‘1923’ star Brandon Schlenner on his character’s difficult journey from Africa to Montana: “I don’t think it gets easy for anybody”

Spoiler alert: This story contains some details from episode five 1923 On Paramount+.

Kara gets her long-awaited cable: her beloved nephew Spencer is on his way home.

here, 1923 Star Brandon Schlener, who plays soldier-turned-hunter-turned-overnight tugboat driver Spencer Dutton, opened up about his character’s predicament near Yellowstone, and fans will find out if he’s the one to finally give us Kevin Costner’s John Dutton.

Let’s start Deadline where we first meet Spencer — somewhere in the bush, hunting wild animals that eat tourists. I assume you didn’t shoot those Africa scenes in the Santa Clarita Valley?

Brandon Schlener No. If Taylor Sheridan wrote it in Africa, you’re going to Africa. We shot in Kenya for a while in September and October and shot something in Europe in November.

DEADLINE So how close did you get to those ferocious creatures, or was it all Hollywood magic?

Scalenar They were. We had a leopard on set. We had a lion, lots of elephants. The animals were there. It’s a movie magic mix of real animals and CG animals and stuffies.

DEADLINE Your character shoots that elephant in episode 3 Do you wonder how that would go with today’s audience?

Scalenar It was a different time. His whole purpose at that point was to kill the things that were trying to kill him and the other people. Survive it. He is not a trophy hunter. That elephant would have rammed the car and killed them, so he had to be shot. He doesn’t feel good about it, but it’s a point of survival.

From what Deadline has gathered so far, Spencer is suffering from PTSD from the war. Or is there more to his suffering?

Scalenar PTSD is definitely a big factor. Post-war he was hired by the government, the Protectorate, to hunt these things abroad. He chose to do it because at that moment, after experiencing what he felt, it seemed like the best option for him considering he was good at it. And, he didn’t feel hot about it at all.

What is the Deadline Protectorate?

Scalenar It’s like a company that would hire hunters to go abroad at a time when they were expanding all over Africa by going into the wild. The two lions that hunted all the railway workers and those who were building the hotel. In the space of six, seven months, the lions killed a large number of workers. They’ll hire people like Spencer to hunt these things down. And who better to find them than the most decorated WW1 veterans?

Deadline So what was the experience like shooting in Africa? Romantic? Hotter than hell? Dirty and itchy?

Scalenar All of the above. Add a little E. Collie there. You have been in the bush for three weeks. You are doing it. That’s what’s so great about Taylor. He just puts it to you. You’re not in Santa Clarita, going to your trailer.

Was Deadline Taylor with you?

Scalenar No, he was in Texas, working on the other 18 shows he was writing and running alone.

What is Spencer’s relationship with her uncle and aunt until Deadline returns to Montana?

Scalenar He loves them, especially Kara. We have a deep relationship. They raised Spencer and her brother.

Has Deadline Taylor talked to you about your ancestry? Do we want to know that you are John Dutton’s father?

Scalenar You will know in due time. it will be all to reveal

Deadline So you’re heading back to the farm, ahem, with a little detour to the ocean. It’s not going to be an easy time, is it?

Scalenar I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I don’t think it’s easy for anyone. As far as I can tell the journey unfolds.

DEADLINE Julia Shleffer stars Will Alex settle well in Montana?

Scalenar She’s definitely got it in her. who [Helen Mirren] And his would really get along.

Time frame and how are those riding skills going?

Scalenar They were better than when I first moved to Montana. Night and day, actually. If you spend every day on a horse for two months with some of the best wranglers in the world, you’ll get pretty good at riding a horse.

DEADLINE Your character is a man of few words. Are you going to learn more about what’s going on inside?

Scalenar Layers fall away, walls come down. The audience and Alex will learn more about him.

Last date Taylor is also a man of few words. How was it working with him??

Scalenar I have great respect for him and have wanted to work with him for many years. It is one of a kind pinch me I get to work with him. He is very clear in his vision and he trusts you to fulfill that vision. He also knows you’re going to bring your own bits. There is a lot of trust back and forth. It’s really all you can ask for as an actor.

DEADLINE So I guess you can’t say if you die at the end of the season?

Scalenar Spencer is pretty resilient, but no one is off the table. If you know Taylor’s writing, anything can happen at this point.

.