Rhea Seehorn, known for her standout role as Kim Wexler in “Better Call Saul,” is making waves again, this time with her involvement in the new Vince Gilligan project for Apple TV+. The actress, who recently starred in “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” has been busy filming the still-untitled series in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Seehorn’s journey to her role in “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is an interesting one. Directors Adil and Bilall, who helmed the film, were going through a tough time in 2022 and found solace in binge-watching “Better Call Saul.” They were so impressed by Seehorn’s performance that they decided to cast her as U.S. Marshal Judy Howard, the daughter of Joe Pantoliano’s character, Captain Conrad Howard, from the original “Bad Boys” films.
Seehorn was flattered by the directors’ familiarity with her work. “I loved that they knew my work and that they weren’t meeting me cold, as a suggestion,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. To prepare for her role, she watched a supercut of Pantoliano’s scenes and revisited his film “The Fugitive.” She even included subtle nods to Pantoliano’s past work, such as popping Pepto Bismol in a scene, a reference to his character’s reliance on it in “Bad Boys for Life.”
“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” opened to a strong $56.5 million, providing a much-needed boost to the summer box office. However, Seehorn has been somewhat out of the loop, as she’s been immersed in filming the new Vince Gilligan series.
Gilligan, known for his work on “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” is exploring new creative territories with this project. “Vince is continuing to play, and he’s just pushing himself to a wild ride on this one in the best way,” Seehorn said. She noted that Gilligan is experimenting with different tones and genres, even more so than he did with “Better Call Saul.”
Seehorn is embracing her new role as the lead in Gilligan’s series, following in the footsteps of Bryan Cranston, Bob Odenkirk, and Aaron Paul. “It is a new role for me, but I’m doing my best. I’m having so much fun. It is a very challenging role and a very challenging show in the best way,” she shared.
Reflecting on her time on “Better Call Saul,” Seehorn mentioned how she initially caught up on “Breaking Bad” and its discourse, discovering the harsh treatment Anna Gunn received from a segment of the audience. “I was blown away, because I just think [Anna Gunn is] brilliant,” Seehorn said. She expressed relief that Gunn now feels a noticeable shift in how she’s received by the public.
Seehorn also discussed the differences between working on a big-budget film like “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” and her television projects. “There’s just so much fun equipment, and you can flesh out any idea that you might want to do,” she said. Despite the larger scale, she noted that the core of filmmaking remains the same: “It still comes down to the relationships, and it still comes down to what you can get on camera before the sun comes up.”
Seehorn’s new haircut, which she recently debuted, is part of her effort to distinguish her new character from Kim Wexler. “I thought that this might be the right haircut for this character. And Vince agreed,” she explained.
As the lead in Gilligan’s new series, Seehorn is adjusting to her role as the definitive number one on the call sheet. “I try to get ahold of [my co-stars] on the weekend or in the morning or during one of my fittings or anything. I like people to have run their lines and feel comfortable and safe with me before they get to set,” she said.
Living in Albuquerque without her former “Better Call Saul” co-stars Bob Odenkirk and Patrick Fabian has been an adjustment. “I’m standing right now in the house that we lived in. I’m renting the same house. And now I live with Trish, the head of the hair department,” she shared.
Seehorn believes that the first season of the new Gilligan series is reminiscent of the early days of “Better Call Saul,” where the tone of the show was still being discovered. “Vince is continuing to play, and I think he’s just pushing himself to a wild ride on this one in the best way,” she said. Unlike “Better Call Saul,” this new project doesn’t need to circle back to a predecessor, giving Gilligan more creative freedom.
As Seehorn continues to navigate her new role and the challenges that come with it, fans eagerly await the release of the untitled Vince Gilligan series on Apple TV+. With Seehorn at the helm and Gilligan’s creative genius, the show promises to be another compelling addition to their impressive body of work.
