President of the jury for the 2023 edition of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, John Goodman spoke to our microphone about the future of the series “The Conners”, the 25th anniversary of the film “The Big Lebowski”, and his collaboration with the Coen brothers.
In nearly forty years of career, John Goodman has multiplied roles in film and television and has tried his hand at many genres, from The Big Lebowski to 10 Cloverfield Lane, passing by O’Brother, Argo, Monsters & Cie (the voice of Sully in VO is him), Coyote Girls, or even Roseanne and her spin-off The Conners.
In recent days, the 70-year-old American actor has however taken on a new role: that of president of the fiction jury of the 62nd edition of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival, which began on Friday and ends this Tuesday evening in Monaco.
“I don’t know much about what is being done in television in Europe, so the Monte-Carlo Festival proposal was a good opportunity for me to discover new fiction and open up to other cultures”told us the one who, alongside Shane West (Emergency) and Sara Mortensen (Astrid and Raphaëlle), who are also part of the jury, has the difficult task of deciding between the fictions in competition.
The Conners, a “surreal” experience for John Goodman
On the other hand, the series have no secrets for John Goodman, who plays the patriarch Dan Conner in the series The Conners, who took over from Roseanne when Roseanne Barr, the main actress, was fired by ABC in 2018 following a racist tweet. Just nine episodes after the cult sitcom, which originally aired between 1988 and 1997, returned for a stellar tenth season in revival form.
“It was surreal to revisit the character of Dan Conner twenty years later”tells us John Goodman between two deliberations of the jury of the Monte-Carlo Festival.
“That’s really the right word for how I felt. When I returned to the studios, when Roseanne returned in 2018, it was a shock to set foot in this exact replica of the sets of twenty years ago, with the same furniture and the children who had grown up (laughs). But the feeling of shock quickly faded. We quickly went back to our old habits.”.
ABC/Eric McCandless
John Goodman and Emma Kenney in The Conners.
Not a word about Roseanne Barr, who we’re asked not to talk about until the interview. John Goodman, who admits to currently devouring the series Silo on Apple TV+, seems happy with the adventure The Conners, which has already been renewed for a sixth season, the launch date of which is unknown since the strike of screenwriters continues in Hollywood.
When asked about the rumors suggesting that this sixth season could be the last, John Goodman replies that this kind of decision is not his fate and that he lets himself be carried away by the choice of channel and production (the actor certainly being hired for six or seven seasons, as is always the case in the United States).
“I don’t know if season 6 of The Conners will be the last, I submit to what the channel decides”. The interpreter of Dan Conner explains to us in any case that this sixth season to come will be shorter than the others since he must resume at the beginning of next year the filming of the series The Righteous Gemstones, which therefore seems to have already been renewed for a season 4, even if HBO has not yet decided on this subject (season 3 has just started on the air).
“What is certain is that I will only be able to do half a season of The Conners this year because, if all goes well, I will shoot season 4 of The Righteous Gemstones from February 2024”. Last fall, John Goodman had to juggle between filming season 5 of The Conners and season 3 of The Righteous Gemstones, and he has a tiring memory of this period. He therefore certainly asked that this complicated schedule not happen again in the future.
Could a Big Lebowski 2 see the light of day? John Goodman reacts to Jeff Bridges’ comments
For many moviegoers, John Goodman is Walter Sobchak in The Big Lebowski, the cult comedy by the Coen brothers, released twenty-five years ago in cinemas.
When asked if Walter will remain, in his eyes, the best character in his filmography, the on-screen partner of Jeff Bridges refuses to choose between the wonderful roles he has had the chance to play since the beginning of his career : “I don’t really like to rank my characters in order of preference. But what is certain is that a lot of people love Walter (laughs)”.
In any case, John Goodman has very good memories of this somewhat special shoot, alongside talented actors such as Bridges, Julianne Moore, John Turturro and Steve Buscemi. “It was an incredible moment in my career, very special. We laughed a lot on this shoot. It was a unique experience. I am delighted that people liked this film so much and that it was recognized by critics “.
A few weeks ago, Jeff Bridges declared to the American press that he was ready to resume his character of the Dude in The Big Lebowski 2 on one condition: that Ethan and Joel Coen be part of the production and writing. Which he said wasn’t a win given that the Coens don’t like sequels. Information confirmed by John Goodman, who does not believe in the possibility of a sequel.
“I don’t think there’s ever going to be a Big Lebowski 2. The Coens aren’t doing a sequel. But if Jeff somehow gets to edit this, I’d love to be asked to reprise my role, of course. . But I really don’t think it will see the light of day.”.
Denis Guignebourg/Bestimage
John Goodman strikes a pose at the Monte-Carlo Festival.
John Goodman, however, hopes to be able to work again with the Coen brothers, whom he describes as directors “apart”and with whom he has not collaborated since Inside Llewyn Davis in 2013.
Filmmakers who add to the long list of renowned directors with whom John Goodman has worked. Among which we can also mention the Frenchman Michel Hazanavicius, who directed it in 2011 in The Artist.
“I have very good memories of The Artist and of the time spent with Michel and Berenice Bejo. I did not expect to make a silent film in my career. It was a great challenge, and Michel is a very good director.”. Could John Goodman turn again under the direction of a French director one day? The future will tell. The actor, who admits to having a desire for the theater at the moment, does not seem to be closed to anything in any case.