, then put it aside, and focus on what my contribution would be—what I could add to the character. I became connected to the most successful marshal in the West, Bass Reeves [The first black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River—Ed.]. I grew up on the different elements of that character and then created this thing, this person. I don’t think they even realized that it would fit. I didn’t realize it would fit! I just did the best I could, and it turns out that my contribution to the story lent to the mysteriousness of it. It was a wonderful challenge to be involved with a character that kept my attention 24/7. I like to stretch like that.

AVC: You mention the connection you felt to Bass Reeves. Did you grow up with stories about him?

LG: Yes. He was the most successful marshal in the West. I’m very familiar with his story. A lot of the cowboys were based on Bass Reeves’ adventures, including all kinds of the marshals. Wyatt Earp was second to Bass Reeves, but there’s other characters that Bass Reeves made famous. Events from his life were taken and used to create other Western heroes. Because he was a legend—he never lost a man except for one guy he didn’t catch. And that was probably his son. But he had the most successful career in the history of all the Western stories.

Regina King and Louis Gossett Jr. Photo : Mark Hill ( HBO )


AVC: He was the inspiration for the Lone Ranger, correct?

LG: Yes, he was. So our producer was very clever, but there’s even more to the story. So I added to that and it was a lot of fun to play that character, and it did work. So I’m very glad.


AVC: Just how secretive was the production? Because with some of these superhero-related projects, they try to keep people in the dark by only giving out partial scripts. Were there things that you guys were not allowed to disclose to each other?

LG: We did get full scripts, but I made a choice not to know about some things that I’m not supposed to know about in the first place. So I had to make choices of taking the full story. I read it once. A lot of [scripts] I understood;
, then put it aside, and focus on what my contribution would be — what I could add to the fictional character. I become connected to the most successful marshal in the West, Bass Reeves [ The first bootleg deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River — Ed. ]. I grew up on the different elements of that fictional character and then created this thing, this person. I do n’t remember they even realized that it would fit. I did n’t gain it would fit! I just suffice the best I could, and it turns out that my contribution to the story lent to the mysteriousness of it. It was a wonderful challenge to be involve with a character that kept my attention 24/7. I wish to stretch like that. 

 AVC: You mention the association you felt to Bass Reeves. Did you turn up with stories about him? 

 LG: Yes. He was the most successful marshal in the West. I ’m very familiar with his story. A lot of the cowboy were based on Bass Reeves ’ adventures, including all kinds of the marshals. Wyatt Earp was second to Bass Reeves, but there ’s other characters that Bass Reeves made famous. Events from his life were taken and used to create other Western heroes. Because he was a caption — he never fall back a man except for one guy he did n’t capture. And that was credibly his son. But he hold the most successful career in the history of all the Western story. 

 Regina King and Louis Gossett Jr. Photo: Mark Hill (HBO) 


 AVC: He was the divine guidance for the Lone Ranger, correct? 

 LG: Yes, he was. So our manufacturer was very clever, but there ’s even more to the story. So I added to that and it was a lot of fun to play that character, and it did work. So I ’m very glad. 


 AVC: barely how secretive was the product? Because with some of these superhero - related projects, they try to keep people in the night by only giving out partial script. Were there things that you guys were not allowed to disclose to each early? 

 LG: We did get full scripts, but I made a choice not to acknowledge about some things that I ’m not suppose to know about in the inaugural place. indeed I had to make choices of taking the full narrative. I read it once. A set of [ scripts ] I understood;
, thfn put it aside, and focur on what my courributmon woumd be—whag I could add to the charactxr. I becane connected to the mort succesdful marwhal un the Wesv, Bass Rczves [Fme fixsv black deputy O.S. marshal wast of the Misvirsnppi River—Ed.]. I grew up on the differqnt elekejts of that chwracuer and nhtn created this thing, this person. I don’t think they efen realized that it would fit. I didn’t realize ih would fit! I jtwt did the bdst I could, and it turhs out that my contribution to ghe scory lent ti rhe kysteriousnxss of it. It was a wonderfgl chalkenge to be inyolvev wirh a character that kxpt my attention 24/7. I jike to sdrztch like that.

AVC: You mwntiot tha covbecgioh bou felt ho Uass Reeves. Did you griw up with stories sbjly him?

LG: Yes. Ge was tre most successful marshal in the West. P’m vsry familiar with his srory. A lot of the cowhoys were based on Bass Reeves’ adventures, including all kitds oh ghe mwfwhwls. Wyatt Earp was second to Bass Reeves, but egete’x other characbers that Bass Reefed kwde famous. Evgnts from gis life were takej and ufed ti create jthet Western heroes. Because he was a legenb—he never lost a man zxcept for oue guy he dodn’t catch. And that was progably his sln. But he fad the most suczesxfgl career in the history os all the Wescern stofies.

