Rewrite and expansion:
Boyd Holbrook has made a name for himself as a talented actor who excels at playing the antagonist. From his roles as Donald Pierce in “Logan” and Klaber in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” to his portrayal of Clement Mansell in the television series “Justified: City Primeval,” Holbrook has proven his ability to be a thorn in the side of the hero.
In “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” Holbrook plays Klaber, a neo-Nazi wannabe who serves as Jürgen Voller’s top lieutenant. This character bears a striking resemblance to Holbrook’s role as Donald Pierce in “Logan,” a film directed by James Mangold. Despite some initial reservations about playing a similar character, Holbrook couldn’t resist the opportunity to work with Harrison Ford and help bid farewell to the iconic archaeologist, Indiana Jones.
“Holbrook told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike. ‘So the character was a similar second-in-command bad guy who does all the bidding. That was the similarity, and that was my hesitation when I read it. But then there’s the pull of, ‘Wow, this is the last hurrah. This is the last run of Indiana Jones.’ So I didn’t want to repeat anything for Jim, and we were very adamant about that.'”
Related Post
In “Dial of Destiny,” the story revolves around the pursuit of Archimedes’ time dial, the Antikythera. Klaber wants to help Voller travel back to 1939 to replace Hitler and lead Nazi Germany to victory in World War II. However, their plans go awry, and they find themselves transported back to 213 BC. Despite Holbrook’s role as the villain, he admits that even as an audience member, he was moved by Indy’s journey to the past. He said, “It’s so elegantly done that it’s not farcical whatsoever…When I saw it, I was surprised that it grabbed me by the throat. I was a little emotional, even though I’m so close to it.”
In addition to his role in “Indiana Jones,” Holbrook also plays the main villain in the television series “Justified: City Primeval.” This FX revival features Timothy Olyphant’s character, Raylan Givens, traveling through Detroit with his daughter and becoming entangled with Holbrook’s character, Clement Mansell, a murderous conman. Holbrook emphasizes that Mansell’s dynamic with Givens is different from his role as Boyd Crowder, showcasing a new and intense clash between the two characters. He states, “‘Clement can’t get enough of it. He loves it. He loves screwing around with this guy to a point, and then it gets a little too serious. But it is a totally different dynamic than Boyd Crowder [Walton Goggins]. Those guys knew each other, and there’s more longevity between the characters. Being that this is a limited series, the structure is built from the get-go that these guys are gonna collide.'”
With multiple projects in the works, including the highly anticipated sixth film by Jeff Nichols, “The Bikeriders,” Holbrook finds himself in an exciting period of his career. He reflects on the challenges and opportunities presented to him during the pandemic, saying, “I did a lot of things over the pandemic, and now they’re all bottlenecking.”
When it comes to his role in “Indiana Jones,” Holbrook acknowledges the parallels between his character Klaber and his previous role as Donald Pierce in “Logan.” He reveals that director James Mangold addressed this similarity with him, saying, “Listen, I don’t want to offend you, but have a look at it.” However, Holbrook believes that there is more to Klaber than meets the eye. He had to humanize the character and find the justification for his loyalty to Voller. Holbrook explains, “So we talked a lot about that…It’s a classic archetype of approval. You’ve gotta find something real in there. Birds of a feather flock together, but I don’t think Voller’s ideology came…”
In conclusion, Boyd Holbrook continues to impress audiences with his ability to bring complex villains to life. Whether it’s his portrayal of Klaber in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” or Clement Mansell in “Justified: City Primeval,” Holbrook’s acting skills and dedication to his craft shine through. With his upcoming projects, including Jeff Nichols’ “The Bikeriders,” there’s no doubt that Holbrook’s talent and versatility will continue to captivate audiences for years to come.
