Actually, it might even be more complicated than that.
In the twisty new Paramount+ seriesRabbit Hole(premiering Mar.
26), the24andDesignated Survivoralum plays John Weir, a three-steps-ahead corporate spy-for-hire who plots exquisitely.
Kiefer Sutherland as John Weir on ‘Rabbit Hole’.Marni Grossman/Paramount+
Who or what suddenly has John in their crosshairs?
Cue a paranoid spiral into danger, confusion, and manipulation.
Plus, democracy at stake!
Kiefer Sutherland as John Weir and Meta Golding as Hailey Winton.Marni Grossman/Paramount+
Let’s hunt down a few more answers from Sutherland before he disappears down thisRabbit Hole.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What are the first words that pop into your head to describeRabbit Hole?
KIEFER SUTHERLAND:Exciting.
It’s a real testament to the genre.
When John and Glenn came to me with this idea, it was pitched as a thriller.
And that’s exactly what it is.
It didn’t morph into something different.
It is exactly what we intended to make.
And I say that in a funny way, like that’s a rarity.
John and Glenn have said that they were inspired by ’70s espionage thrillers.
Movies likeThree DaysorTheParallax View is that a genre that you also have a particular affection for?
Parallax ViewandThree Days of the Condor?
It was very funny.
They had a couple ideas that I wasn’t as big a fan of.
Pretty much every movie thatMichael Cainemade during the ’80s was also an espionage thriller.
It’s what I grew up watching, and it’s what really grabbed me.
ButMarathon Manwas definitely one of those films.
And it’s the reason why I worked with [director John] Schlesinger onEye for an Eye.
In no other circumstance would I have ever played that part.
And it was a great joy making [Rabbit Hole].
I’m glad you brought upMarathon Man.
[chuckles] Not completely, no.
And I think we’re witnessing this.
I don’t think we’re in a different time, and the show reflects that.
Was there a particular punch in of show that you were looking to do for your next project?
What brought you to this corporate espionage thriller?
I think after24, I was looking to do something that was different.
But I certainly was very proud of that show.
And that was a mistake.
First of all, it was a mistake because I absolutelyadoreddoing24.
And I had a blast.
And, yeah, it was hard.
That crew and I, we’d spent 10 years together.
There were 38 weddings and 45 children that were born over the course of the making of that show.
And when it ended, it just ends, right?
It took me a minute get right about what it is I was excited about doing.
Having said that,Designated Survivorwas something that I really loved doing.
So all of that stuff about this was a real plus for me.
Well, it was really simple.
He doesn’t have the skillset of a Jack Bauer.
He’s much more intellectual.
So those things were turned around, which was interesting to me.
But it literally was being the guy who went from being the hunter to the hunted.
But fear is a real part of our lives.
A character that’s entirely motivated by fear is something that’s really interesting to play.
And having two guys like John and Glenn writing that is really interesting as well.
Is this series aiming to show a more comedic side of you while in save-the-day mode?
And what can you hint about that relationship?
And this is exactly that situation.
And this is not cool.
And you’re going to regret this."
Look at her!"
He’s got that great line in the first episode.
[She says,] “Why do you think I’m lying?”
And he says, “Well, look at you!”
and I know how that feels.
That was a really honest line for me.
That relationship is the center for me of the show, with regards to my character.
Meta is an incredible actor, and just an incredible person.
[Laughs] And I will be forever grateful to her for that.
The show is titledRabbit Hole, John is plagued by paranoia, and it runs in the family.
How much fun will the show have with this unreliable protagonist?
Can the audience even trust John, who doesn’t trust himself?
Here’s the deal.
So when we started the show, we had four episodes and we were going to make eight.
And they certainly didn’t tell me.
As powerful as anything you’re able to imagine.
In the United States, people will think that the President is the ultimate power, right?
Everything kind of stems from that.
That’s not a secret.
So in the context of our show, we’re dealing with people like that.
“The show reframes the story in every episode.”
“We’re lying to the audience, but we’re hoping it’s a delicious lie.”
What hint can you offer to further disorient viewers?
Okay, I’ll contradict them on some level.
Does Hailey really love John?
Or is she manipulative?
It’s an “and or but” question.
At the end of the day, John Weir’s not a clean guy in this, right?
He’s manipulated a lot of different things in his career to get the upper hand.
But that’s a pretty thin line, so he’s not innocent in this.
Do you end up liking his potential girlfriend and all the other characters as well?
And we are not making it easy for you to like them.
That actually makes it interesting.
“Clearly there are a lot of mysterious layers to Ben.
What can viewers expect from him?
This sets up the show: Who’s telling the truth?
And there’s payoffs for believing in one or the other.
I would watch him doing anything.
Giving an actor like that this kind of duality is an exciting thing to watch.
And yeah, he’s got the command, he’s got the gravitas to do that.
But you brought it up.
Yes, I brought it up.
What do you play in that?
It’s a dark, dark comedy.
And that’s what was funny about the part.
You know, it’s not Carol Burnett-funny.
Can you say anything else about the role?
I’m not on the good side of things.
That’s as vague as I’ll put it.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
