In today’s episode of ⁠Bingeworthy⁠, our TV and streaming podcast, host Mike DeAngelo dives back into the mystery of Apple TV+’s latest mystery series, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.” The show follows multiple characters in different eras on a twist-filled journey to uncover the mysteries of the organization at the center of the MonsterVerse films. The show stars Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, and many more.
⁠READ MORE: ‘Monarch’: Director Matt Shakman Talks The MonsterVerse Series, Working With Marvel, ‘Star Trek 4’ & More [Bingeworthy Podcast]⁠
Joining Bingeworthy to discuss the ten-episode series are its leads, Kurt and Wyatt Russell, the two actors (and father and son) who play the same central character in the story at different points in his life, Lt. Lee Shaw. Wyatt plays the younger version of the lieutenant in the 1950s, and Kurt plays the character as a much older man in the modern day. And it turns out, it was this very unique concept that hooked the duo.
“I had an opportunity to obviously do something that had not been done,” Kurt Russell said. “Two known actors, father and son, playing the same role. But it was an opportunity for me to work with Wyatt Russell. So when am I going to pass that up?”
“I feel the same way. It was just cool for me because I had spent so much time in rooms adjacent to my dad when he was doing whatever movie he was going to go do,” Wyatt Russell added, “And it was always those conversations with directors and writers are always about making the movie better. And I was logging those conversations in my head just as like life conversations, not as necessarily things I was going to use in my future, like specifically. “
“But you hear them as a kid, like, ‘You love your dad? You wanna be like your dad?’ You know, ‘How does your dad deal with things and situations?’ And then when I get to see it in action, like, I’ve never really got to see it in action like from start to finish and be involved in the process, start to finish,” he continued. “And it was so cool to be like, Yeah, the guy that is in the room talking to the director and talking to the actor is the guy who comes on set is the guy that is my dad who I know. Like there’s there was no like, ‘Oh my God, he’s not who I thought he was!’ He’s exactly who he is. And that was cool.” 
READ MORE: Wyatt Russell Says Daniel Brühl & Harrison Ford Aren’t In Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts,’ But Hasn’t Read An Updated Script Yet
With this being the age of remakes and sequels, the question often arises if Wyatt would want to take on any of the characters that his father made famous. Both men shared their take on the prospect.
“Wyatt is creating a slew of his own characters,” Kurt Russell shared. “I’m glad to see that. I’m glad to see his range being used as well as it has been. And, you know, there’ll be a lot in the future.”
Wyatt also noted a reluctance to attempt something so seemingly risky.
“I’ve said it now a few times, John Carpenter and Kurt Russell and all the people that made those movies – they’re so unique,” Wyatt Russell said. “They’re comic book movies before comic book movies were around. Like they have that feeling of comic book movies now, you know? Watch ‘Big Trouble in Little China’ – that’s a comic book movie, but with original ideas and original thoughts. Not derivative of comics. Not saying that’s a bad thing, but they were so unique. It would almost be like rewriting the comic book of Superman for another person or someone who’s going to write Superman for another company. You’re like, ‘But they already do Superman. And they already made that character!’ Like, why would you want to rewrite the comic book? It was so specific that I just don’t know. I don’t think it’s a great idea.”
There’s also been recent news of the directing/producing team, Radio Silence (“Scream,” “Scream VI”) taking on a remake of “Escape from New York,” which begs the question, “Is Kurt Russell involved?” That doesn’t seem to be the case.
“I’ve heard that about 50 times. I can’t tell you how long I’ve been hearing that,” Kurt Russell said, dismissing the rumors. “No, I have no idea. I know this much – when it comes to those movies and that character – there’s a little more there than meets the eye. And they kind of seem to somehow run into that just before they make it. So I don’t know if that will happen again or not.”
Wyatt Russell is getting ready to reprise his role of John Walker, U.S. Agent in Marvel’s “Thunderbolts.” Kurt Russell previously appeared as Ego in “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2,” but did he offer his son any advice when it comes to jumping into the MCU? 
“We’ve always been like, ‘You go to work and the work is the work. and everything’s separate and unique. But I did remember you saying, ‘Make sure that you can go pee!’” Wyatt said.
Kurt Russell continued, “Oh, yeah! I said, ‘Are you wearing some kind of a Captain America outfit or something?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ And I said, ‘Well, get yourself lined up. And when you’ve got to go to the bathroom, like get it done, because getting in and out of that thing’s not going to be that easy.’”
Wyatt added, “Right. Like, I remember that was a legitimate [concern], because it is really hard. Like, it’s legitimately a thing. Yeah, it’s horrible. And they’re really hard to wear. With the suit, he was like, ‘Make sure you get the suit right, because if you don’t get the suit right, it can be a nightmare.’ And there was a point where it was a little bit. I got really raw in my shoulders and I was having PT come over. And Marvel was great because they’re getting a guy to come over to work on my shoulder. I’ve also got 1900 other injuries from hockey prior to this, so it wasn’t [great]. But this time we got it figured out and it’s going to be awesome!”
“Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” is airing new episodes each week through January 10 on Apple TV+. Listen to the full interview with Kurt & Wyatt Russell below: 
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