Michael Emerson is the kind of actor who leaves an indelible mark on every role he touches. From the creepy Benjamin Linus in Lost to the mysterious Harold Finch in Person of Interest, Emerson has always captivated audiences with his unique blend of subtlety and intensity.
But in Paramount+’s psychological suspense drama “Wicked,” he brings something more sinister to the table as Leland Townsend, a man who’s as mysterious and terrifying as he is oddly hilarious.
In what could be his last time playing Leland, Emerson talks about the strange and terrifying world of Wicked season 4, the joys of working with a top-notch cast, and why green pea soup may never be on his menu again.
The strange and terrifying world of Leland Townsend
If there’s one thing Evil is known for, it’s that it doesn’t shy away from the weird. The horror atmosphere is heightened in season four, with Leland Townsend at the center of much of it.
From battling demonic forces to literally eating hearts, Leland’s journey this season has been nothing short of a nightmare — albeit with a darkly comedic twist.
“A lot,” Emerson admits with a laugh when asked about the more stomach-churning aspects of his character. “When I signed, I wasn’t sure so much was going to happen, but it’s been fun.
“You end up having ridiculous conversations on set, like, ‘Tell me again, what’s in the beating heart of the Demon King? What’s actually what I’m eating?’ Or the prop guy comes up and says, ‘You have three choices. Demonic baby vomit. Which one do you prefer?
What do you like more about Emerson? “Green pea soup is what it is,” he said, though he quickly added, “But after you drink pea soup all afternoon, you lose the taste for it. You don’t know when you’ll be able to eat it again. arrive.
Practical magic and comedy in horror
“Wicked” manages to maintain a careful balance between horror and humor, and a lot of that comes from the practical effects that make the show’s weirder moments so visceral. For Emerson, having something tangible to interact with on set only enhances the performance.
“It’s a very neat merging of the two fields, but you’re going to see a lot of practical magic in our show,” he explains.
“Things come out of people’s mouths – or at least on my show, things are less magical and more physical. I see a lot of mixtures, a lot of types of blood, and the inside of the human body.
These practical effects also contribute to the show’s dark humor. “It made me happy and put me in the mood to appreciate the humor of these things,” Emerson said, describing the bizarre preparations on set.
“Sure, these conversations are serious and technical, but they’re also crazy. It’s stupid to do this for a living.
Level up your game with celebrity partners
According to Emerson, one of the highlights of the season was sharing the screen with guest stars John Carroll Lynch and Richard Kind in courtroom scenes.
“It makes it a high-style comedy show. These are some top guys. I don’t remember laughing that much with those guys off camera,” Emerson shared, clearly delighted by the experience.
But it’s not all fun and games.
“They’re also very serious professionals and they can turn it off or on like no one else. So it was very educational as well and made our day easier. The ending and everything took some of the sting out of it.
Devil’s World and the Corporate Boys Club
Leland Townsend is well-connected in the demonic world, and his ability to climb the hellish corporate ladder has been the focus of his character arc.
“Well, that’s his mission in life, isn’t it? The accumulation of power and influence seems to be his specialty – and mischief,” Emerson mused.
Emerson reflected on this season’s depiction of the demonic hierarchy as a corporate boys’ club, applauding the trope.
“It was a great tone because it really inspired Cheryl. The whole glass ceiling — what a great concept. It was a great metaphor that was used well in our narrative.
Farewell to evil – is this really so?
As the evil comes to an end, Emerson is reflecting on what he misses most.
“I had such a great script and so many one-on-one scenes that were of a really high caliber. The scenes with Katja, the scenes with Mike, Christine, Andrea – oh my God. We had some scenes,” he recalled fondly.
“I will miss the ease we had on set, and even though our show was hard and long to make, it was high-spirited.”
As for Leland’s future? “Oh gosh. I don’t know. We’ve explored him and his psyche pretty thoroughly over the course of our work so far. “I don’t know what… I’ve got to think about it. “
As the show comes to an end, fans of Wicked and Emerson can take solace in knowing that they got to witness one of television’s most talented actors bring to life one of the most unique and disturbing characters in television .
Whether walking through the dark corridors of a demon’s lair or the eerie calm of a courtroom, Michael Emerson’s Leland Townsend leaves an unforgettable impression – and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Wicked” wraps up on Paramount+ this month.
