. I was doing this show called Hand of God on Amazon, a pretty hardcore character there, and I knew Negan was coming up. I’m a fan of the shows. I’ve watched them pretty regularly from the outset, both of them. And I remember I had tweeted or did something… you know how old people get a hold of social media and shit always goes wrong, right? (Laughs.) And I tweeted a picture of one of the Walking Dead compendiums, and I said, “Just a little light reading for the day.” And people went nuts, because they thought I was inferring that I was [playing Negan]. “Oh, that’s the compendium that Negan is involved in!” You know? I didn’t know this! “Negan shows up in that, I bet he’s gonna be Negan.” And so then I started looking at it, and I was like, “That would be cool to be Negan.” And so I did pester Scott about it enough to merit a phone call or two but I don’t think I was ever actually in the running, and I couldn’t have anyway with Hand of God. But I wanted to. And that started a relationship between me and Scott, which might have led to this character, so I’m pretty happy about it. — Hollywood Reporter
You’re playing new character John Dorey – what can you tell us about him?
I probably can’t tell you much more than you already know, but I sure loved playing him. He’s a fella who’s got some secrets. He’s done some things he’s not proud of – and that’s what’s driving him. He’s got a temper that he’s best off when he controls. He’s a fella that might be more comfortable in another time. He has an affinity for a time that’s passed – a time of six-shooters and Winchesters and people taking care of themselves. He’s happy alone, but deep down he longs for some companionship. — BT
And if you missed it on Twitter, here is a bonus segment from last week’s Talking Dead:
Disco Bat is back! #TalkingTalkingDead, the online bonus segment from #TalkingDead, had a full couch with Andrew Lincoln, @JDMorgan, Lennie James, Danay García, @garretdillahunt, @RobertKirkman, and @ScottMGimple Check out this never before seen clip now! pic.twitter.com/orEuNSGnq3
— Talking Dead (@AMCTalkingDead) April 16, 2018