Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
Spoilers follow for the Netflix miniseriesAmerican Primeval, which premiered on January 9.
InAmerican Primeval, Isaac Reed is a classic western hero and a classic Taylor Kitsch character.
Kitsch has seen the variouscomplaints and hes taking them as compliments.
Id rather have you fucking truly upset that I die than not feel anything at all.
Then I didnt do my job.
They were incredibly open with me, which helped a lot, Kitsch says from his home in Montana.
One thing you cant screw around with is getting that right.
The show is structured so we get little pieces of Isaacs backstory throughout.
We eventually learn he grew up among the Shoshone and that his wife and child were killed.
Im in my little office and a lot of my research is around here.
The only way he could see them again is to cross over honorably.
Thats an aspect of the Shoshone community, and thats what I really paid attention to.
That led me to the Wind River reservation and working with them.
This one explains that everything is circular.
Theres no ending in life or death.
When Devin said, Theyre dead, I added, Theyve crossed over.
That line meant an enormous amount to me.
Pete was fine with that, and so was Smith.
I have this as well:Native American Clothing: An Illustrated History.
We were really working on the wardrobe and including the Shoshone colors.
I wanted a couple things my wife would have made me that Im holding on to.
Hes an amalgamation of a white guy and the Shoshone, and I wanted to represent that.
You went to Wind River and also worked with a Shoshone language specialist.
That was day one.
Then, its phonetically.
As far back asFriday Night Lights, you and Peter have talked about your collaborative partnership.
Hes open to you suggesting dialogue and motivations for your characters.
Tell me about that.For me, that was the most beautiful scene of the show for Isaacs journey.
Its so important to show he is so fucked up by this whole thing.
Otherwise, youre just playing this lazy, grumpy guy.
As an actor, youre always trying to give more to these characters.
With every character Ive played, Ill write a whole document onwho are you when youre speaking to someone?
Who are you by yourself?When you pitch, you gotta bring all the ammo.
You gotta have it prepped.
Originally it was about Red Feather andhim having gone rogue,and more exposition.
I felt this moment could be a lot heavier for Isaac.
Its the first time I go back since Ive lost my family.
Hes carrying guilt he doesnt know what to do with.
I got it written in Shoshone and FaceTimed Pete.
Mark was incredible with me.
He was like, With the research youve done, youre now Isaac.
Thats really empowering, because hes such a great writer.
But it was best idea wins.
Some fans of the show are angry that you die in the finale.
How did you film that?Its the time, right?
Thats 1857 in a nutshell, pure survival, moment to moment.
There are not many happy endings.
its a guy who just couldnt let go.
Pete and I, theres such a trust.
We had rehearsed, and thats one of the last scenes we shot.
Pete gave me a sick note.
He was like, Isaac is this fucking raw animal.
You hear about how, in a wolf pack, sometimes theyll leave the pack and go die.
Thats where the emotional part of it is, the way I played it.
We did four or five takes.
You live for those scenes, of trying to end on a real note.
Youre a photographer and youre a fan of wolves, so Im going to ask you a silly question.
I was tracking yesterday, by the way.
I didnt get to him, but I did get some tracks.
[Moves camera to show a photo of wolf pups hanging on his wall.]
I took that photo.
Did your interest in photography start because ofThe Bang Bang Club?Yeah.
I was interested but intimidated so I never engaged.
I love that part.
For the wolf part, I do remember doing cowboy camp and meeting the 70/30 wolf dogs they had.
Its funny, because there are carcasses out front that Isaac had killed.
They probably would have stopped if they saw those carcasses before breaking and entering.
I have to, of course, ask you aboutFriday Night Lights.Mm-hmm.
Youve said that maybe you would play an opposing teams coach on the reboot in development.
A dream scenario I see Rigs divorced, maybe a kid or two.
Id like to see where Billy and him are at.
There arent many options.
I do think he would probably end up coaching.
Maybe still battling alcoholism, knowing him.
Obviously a little older and wiser.
I think he would make a good coach, and I think Riggins would care maybe too much.
There are two ways to go about this.
But a rom-com, shit.
Itd have to be obviously opposite a terrific actress.
What are the Linklater ones?
Its not very rom-com-y, the long walk-and-talks?
TheBeforetrilogy.Yeah, something like that.
I dont see myself running through an airport to stop her from getting on a plane.
I think Id just let her and be like, Fuck it, I gotta move on.
Youll know when you know, when one comes.
I got a concussion from the last job, a broken foot.
Its like,I gotta give my body a break here.
I got a heat pack on my lower back as we speak.
Im kinda beat up.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the title of Richard LinklatersBeforetrilogy.
