Across the globe, thousands of individuals sit in casting rooms every day, hoping to see their name appear on the next new film or show's cast list. Becoming a big name in Hollywood is no small feat as competition is vast and plentiful. While some tend to shy away from the daunting nature of the profession, others use the pressure to fuel their dreams and continue to push forward.
For Dean Jagger, the story is much the same. TheThings spoke with the actor about his muses and time spent filming Jesse V. Johnson's One Ranger.
Who Are Dean's Biggest Acting Inspirations?
Propensities for acting are typically born at a young age, whether through elementary school plays or simply an aptitude for putting on shows for the family at home. Dean recalls his theatrical antics as a child, telling us,
"I was a little handful as a kid, always showing off any chance I could! I just grew up watching films from a young age, kind of kept with me through high school and went from there."
The concept of filmography and acting is awe-inspiring from childhood through adulthood. Watching these actors and actresses transform themselves into a multitude of characters while maintaining believability sometimes seems like an alien concept.
Aspiring actors tend to have a list of those actors before them who have made an impression on them professionally and stylistically. As such, we wanted to know: who are Dean's acting inspirations?
"I think [Paul] Newman is my number 1, but damn I have many: Denzel Washington, Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson, Clint Eastwood, Ethan Hawke, the list goes on."
From this list we might surmise Dean also enjoys liver alongside fava beans and a nice Chianti. But really, his taste - no pun intended - in actor is impeccable.
Dean Discusses 'One Ranger'
One Ranger is an action-thriller film starring the likes of Thomas Jane and John Malkovich. In the new film, set to release on May 5, 2023, Dean plays a London-based bank robber with nefarious plans for terrorism and destruction.
The action-packed story is sure to have you on the edge of your seat as "British Intelligence meets Texas Justice" (Rotten Tomatoes). With Dean's role gripping the spotlight in One Ranger, Dean offers,
"I love Primal story telling… One Ranger is an easy one to follow and pulls no punches, it’s a great game of cat and mouse. I don’t think I have a favorite moment, I just like what the movie does, what the characters do. McBride is a man running out of time, and he knows it, he’s actually in parts very much enjoying that, as he builds this infamy. With all that being said we do see moments of self reflection, where the character is in question of himself, but it’s short-lived. In the end it bottle noses into something quite personal between the Ranger and himself, borderline fanatical. It’s cool."
Although Dean admits that his character shows glimpses of vulnerability, it's no secret that his lean toward lawlessness is overpowering. So, is this villain-type role one that Dean prefers to play?
"I say we do both [villain and good guy]! I think some of the best characters flirt with both of those shades."
Dean has appeared in multiple TV shows and films across a variety of genres throughout his career. One of Dean's more notable roles was as Jon (Smalljon) Umber in HBO's hit series, Game of Thrones. While both projects are action-packed and nail-biting, we were curious to know what it was like filming One Ranger versus Game of Thrones.
"[One Ranger was] much faster pace, a lot more intense. [And] a lot more internet which I always love when filming. Brings out the best in everyone, and we had a really fun crew. Props to Jesse Johnson, stud."
Not only has Dean had the pleasure of working with directors such as Jesse Johnson, his very own brother, Ben Jagger, is hoping to break into the world of directing as well. Dean discusses his and Ben's plans for the future in conjunction with an anecdote about his time as an actor.
"I just love the job. I think we build small families here and there, it’s some of the best parts of the job the people you meet. I’ve been lucky... I have my show coming out next month on HBOMax, Warrior, that’s going to be our third season... I’m [also] developing a franchise right now with my brother Ben Jagger. He’s a great up-and-coming Director."
One Ranger hits theaters this Friday, May 5th. We'll certainly be on the lookout for Dean and his explosive - pun intended - performance.
