Phil Dunster Embraces 'Dastardly' New Role in HBO Max Comedy Rooster
Phil Dunster, the 33-year-old actor who achieved global fame portraying footballer Jamie Tartt in the beloved series Ted Lasso, is taking on a dramatically different character in his latest television venture. While Jamie Tartt experienced a well-documented redemption arc, Dunster's new role as Archie in the HBO Max comedy Rooster offers no such immediate salvation.
From Football Pitch to Academic Scandal
Created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, Rooster follows successful author Greg Russo, played by Steve Carell, who accepts a position at a prestigious university to support his daughter Katie, portrayed by Charly Clive, after her marriage collapses. The reason for the split? Katie's husband Archie, played by Dunster, had an affair with a student.
"Archie is a bit of a dastardly character," Dunster acknowledged, quoting series co-creator Matt Tarses who specifically sought the actor for the role because he believed Dunster could make audiences "still love him when he was doing really dastardly things."
Crafting the 'Delightfully Dastardly' Character
When asked about his approach to making such an unsympathetic character engaging, Dunster credited the writing. "The boring but true answer is it's all there in the writing," he explained. "One of the things that Matt and Bill were keen to put across was that Archie is affable in that sort of public school boy way, and he doesn't see himself as the bad guy ever."
Interestingly, the character was originally written with Dunster in mind. "The writers and creators Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses wrote a part, and originally, he was not called Archie," Dunster revealed. "He was called Phil, and they said, 'He's a real a***hole. He's a British guy. We thought of you. Would you like to play him?'"
Contrasting Archie with Jamie Tartt
While audiences might draw comparisons between Archie and Jamie Tartt, Dunster highlighted crucial differences between the characters. "Jamie probably knows that whilst he's incredibly talented, he's had to work his entire life to get to where he is," Dunster analyzed. "Whilst Archie's incredibly talented, he probably also feels entitled to be where he is."
The actor elaborated on Archie's psychological state: "In episode two, he's not yet willing to do the work to try to become psychologically healthy. I think that he is purely relying on the adoration that he's enjoyed for most of his life. So yeah, he's reprehensible. But I think that it's more fun for us as audience members to go, 'My god, this person's got a long way to go. Can he really become a decent person?'"
Working with Comedy Royalty
Beyond the compelling character, Dunster expressed particular excitement about collaborating with Steve Carell, whom he described as "the king." One memorable scene involves a physical altercation between Archie and Greg that incorporates a ladle, a bed, and Dunster in his boxers.
"It was such a fever dream," Dunster laughed when recalling the scene. "When I first read it, I was like, 'Is this right?' I'm in pants, and Steve's going to be hitting me on the bottom with a ladle?"
The filming process became unexpectedly collaborative. "Once we mapped out the choreography of being spanked by a ladle, Steve and I started watching back and improvising," Dunster shared. "We watched it back a couple of times, which I think most people wouldn't normally do, but it was so joyful to be working with this person who's such an icon."
Rooster: Key Details
Created by: Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses
Plot: Follows author Greg Russo who takes a university job to support his daughter after her marriage ends due to her husband Archie's affair with a student.
Starring: Steve Carell, Danielle Deadwyler, Phil Dunster, Charly Clive, Lauren Tsai, John C. McGinley
Runtime: 10 episodes
Where to watch: HBO Max
Dunster appreciates the complexity of Archie, noting that like many of Bill Lawrence's characters, he "seems extreme, but is really just a normal person in extreme circumstances." For viewers eager to witness Dunster's transformation from Ted Lasso's redeemed athlete to Rooster's problematic academic, all episodes are available for streaming on HBO Max.
