Movies - TV
Kendall Roy Wasn’t The Succession Role Jeremy Strong Was Shooting For
By SHAE SENNETT
Jeremy Strong gives a devastatingly real performance as Kendall Roy on HBO's “Succession,” but he was actually vying for a different role. Strong developed a reputation for being a real-life Kendall Roy, and he takes the part so seriously, it's hard to imagine him playing anyone else; however, Strong originally wanted to play Kendall's devil-may-care brother Roman.
Executive producer Adam McKay gave Strong the “Succession” script over lunch and asked him to pick a role he connected with. Strong was attracted to Roman, as he shared, “I thought, 'Oh, wow, Roman is such a cool part.’ He's, like, this bon-vivant prick. I could do something that I hadn't done before.” Unfortunately for Strong, the part had already gone to Kieran Culkin.
Ultimately, Culkin is a better fit for Roman. Strong is darkly serious even in his most comedic moments, but Culkin manages to mask his character's pain with a naughty glint in his eye. However, that letdown fueled Strong’s performance as Roy, as he added, “the feeling of being thwarted — it only sharpened my need and hunger. I went in [to the audition] with a vengeance.”