Danny McBride Discusses Bradley Cooper's Involvement in The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 (Exclusive)
Bradley Cooper only needed a small push to join the fourth and final season of The Righteous Gemstones. Danny McBride, the creator of the HBO comedy series and the actor portraying Jesse Gemstone, shared insights on Cooper's involvement during the season four premiere in Los Angeles on March 5, PEOPLE reported.
"I would imagine that I needed to persuade him," McBride, 48, said regarding Cooper's appearance in the first episode. "I sent him the script, and he called me back pretty quickly. He liked what he read."
Interestingly, Cooper had never seen The Righteous Gemstones before their collaboration. However, he chose not to watch it until after filming had finished. "He didn’t want it to influence his performance, which I appreciate," McBride noted. "I admired his approach."
Previously, McBride and Cooper co-starred in the 2015 film Aloha, alongside Emma Stone, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murray, and John Krasinski.
The series features Adam DeVine and John Goodman, and it centers on a family of televangelists who build their wealth through a prominent megachurch, trying to safeguard their religious empire.
As the series nears its conclusion, McBride emphasized that 'The Righteous Gemstones' has encouraged viewers to "expect the unexpected." The first episode of the final season is no exception and presents surprising intensity. "I wanted to ensure we don’t fall into routine. It’s intriguing to start this season by exploring events from the past," McBride explained.
With The Righteous Gemstones set to conclude in May, the show first debuted in 2019. Reflecting on writing the show, McBride expressed gratitude for working with a talented cast. "These characters have much more depth than anything I could envision alone," he remarked. "Part of the challenge is to steer the story as envisioned while embracing what cast members contribute."
McBride noted that the ensemble brought unexpected "humanity" to their roles, adding complexity to their "despicable characters."
"What I will miss most is seeing the cast regularly," he said reflectively. "This job has been wonderful and fun. I formed lasting friendships throughout this experience."
He concluded, ''Some individuals on this team are so talented and kind. Yes, I’ll miss our church lunches, but I plan to collaborate with many of them again."
Season 4 of 'The Righteous Gemstones' debuted on HBO on March 9.
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