SPOILER ALERT: The following story contains details from the first few episodes ofBarrySeason4.
The end is nigh forBarry but can the same be said forBill Haders hitman, Barry Berkman?
Barrys there, of course, for the Season 1 murder of detective Janice Moss (Paula Newsome).
Bill Hader in ‘Barry’HBO
She begins working as an acting coach, at Cousineaus urging.
You were right about Mr. Cousineau.
I never should have trusted him, and I never should have taken that acting class, he says.
HBO
If I hadnt have tried to understand myself, we wouldnt be here.
Hader directed all eight Season 4 episodes ofBarry, which he co-created with Alec Berg.
Anytime wed attempt to force it into a certain direction, it just wouldnt want to go that way.
And presumably, any changes made rippled forward to inform your S4 endgame.
Were there any aspects to the storytelling of these opening episodes that evolved over time?
What do we do?
So, I think it was more of just, what would they do?
DEADLINE: Nailing the ending of a series is obviously tough, particularly when its one as beloved asBarry.
How much pressure have you felt to stick the landing?
HADER: Well, it does get down to, what do we want to see?
We, meaning the people writing it and making it.
Youre with the journey, and its kind of like, Where does this story want to go?
As opposed to, Oh, man.
Weve really got to stick the landing.
And if it seems like its true to the story, then that works.
Like, Oh, this is something the fans will like to see.
Its a different show for one scene.
And so you would reshoot it or cut it.
Why are we doing that?
[Laughs] Its like, You should write this like there arent fans.
Just write it for the story.
You know, thats not them saying that to me; thats me saying it to myself.
You know, I do transcendental meditation, and when you meditate, youre supposed to have a mantra.
Do what is right for the story.
HADER: I think the shows done a pretty good job.
But I hope that it has its own kind of style now and has its own voice.
[Laughs] Or whatever.
And then now, hopefully its its own thing.
DEADLINE: Talk a bit about Barrys evolving dynamic with Fuches in this final batch of episodes.
Hey man, theres like too many turns here.
[Laughs] So, it was kind of going back and cutting stuff, pulling stuff out.
Well, Fuches, to me, has always loved Barry.
But I dont think thats whats happening.
And [theres] also from her past, what that means.
And then she also has these feelings Sarah and I talked about.
Its like, he makes her feel like a star.
hes like, Yeah!
Hes never met an actress before, so hes like, Obviously!
But in talking about it with Sarah, I said, I also think he makes her feel safe.
And the light bulb just went off in my head.
And that applies to everybody.
So, Sarah deserves some credit for that idea.
DEADLINE: What would you say about the dark road NoHo Hank seems to be going down?
DEADLINE: What have you been thinking about in wrapping the story of Gene Cousineau?
[Laughs] And theyre nice people.
Youre trying to do something, but theres just part of you that cant help but do something.
And can you change that?
I think for him, its narcissism.
I really want to be left alone.
[Laughs] And hes saying it in a spotlight.
DEADLINE: Youve attracted some pretty sensational guest stars this season I wont spoil who…
HADER:Yeah.
We can say Guillermo del Toros in the third episode, and hes very funny.
He did a great job and he brought his own cane, which was great.
He had two different takes on the character, and they were both really interesting.
And he brought his wonderful wife Kim [Morgan] with him, and it was just really sweet.
Then, the other ones, Im not going to mention.
Theyre more of a surprise, but its really fun.
And then one, actually, you wont see them, but you will hear them.
Theres two people that you hear in a later episode, voices that you might recognize.
HADER:It was good.
He was f***ing with me a little bit.
He was like, Are you really going to block it like this?
[Laughs] I was like, Yeah, I am.
And hes like, Really?
Okay… No, he was really funny, and were all friends.
[Laugh] They were just f***ing with me while Im shooting with him.
And Im like, Oh my god.
Guillermo was like, I never said that.
No, no, no.
Hes being an assh*le.
But no, it was very fun.
I was just really impressed with him.
Then, I wrote a part for him and said, Hey, man.
I wrote a part for you.
The characters named Toro.
And I think he was a bit surprised.
He went, Really?
And I go, Yeah!
And he texted me back, Are you serious?
[Laughs] And I was like, Yes, you asked me to.
And he said, Oh, well when do you shoot?
And she showed me pictures.
Heres the costume he prefers, and thats the one we went with.
And I was like, Oh my god, there he is.
He went to a fitting, and he did it.
Or are you ready for a fresh start?
Because if anything, Ive learned from my career, you have no idea what will happen.
You have no idea what will happen to you.
All I want to do is make a movie.
So, I dont know.
That could be really interesting.
DEADLINE: Will getting a movie made will be your primary focus looking ahead?
Ive written [a project] with Duffy Boudreau, one of the writers on the show.
Hes my best friend from Tulsa.
Weve known each other since we were like 18, so you need that on set.
You need your friend from Oklahoma who goes, Yeah, man.
[Laughs] You should go again.
Or he watches a cut and is like, Well, that just seems corny, man.
They give a shot to make a little, small thing.
And then I have two other ideas.
DEADLINE: Do you see yourself starring in these projects?
HADER:The horror one, I would star in.
The other two, as of now, I would not be in.
So, well see.
I mean, thats what happened withBarry.
How was the shooting experience?
HADER:So, Im the UPS guy on the telephone.
So, then Id pick up the phone.
Im like, Hello?
And its Ari Aster going, Hey, Bill.
All right, so youve got your script?
Okay, so heres Joaquin.
Just did a bunch of takes and tried a bunch of different stuff.
Because Ari is like, This is all one shot.
And I just did it a lot.
And my assistant was like, What the f**k are you doing?
Then, I just remember feeling really exhausted and Ari coming on and going, Hey, man.
Its so funny, Bill.
And I was like, Funny?
I cant see straight.
But they just thought it was hilarious.
DEADLINE: Have you seen the film yet?
HADER:Yeah, I saw it.
I took Ali Wong and Zach Cregger, who directedBarbarian.
We all went to a private screening of it and just were completely blown away.
