Between a soulful soundtrack, demon-hunting fun and heartfelt cast reunions, there's something for everyone in Kevin Bacon at the forefront, the Prime Video show follows bounty hunter Hub Halloran, who is brought back to life by The Devil on the condition of sending back demons who have escaped from Hell. Upon his return, Hub tries to reconnect with his soon-to-be-ex-wife and estranged son, all while realizing the demons escaping are attempting something more than general possessions.

Alongside Bacon, The Bondsman features a star-studded cast, which includes Beth Grant and Jolene Purdy, who find themselves reuniting for the first time in nearly 25 years after they both starred in Donnie Darko, though also marks their first proper collaboration as they shared no scenes together in the film. The show also stars on-the-rise star Maxwell Jenkins, who plays Hub's son, Cade, and shares a unique resonance with his character in them both being rising musicians.

In anticipation of the show's premiere, ScreenRant interviewed Maxwell Jenkins, Beth Grant and Jolene Purdy to discuss The Bondsman. The former opened up about the real-life parallels he found with his character, particularly when it came to the show's music, while the latter duo recalled their excitement to reunite for the show. The three also all praised their collaborations with Bacon on the show, and why he was a "true leader" on the set of the show.

Bacon's Bondsman Co-Stars Can't Share Enough Praise For The Actor

"...A Loving Father To All Of Us, Really"

Though the group got plenty of their own time to shine in their roles, Grant, Purdy and Jenkins all took a few moments in our chats to share very glowing words about their time working with Bacon on The Bondsman. The former began by humorously recalling how she's always been "one degree or zero degrees away from him" on the iconic Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon after starring together in Flatliners, though not sharing a scene, but having also loved his work since 1982's Diner.

Grant went on to opine that Bacon delivers "an extraordinary performance" as Hub in The Bondsman, praising it as being more than "just a great TV performance" and celebrating his ability to make it "nuanced" along with the "action, humor, heart, blood". Purdy ed in by recalling how the Golden Globe winner did a meaningful job of being a leader on the show's set, including making sure everyone had ice cream when the Georgia set became hot, with both Grant and Purdy calling him "so thoughtful", "a true leader" and creating a "fantastic" family atmosphere on the production, including having people over for brunch and making foods like guacamole.

Jenkins expounded on the duo's praise of their experience with Bacon as an actor, calling him "a phenomenal scene partner" with not only how "extremely collaborative" he is, but also "puts everyone at ease on set". Ultimately, though, he found the biggest point of connection that helped the two develop their characters' dynamic was the music part of the storyline, which Jenkins believes is a "universal language", and pointed to a scene in episode 7 in which Hub, Cade and Maryanne play together, and Cade lets down his guard for the first time in the show and "just surrenders to his family":

The work on the music, and the constant talking about it, and sending ideas back and forth with that music was just super helpful in generating a relationship there between everyone in the family. Music really does have that power, which I think is so useful to bring into a set.

Grant "Screamed Out Loud" When She Learned She'd Be Reuniting With Purdy

"I've Always Said She Was The Heart Of [Donnie Darko]."

Across their careers, Beth Grant and Jolene Purdy have found acclaim for a variety of roles, ranging from Little Miss Sunshine to No Country for Old Men, the TV adaptation of Stephen King's Under the Dome and WandaVision. Well before they would team on The Bondsman, Grant and Purdy's paths first crossed on Richard Kelly's Donnie Darko, which also marked the acting debut of the latter as the misunderstood Cherita Chen, while the former starred as conservative gym teacher Kitty Farmer.

While they may not have shared any scenes in Donnie Darko, Grant has followed Purdy's career "for 25 years", having always felt "she was the heart" of the 2001 psychological thriller, and "loved her" performance. As such, when she learned that Purdy would be starring in the show, Grant recalled having "screamed out loud" out of excitement, even humorously recreating Chen's memorable way of saying "shut up" from the film, with Purdy having thought the same thing when she heard she'd be working with Grant.

"There was just a warmth that came over me," Purdy recalled, "and it was the same warmth when we had the table read, which can sometimes be a little intimidating, and you're a little nervous. But as soon as I walked into that, it was like a small theater. Beth jumped up from her chair with open arms and just light in her face, welcomed me, and it felt like I could breathe walking into this intimidating environment."

The two went on to reflect on one of their first scenes performing together in The Bondsman with Bacon, in which Purdy recalled she would "find yourself floating out, and you're watching the other people as if you're watching a TV show". "You're just watching the show because they're just so good, and then when it comes time for you to deliver your performance, they're so good that you don't have to work." Grant echoed her sentiments, praising the show for having "great dialogue" and a "great structure".

Jenkins Felt Cade To Be One Of The Closest Characters To Himself

"I Could Really Draw On The Experience Of Wanting To Stand Out As A Musician."

Having starred in everything from Netflix's Lost in Space reboot to Prime Video's Reacher, Jenkins has found himself presented with a wide range of roles to play throughout his career. When it came to The Bondsman's Cade, the star acknowledged he was likely the closest character to himself that he's played, particularly as the son of Bacon's protagonist displayed "a lot of these qualities that I strive to have", as well as "a lot of goals that I also have".

The biggest connection he found between himself and Cade was that of the character's "aspirations to be a musician", which Jenkins described as being "really appealing" as it would allow him the first chance to "bridge those two" sides of his creative drive into one project. Jenkins also acknowledged that his Bondsman character would allow him to "really draw on the experience of wanting to stand out as a musician".

"Obviously, Cade's is more hyper-localized with wanting to stand out to his father as a musician, but that's universal," Jenkins explained. "But I do think Cade is so stalwart in his defense of his family, and oftentimes, to a fault, is forgiving, and he loves his family so much to the point where he's willing to drop everything and fight some demons, no questions asked, for his father, which is something I think I like to have. I grew up in a traveling circus as an acrobat with my family, and in the same way, we really trust each other and put each other's lives in each other's hands. There is that trust and that fierce loyalty there that I think I also have."

More About The Bondsman

Kevin Bacon stars as Hub Halloran, a murdered bounty hunter who’s back from the dead after being resurrected by the Devil to trap and send back demons that have escaped from the prison of Hell. By chasing down those demons with the help and hindrance of his estranged family, Hub learns how his own sins got his soul condemned -- which pushes him to seek a second chance at life, love, and country music.

Check out our other Bondsman interviews with:

• Kevin Bacon
• Jennifer Nettles
• Showrunner Erik Oleson

The Bondsman begins streaming on Prime Video on April 3.

Source: ScreenRant Plus