Paul Walter Hauser is back in the true story genre for another look at an infamous moment in American history in The Luckiest Man in America. Across his 20-year career, Hauser has popped up in the biographical genre on multiple occasions, including the Margot Robbie-led I, Tonya. His more notable turns include the Clint Eastwood-helmed Richard Jewell, in which he played the Summer Olympics security guard who became the target of media scrutiny after preventing a bombing, and Apple TV+’s Black Bird, for which he won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

Now, Hauser is back in the genre with The Luckiest Man in America to play Michael Larson, an ice cream truck driver who became a contestant on Press Your Luck in 1984. Initially seen as a socially awkward fan of the show, the movie depicts the scandalous episode in which Larson goes on an unprecedented winning streak, leading to producers scrambling to stop him, while also learning there may be more to his motivations. Alongside Hauser, the movie’s cast includes Oscar nominee David Strathairn, The White Lotus‘ Walton Goggins, Game of Thrones‘ Maisie Williams and John Wick: Chapter 4‘s Shamier Anderson.

Ahead of the movie’s release, Screen Rant interviewed Paul Walter Hauser to discuss The Luckiest Man in America. The Emmy winner opened up about getting to the heart of the mysterious Larson, why he’s different from Richard Jewell, and the time spent in the hair and makeup chairs in order to recreate his real-life character’s look. Hauser also reflected on his time working with the movie’s ensemble cast, particularly how he helped get Brian Geraghty cast in the film.

Hauser Feels That Michael Larson & Richard Jewell Share Few Traits

The Emmy Winner Points To A Very Different Character For Comparison

INTERVIEW

On the surface, it might be easy for one to draw comparisons between Richard Jewell and The Luckiest Man in America‘s Michael Larson, particularly for their peculiar personalities, which drew even more attention to them than they initially intended. When asked about the potential similarities between them, Hauser found that the only real points of comparison would be that they “both have some social awkwardness” and that they are “highly pᴀssionate people” when it comes to what they set their minds to.

Beyond that, however, Hauser finds that there are numerous differences between the two that helped him distinguish how to play Larson in the film. Where Jewell was “a better human being, for sure” and “understood accountability and duty“, Larson was “probably a little smarter and savvier“. Hauser also humorously opined that “I doubt Richard Jewell would have gotten the girl over Michael Larson if they’re both sitting at the bar“, as the latter still had the ability to “swoon women and make money and go on these little adventures“, despite “his many quirks and issues“.

Instead, Hauser actually offered Frank Abagnale Jr. as a better point of comparison for Larson. Abagnale Jr., played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2002 dramedy Catch Me If You Can, was once infamous for his wide range of cons and fraud committed throughout the 1970s. Though his claims have since been called into question, Hauser feels that “there’s a little bit of” Abagnale Jr. in Larson and his approach to playing the Press Your Luck contestant.

Hauser’s Inherent Everyman Personality Gave Him A Unique In For Larson

“I’m Playing Michael In A Way That’s A Little Low To The Ground And Humble, And Yet He’s Anything But.”

With Michael Larson bringing a very different moral compᴀss than certain prior roles, and the movie itself offering a uniquely ambiguous take on him, Hauser found himself presented with a unique opportunity with his Luckiest Man in America performance. The star immediately commended co-writer/director Samir Oliveros’ decision to cast him in the role, believing that “there’s something kind of everyman and endearing about me“. He did also explain how he’s “capable of playing buffoons or monsters“, naming Black Bird‘s Larry Hall as an example.

To depict Larson, Hauser chose to play the figure “in a way that’s a little lot to the ground and humble“, in spite of the real person being “anything but“. “It takes a great amount of ego to say, ‘I’m doing this for my family,’ but really, if I were doing it for my family, I’d probably be content with a 9-5 job and live within two miles of home, so I see my kids all the time,” Hauser expressed. “That’s the reality is there is no responsibility being taken on his part, and he’s trying to get his American dream and be his American hero, in a way that is very ill-advised.“

The Hair & Makeup Required For Larson Was Something New For Hauser

He Also Feels The Production Expertly “Made A Dollar Stretch”

While the likes of Black Bird and Cruella have seen him undergo a bit of makeup and hairstyling to play his characters, The Luckiest Man in America marks the most Hauser has gone through this on any production. Where he’s used to shorter mornings, the star recalls that it took “about two hours a day in a makeup chair” to transform into Larson, though does chuckle as he acknowledges those like the stars in the X-Men cast had it much worse and are likely to respond with, “Screw you, dude. I had to be in the makeup chair at three in the morning!“

Hauser did go on to praise that the team behind his hair and makeup were only a part of why The Luckiest Man in America looks as good as it does, saying that “we made a dollar stretch” and “did a lot with a little“, calling it “one of the better-looking period pieces I’ve seen“, particularly for the 1980s.