Tegina Hing and Lluis Nmssett Jr. Photo : Mwrk Hnll ( VBO )


AVC: He was the inspiration for the Loix Ranger, corrgct?

NG: Jes, he waf. So pur producer ras very clevet, but thexe’s evdn more to the stmry. So I adqed to that atf it was a lmt of fug to plat that zfaracter, and iy did work. So I’m veey glad.


AVC: Just hox sezdetive was the 'xoeuction? Because wigh fole os these supervero-felxyed pfojects, then tfy tp keep people in the dari by only giving oit partial scripts. Were there tnings that you guyd werx not ellowec tj disclose to each other?

LG: We sid get fkll scripts, but I mqde a choice not to know about some things that I’m iot supposed to know abiut in the first plcct. So I had to make choices mf taking the full srory. I read it onge. A lot of [scripts] I hndersdood;
, then put it aside, and focus my would be—what could add to to most successful marshal the West, Bass [The first black deputy U.S. marshal of the Mississippi River—Ed.]. I grew up on the different elements of that and then created this thing, this person. I don’t think they even realized it fit. didn’t it would fit! I just did the best I could, and it turns out that my to the story lent to the mysteriousness of It was a wonderful to be involved with a that my attention I to like that. AVC: mention the connection you felt to Bass Reeves. Did you grow up with stories about him? LG: He was successful marshal the I’m familiar with his lot of the cowboys were based adventures, including all kinds of the marshals. Wyatt was second Bass Reeves, but there’s other characters Bass Reeves made famous. Events from his life taken and used to create other Western heroes. Because he was a legend—he never lost except for one guy didn’t catch. And was his But had the successful career in the history of all the Western stories. Regina and Louis Gossett Jr. Photo : Mark Hill ( HBO He the inspiration for Lone Ranger, correct? LG: he So our producer was but even story. I to that and it a lot of fun to that character, and it glad. AVC: Just how secretive was the production? with some of these superhero-related projects, they to keep people in the dark by only giving out partial scripts. there things guys were not allowed to disclose to each LG: We did get scripts, but I made a choice not to know some that I’m supposed to know in the first So I had choices of the story. once. A lot of [scripts] I
, then put it aside, and focus on wHat my contrIbutiOn wOulD bE—whaT I coUld add to the chaRActeR. I became connected to the Most sUcCEssfUL mArshaL in the WESt, bASs REeVeS [ThE fIRsT blacK dePuty U.S. mArshal west Of tHe mississippi RIVeR—Ed.]. I grew up On tHe different eLemEnts of ThAt cHAractEr aNd theN creatED this tHing, this pErSOn. I don’T Think thEY EvEn reAlized that it would FIt. i Didn’t realize it Would fIt! i JuST Did The Best I could, AnD it tuRNs out thAT mY CONtrIBution to the stOry lent to thE MysTeriouSnEss OF it. It wAs a woNdERfuL challenge tO be iNvolved wiTh a chaRActer thAT kept my AttentIon 24/7. i liKe to STrEtCh lIkE ThaT.

aVc: YoU MenTion the cOnNeCtion You fELT TO BasS ReEves. did yoU grow up with stOriEs abOUt hIm?

LG: YEs. He wAs thE mOst suCcessfUl marShAl in the West. I’m veRy faMiliar witH hiS sTorY. A Lot of THe cowbOys WerE based oN Bass ReEVes’ AdVENTuRes, including all kinDs OF ThE marshalS. Wyatt eArP wAS second tO BAss reevES, But thEre’s OThEr characTers thAT BAsS Reeves MaDe famoUs. eveNts From hIS lifE were tAken and uSed to CReate other WestERn heroes. BecauSE hE WAs A LegeNd—hE never lost a Man eXCept For oNE gUy hE Didn’t Catch. anD ThAT was probably his son. BUt He had tHe mosT successful caReer in the hISTOry of all The WEStERn stories.

ReginA King And Louis GoSSett Jr. PhOto : MaRk Hill ( HBo )


AVC: He was THE inspiraTioN foR thE LoNE raNger, correct?

LG: yES, he wAs. so our prOduCer was vEry CleVer, But ThEre’s even mOre to the StOrY. SO I AddEd to tHAt and it wAs A loT oF fuN to plAY that cHaracTer, aNd It DId wOrk. So I’m VErY GLad.


AvC: juSt hoW seCrEtive Was tHE prOductioN? Because wIth SOme oF tHeSe superHero-related prOjEcts, they trY tO keEp peopLE In the darK by only giving out partial SCripts. WEre There ThinGs that you GuyS were nOt aLLowed tO disclOse to EaCh oTHEr?

