Warning: Mild SPOILERS for Mythic Quest season 3Mythic Quest season 3 is almost here, and if the trailer is any indication, things are very different for the fictional game company's hapless executive producer David Brittlesbee. Brittlesbee, played to perfection by David Hornsby, has long been one of Mythic Quest's funniest characters, as the well-intentioned producer often found himself essentially sidelined by the brilliant yet ego-driven Ian Grimm (Rob McElhenney) and other members of his own office. Now that Grimm, Poppy Li (Charlotte Nicdao), and others have left the Mythic Quest office, it seems as though things might finally have changed for David Brittlesbee.
Brittlesbee's fate in Mythic Quest is in part decided by the man playing him, but not only due to David Hornsby's acting abilities. Hornsby, a longtime collaborator of Mythic Quest show creators Megan Ganz, Rob McElhenney, and Charlie Day, serves as an executive producer of Mythic Quest and has also worked in the writer's room of the hit workplace comedy. Hornsby even directed an episode of Mythic Quest season 3, proving that his creative touch both in front of and behind the camera is an essential part of both the humor and the heart of the show.
David Hornsby spoke with Screen Rant about David Brittlesbee's state of mind at the beginning of Mythic Quest season 3 in addition to his work behind the scenes.
David Hornsby on Mythic Quest Season 3
Screen Rant: Your character has been kind of a punching bag for the whole series.
David Hornsby: Whoah, whoah, whoah, you're coming out firing. Go ahead, I'm going to let you finish this one, but watch yourself.
In a way that's very sympathetic! I feel bad for him. Is he any happier in season three, now that Poppy, Ian, and Brad are gone?
David Hornsby: Oh, man. He's just looking for a desk to kick his feet up on. We wanted to start the season - we jump ahead in time, and see how Ian and Poppy are doing, how Mythic Quest is doing with David specifically running it, and we wanted to show that he was actually thriving. He's not flailing, and for the first time in his life, he's able to be in charge and be on-time and on-budget. Which, sure, may not be creatively the most exciting time for Mythic Quest, it's managed so tight.
And you also work on It's Always Sunny! Are there pros and cons to jumping from show to show with so many of the same people? Does that make everything easier, or do you ever want a break?
David Hornsby: Well, you know, in a sense we get a built-in break in that we're not year-round with twenty-four episodes of each show. We're ten episodes. If this pandemic has taught me anything, it's that we all need balance in our lives. So, yes, I think just like Rob and Megan will work on other things between seasons, so will I, and we each have our own things that we want to pursue, but we also like coming back together. It is hard to find collaborators, as I'm sure you know, people that you work with that make you better, that you have the same language with [where] even if you're different, your core values are the same, and it makes it fun. It's not always easy, but it makes it worthwhile.
I've been lucky enough to see the season, it's my personal favorite yet. When you get into later seasons of a show, what's it like to continue pushing forward while keeping the DNA of what works intact?
David Hornsby: It's a challenge, but it's the fun part. It's the thing that you ideally are doing in a fulfilling way. Making yourself think, and ruminate on, "Oh, yeah, how would that go if David were on his own?" You know, "What is new and different? How can we do something new and different?" We don't ever want to lose the character. The characters are who they are, just like we're each who we are, probably the same as we were twenty years ago, mostly. In some respects. There's only so far a character can advance, especially year to year here, but I think it's fun to put them in new situations and discover new things about the characters. Challenging, but worthwhile.
You also directed an episode this season. As someone who is producing and involved so much behind the scenes, what is it like to direct and then jump in front of the camera and do scenes as David, who is probably a very different person?
David Hornsby: Well this particular episode - I directed the Christmas one - was a heavier storyline for my character, which was also the reason that I wanted to do that particular one. But [that] made it more challenging. I got shin splints in bones of my leg I didn't know I had. I'm like, "Wow, I got shin splints on the back, there! That's interesting!" Just because you're running around so much. I was literally standing more than I've ever... changing here, and then this, and then "Oh, can you do that over there?" And it felt a little bit like I was running around, and I did notice that, but again - it was challenging, but super fun. Super worth it.
About Mythic Quest Season 3
In season 3, as Ian and Poppy navigate the gaming world and their partnership at the newly formed GrimPop Studios, Dana is forced to play mediator to her bosses’ incessant bickering.
Back at Mythic Quest, David settles into his new role as the boss where he truly finds himself in charge for the first time with Jo returning as his assistant — more loyal and militant than ever; and Carol attempts to figure out where she fits in after a new promotion. At Berkeley, Rachel struggles to balance her morals with capitalism, while a post-prison Brad tries to return to society as a reformed man.
Check out our other Mythic Quest interviews here:
And check back soon for our interview with David Hornsby.
Mythic Quest season 3 premieres November 11th on Apple TV+.