Ethan Hawke on ‘Blue Moon,’ ‘The Lowdown,’ and Honoring Robert Redford
Following his fifth Oscar nomination – this time for Best Actor for his role in Sony Pictures Classics’ Blue Moon – Ethan Hawke has been reflecting on his career and future projects. He recently spoke with Deadline about the highly anticipated second season of his FX series, The Lowdown, his new film showcased at Sundance, The Weight, and a special tribute he’ll be delivering in honor of the late Robert Redford.
‘The Lowdown’ Season Two: Back to Production
Speaking from New York, Hawke revealed that Sterlin Harjo’s Western noir crime dramedy, The Lowdown, where he portrays the enigmatic Lee Raybon, will resume production immediately after the Oscars in March. “I’m going to have to leave the parties early. I can’t wait,” Hawke shared with enthusiasm. “I love working with Sterlin, I love that show, and I can’t wait to go back to that well.”
Hawke explained their creative approach: each season of The Lowdown is designed to feel like a self-contained “little crime novel,” offering a fresh and compelling narrative.
‘The Weight’: A Return to Character-Driven Action
Regarding his Sundance film, The Weight, Hawke expressed his excitement about revisiting a genre he feels has been overlooked. “The director of that [Padraic McKinley] was a friend I made on The Good Lord Bird, and we’ve kind of been dreaming about, why does nobody make an old-fashioned action movie anymore? The character-driven action movie.” He was drawn to the role and the world McKinley created, stating, “It just was a character I really wanted to play, in a world I really liked.”
A Tribute to Robert Redford: A Cinematic Icon
Hawke is also preparing to honor Robert Redford at Sundance, a gesture he considers deeply meaningful. “To say he’s a North Star is to undermine the light that he shined,” Hawke remarked. “He was a person who was given a lot, and he gave back a lot, and it’s a model of leadership. A person who carried themselves with dignity and concern for others and contributed in a very high level, consistently, while pushing the industry itself forward.”
He highlighted Redford’s multifaceted contributions, from his work as an actor and filmmaker to his pivotal role in establishing the Sundance Film Festival. “He’s also the first person I ever heard talk about the environment, and he was so vocal about spreading out voices and getting to hear from everyone. He was such a great leader in that way — and he didn’t have to do that.”
Redford Tributes and Enduring Partnerships
While initially planned to celebrate alongside Richard Linklater, Hawke clarified that they will be delivering separate tributes. “We thought we were, but I think I’m speaking at one Redford tribute and he’s speaking at a different Redford tribute,” he explained. “Because I’m coming out Friday night and he doesn’t get out there till Monday or Tuesday. I think he’s doing a talk about the Sundance Labs or something, and I’m doing a talk about [Redford], the man.”
‘Blue Moon’ and a 30-Year Friendship with Richard Linklater
Hawke’s Oscar nomination recognizes his powerful performance as Lorenz Hart in Blue Moon, alongside Andrew Scott, Margaret Qualley, and Bobby Cannavale. He described the film as the culmination of a 30-year friendship, emphasizing, “It was never a job. I feel like I’ve somehow cracked some unbreakable code by getting to make work that is really personally meaningful with some of my best friends in the world, and have people notice it and see it and enjoy it. It seems almost like a magic trick.”
When asked about the longevity of his partnership with Linklater, across projects like the Before trilogy and Boyhood, Hawke offered a simple explanation: “It’s like the mystery of any relationship. I don’t know. If you think too much about it, it’d probably go away.” He continued, “It’s not lost on me that one of my best friends that I made 30 years ago happens to be one of the defining cinematic voices of our generation. It’s not lost on me, my good fortune in choosing friends. I like to think I carry my weight, but he’s really a different thinker and has a truly unique voice. He shoots incredibly straight, and being his friend is great, and getting to work together is even better.”
Looking Ahead: Ambitions and Future Projects
Looking to the future, Hawke expressed a desire to continue challenging himself creatively. “I’ve got so many pipe dreams, man. You know, my motto to myself is, ‘One lifetime is not enough.’ There’s so many brilliant young people I want to work with, and so many heroes I haven’t worked with. I want to work with Rick again, and I love working with Sterlin. I want to do Shakespeare in the Park and I want to do a bald-faced comedy. I’ve got a million things I want to do.”
Hawke’s previous Oscar nominations include Boyhood (2015), Before Midnight (2014), Before Sunset (2005), and Training Day (2002). He will be competing against Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, and Wagner Moura in the Best Actor category at the 96th Academy Awards on March 15.
Learn more about the Academy Awards: https://www.oscars.org/