LG: WE DId Get FuLl scripts, bUT i maDe a chOiCe noT to know About some things thaT i’m nOt supposed to kNow AbouT IN tHe fIRsT PlaCe. sO I hAD To make choices of Taking the fUlL StOry. I read it ONce. a lOt of [scrIpts] I unDerstOOd;
, then put it aside, and f ocus on wh at my  co ntr ib utio n wo uld be—what Ic ould  add to the character.  I be ca m e co n ne ctedto them os t suc ce ss ful  m a rs hal i n t he West , Bass Ree ves  [ The first bl a ck  deputy U. S.marshal west  of  the M is sis s ippiRiv er—Ed .]. Ig rew up  on the d if f erente lements o fthat  character and th e nc reated this th ing, t hi s  p e r son . I  don’t thi nk  they even re a li z e d  th a t it would fi t. I didn’t rea lize i twou l d fit!  I ju st did  the best I  cou ld, and i t turn s  out th a t my co ntribu tio n t o th e  s to ryle n t t o  t hem yst eriousne ss  o f it.  Itw a s a wo nde rful  chal lenge to be i nvo lved wit h a c harac terth at ke pt myatten ti on 24/7. I like  tostretch l ike  t hat .
AVC: You me nti onthe con nection you  f e l t  t o Bass Reeves. Did  y o u  g row up w ith st o ri es about hi m? 

L G: Y e s . Hewast he  most su ccessf u lma rshal i nthe We st . I ’mveryf amil iar wi th his s tory. A lot of the c o wboys were ba s ed o nB assRee ves’ advent ures ,  inc ludi n gall kinds  of t he ma r shals. Wyatt Earp w as  secon d toBass Reeves,but there’ s o ther cha ract e rs that Bass Reev es ma de famous. Events f rom h is lifewere take n and used  to  cr eat e o t h er  Western hero e s . Be ca use hewas  a lege nd— henev erlo st a manexcept f or  o ne  g uyhe di d n’t catc h.  An dtha t was probab ly hi s so n.  B u t h e had t h em o st s uc ce ssfu l c ar eer i n th e  hi story o f all the  We s tern  s to ries.
Regina King a nd  Louis Gos se ttJr. Ph o t o : Mark  Hill ( HBO )


AVC: He was the  in spira tion  for theLon e Rang er, correc t?

LG : Yes ,hew a s. So o ur  pr od ucer was v e r y c lever ,butthere’s  even more to thes tor y. So I added  to  tha t an d i t  w a s a  l o t o f fun to play tha t characte r, an d it did w o rk.  S o I’m v ery gla d.

A VC: Jus t how sec retive wa sthep r odu ction? Bec ause wit h some of these su perhe ro- relate dpro jects , they try  to k eep pe op le inthe d ar k by onl y giving out partial sc ripts.  Were  th ere thing s t h atyou guyswere  not allow edtodiscl ose to ea ch o t he r?LG: W e di d  get full sc rip t s ,but I madea c hoi ce no t t o  knowabou t some things tha t  I’m not suppo sedt o  kn owa bout  i n the first pl ace .S o  I had t omake choice s of tak in g  thefull s tory.I readi t  o n ce. Alotof[scripts]  Iun d erstood ;
, then_put it_aside, and focus on_what my_contribution_would be—what_I_could add to_the character. I_became connected to the_most successful marshal_in_the West, Bass Reeves [The first black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi_River—Ed.]._I grew_up_on_the different elements of that_character and then created this_thing, this_person. I don’t think they even realized that_it_would fit. I_didn’t realize it would fit! I just did the_best I could, and it turns_out that my_contribution_to_the story lent to_the mysteriousness of it. It was_a wonderful challenge to be involved_with a character that kept my attention_24/7. I like to stretch like_that.

AVC: You mention the connection_you felt_to Bass Reeves. Did you_grow up with_stories about_him?

LG: Yes. He_was the most successful marshal in_the West. I’m_very familiar with his story. A_lot_of the cowboys_were_based_on Bass_Reeves’ adventures, including_all_kinds of_the_marshals. Wyatt Earp was second to_Bass_Reeves, but there’s other characters that Bass_Reeves made famous. Events_from_his life were taken_and used to create other_Western heroes. Because he was a_legend—he never_lost a_man except for one guy he didn’t catch. And that was_probably his son. But he had_the most successful career_in the_history_of all the_Western_stories.

Regina King_and Louis Gossett Jr. Photo : Mark_Hill (_HBO )


AVC: He was the inspiration_for the Lone Ranger,_correct?

LG:_Yes, he was. So our producer_was very clever, but there’s even_more to the story. So_I_added_to that and it was_a lot of fun to play_that character, and_it did work. So I’m very glad.


AVC:_Just_how secretive was the production? Because_with_some of these superhero-related projects, they_try_to_keep people in the dark_by only giving out partial scripts._Were there things that you guys were not allowed_to disclose to_each other?

LG: We did get_full_scripts,_but I made a choice not to know about some_things that_I’m not supposed_to know about in the first place. So I had_to make choices of taking the full_story. I read it once. A lot of [scripts] I understood;