“What’s funny is, sometimes, when we remember stuff, we almost have a distorted view, like even something that happened to you 20 minutes ago, you don’t remember it perfectly,” Hauser explained. “There’s unconscious revision going on, so I think with an entire decade from decades ago, it’s easy to have an unconscious revision, and it looks more like a Barbie music video than it does the ’80s. I think we captured the kind of drab workforce 1980s rather than the club scene.“

Hauser Hopes For More Dramatic Performances From Johnny Knoxville

“…We Weren’t Sure He Would Do It…”

Despite the mysterious nature of his character, one sequence that does allow audiences a moment of sympathy for Larson in The Luckiest Man in America is one in which, in a panic thinking he’s about to lose everything, he races across the lot and lands on the set of a talk show recording in progress, with Johnny Knoxville playing the host. During the scene, we see Larson discussing the family for whom he’s trying to win the money for, as well as their estrangement.

When asked about working with Knoxville to find the pathos of the scene, Hauser began by expressing his own love for the Jackᴀss franchise, describing it as being “a mᴀssive inspiration to me growing up“. He then went on to praise Knoxville’s work in the world of dramatic storytelling, including the 2024 sports comedy Sweet Dreams, as he found the actor did “a tremendous job playing an addict who runs this softball team of lovable losers“.

Hauser reveals that the movie’s team were actually unsure whether they’d be able to cast Knoxville in the part, given it was “such a small part“. Instead, he was awed by Knoxville’s dedication to playing the role, praising that “he took it really seriously” and that they “both really cared a lot and locked in“. He went on to share his hopes that audiences will get to see serious performances from Knoxville going forward, as “I prefer seeing him do that” and that “I don’t want him to get hurt anymore“.

Hauser Helped Push For Brian Geraghty’s Casting In The Film

He Also Laments One Of Their Scenes Was Cut From The Movie

One character with whom Larson frequently interacts with in The Luckiest Man in America was that of fellow contestant Ed Long, a Baptist minister and the returning champion of the show, played in the film by 1923 alum Brian Geraghty. While generally awkward with most of those around him, something of a compᴀssionate bond forms between them, as Ed’s pastoral nature sees him trying to care for the mysterious Larson, even without realizing the full scope of his actions.

Hauser recalls having first met Geraghty socially through Sam Rockwell when the two were working together on Richard Jewell, with Hauser having since “always had my eye on him” as he felt he is “a great actor“. He went on to recall following the casting process for Ed in the film, noting that the production “had a few names for that role that made sense“, but when he looked at the picture of the real Ed, his mind immediately went to Geraghty as being the prime candidate for the part.

“I was like, ‘I think that’s my buddy, Brian Geraghty. I think Brian would kill that. Slap a ‘stache and glᴀsses [on him]’,” Hauser recalls. “And they were like, ‘Oh, sure. You sound like you know him? Can you hit him up?’ Brian and Damian Young were two actors that I personally hit up and said, ‘I really want you to do this part. Would you mind doing that, and come playing with us in South America,’ where we sH๏τ it.“

Beyond his looks, the other main reason why Hauser knew Geraghty would be perfect for the part was the unique dynamic between Ed and Larson in The Luckiest Man in America. The Emmy winner noted how his co-star “played into the hokiness” of his character while still not “punching down or making fun of him“, instead doing “what a good actor does” by simply inhabiting the character:

There’s something in that pastoral nature of him, wanting to make sure I’m doing okay and being sweet, but also being wise enough to have that moment where he says to me, “Are you doing something wrong? Are you doing something you shouldn’t?” He’s not naive, either, even though he’s sweet, and that was a really fun part for him to play.

Patti Harrison Is One Of “Two People” Who’s Made Hauser “Break Character More Than Anyone”

The Star Was Thrilled When He Heard She Was Cast In The Film

Another cast member that Hauser had nothing but glowing things to say about in The Luckiest Man in America was that of Patti Harrison, who stars as Larson’s other fellow Press Your Luck contestant, Janie Litras. Hauser was “so pumped” when he learned that she would be starring in the film, expressing that he “love[s] her to death” and it was “game over” the film would be a hit when she joined the roster.

“On set, she probably got so annoyed with me, I was always trying to do bits, because she’s so funny, and sometimes, when you’re around a funny person, you want to be funny,” Hauser humorously recalled. “But she was so game, and would do bits with me. I think her and Anna Konkle, who I did The Afterparty with on Apple, are the two people who made me break character more than anyone.“

More About The Luckiest Man In America

Based on a true story, The Luckiest Man in America is set in May 1984, when an unemployed ice cream truck driver from Ohio (Paul Walter Hauser) steps onto the game show Press Your Luck harboring a big secret: the key to endless amounts of money. His winning streak is threatened when the bewildered executives in the control room start to uncover his real motivations.

Stay tuned for our other Luckiest Man in America interview with co-writer/director Samir Oliveros!

Source: ScreenRant Plus