The actor-comedian opens up about his starring role in FX’s anthology series.
Chris Rockis just as surprised as anyone that he stars inFargoseason 4.
“When I got there he mentionedFargoand told me about the character and Im like, ‘Im in.’
FX
He didnt have a script yet.
I just kind of agreed.”
CHRIS ROCK:The only reason not to do it was personal.
I was going to be away from my family.
It’s a long commitment.
Ive been filming this since September in Chicago and Im not done.
And its freakin cold.
They film a lot of it outside.
The gray hair also helps me get into character, helps me not be Chris Rock, comedian guy.
It takes a second for people to realize its me, which is good.
So what kind of guy isLoy Cannon?
Hes always on edge.
Was there anything about playing a gangster that checked a wish-fulfillment box for you?
Ive shot guns before, and had a fight or two before.
The cool bit about this character for me is hes so well rounded.
I used to do a joke about Barack Obama being the first black president.
Being the first black anything sucks.
No one really enjoys it until theyre, like, the 37th black president.
Jackie Robinson had no fun, but Reggie Jackson had the time of his life.
Were you concerned your stand-up stardom would make it tougher for viewers to accept you as a 1950s gangster?
The two have never been a problem.
I was a comedian when I was Pookie inNew Jack City.
Nobody ever said, I couldnt stop laughing when you were smoking that crack and while you were dying.
So, yeah, its not been a problem yet.
What was most challenging about the role?
Noah does all these great monologues.
And if you watchFargothe camera is always moving.
So you have a two-page monologue and the camera is moving like that, everythings got to be perfect.
Theres a ton of dialogue and its so well written and its all important.
The smallest scene has tremendous meaning.
Theres no place to take a scene off.
Everything requires a lot of thought ahead of time.
Theres nothing like, Just give me the pages, Ill say it now.
One gets the impression that Noah has thoughts in here about immigration and Americas treatment of minority groups.
Did those themes resonate with you?
Thats more of a Noah thing.
I just got to play the guy I got and I play him at that moment.
I got to play him like a person.
Most people arent thinking about their place in history I mean, maybe Martin Luther King was.
But my character has just got to deal with today.
Its not like its Tuesday in the 1950s for him, its just Tuesday.
Youre used to writing your own material.
Was there ever a line or a scene where you pushed back and suggested something else?
In the 1950s, my dad was 17 and my granddad was 30.
So I know these guys a little bit.
Occasionally I would pull Noah to the side and go, What about this?
or I have literally sat with these guys and they never say this.
Nine times out of 10 the person you say it to appreciates it.
What else makes this season unique?
The scale is tremendous.Fargonormally tells little stories that get out of hand.
This is quite different.
We start off gangsters, so were beginning with bad people, and then it escalates.
Whats next for you?
Im not really sure.
This is the best part Ive ever done and, honestly, probably the best part Ill ever have.
Thats how it works.
Morgan Freeman is inThe Shawshank Redemption.
Hes made a kazillion dollars since then.
He never got a part that good again.
When you get these great parts you have to make the most of them.
Naive people will tell you, Theres always tomorrow and youll always get another chance.
When you get that third one you better be f—ing ready.
