Them recently arrived on Amazon, and the Little Marvin helmed horror series is already the talk of the town. When a Black family moves into a white suburb in the 1950s, they are haunted not only by supernatural threats but by the violent racism of their neighborhoods.
Ryan Kwanten plays George Bell, the town milkman with secrets to spare. He spoke to Screen Rant about collaborating with Little Marvin on shaping his character, as well as George’s strange relationship with Alison Pill’s Betty.
First question I have for you: who is George Bell?
Ryan Kwanten: Yeah, George Bell is a milkman, but he is a mystery and he's also sort of a man on a mission. As the series progresses, you realize that this mission hasn't got that much to do with delivering milk.
What attracted you to the role? Because Them is framed as a horror show, but it really focuses on the terror that's happening in this town.
Ryan Kwanten: Just how well Little Marvin knew that world. From a micro to a macro level: there was the 1950s aspect, the terror aspect, PTSD, demons, as well as hope. His choice of music, everything throughout - every single stone - he knew where it was going to be placed. Yet he still was willing to give the artists and the powers that be a chance to breathe their own life into it.
For someone that's helming a show - and I've been fortunate enough to be a part of a few successful shows - when your leader gives you that amount of breadth, you want to do them right.
Can you talk about the collaboration process with Little Marvin, and how he helped informed your character?
Ryan Kwanten: Sure. Firstly, this will not be the last time we hear Little Marvin's voice, and it won't be the last time he's helming shows. He's an absolute juggernaut.
But he was really open with me in the beginning, to say, "Listen, George seems like he's your average milkman. But like everyone in this show, he's a slow burn." There's things that get revealed, and there's deeper context. You start learning about his returning from war, and the things that he did while he was in war that are now feeding this particular storyline and his relationship with Alison Pill's character, Betty.
We meet George Bell in episode 3 as your average milkman, but he has this intriguing conversation with Betty. What can you tell me about their relationship?
Ryan Kwanten: Yeah, there's an obvious chemistry that exists and exudes from them. But it is the 1950s, so there's a prim and proper way of doing things. But he is the milkman, so he gets access to his neighbors and into his into his neighborhood that most people don't get. And so, quite often, he will sit over at Betty's place and enjoy a cup of coffee with her and listen to her worries of the world.
How does George feel about the Emorys moving to the neighborhood in Compton?
Ryan Kwanten: Yeah, that's something that I feel he filters through Betty. Whatever she wants done, he will do. She's sort of leading the charge against the Emorys, and we think the story is going to go one way - obviously I have to be somewhat political in my answer here - but we think it's gonna go one way, but Little Marvin does a great angle shift where you just don't see where this storyline is going.
Honestly, that's one thing I absolutely love about this show: you think it's one thing and then it completely subverts into something else. And I think it's brilliant. What can we look forward to more with George as we progress in the series?
Ryan Kwanten: I guess he's found a purpose in life, and he's a man of conviction. So once he has that purpose, and the mindset and the know-how to follow through with it, that can be a very dangerous thing.
Them is now streaming on Amazon.