While the sexuality of his character is left to the imagination in Warner Bros’ recent superhero film, “Birds of Prey,” Ewan McGregor dazzles as a larger than life villain that is just as quick to talk about how icky snot bubbles look as he is to order someone’s face to get cut off. But for as great as that performance is, as well as his various other acclaimed roles over the decades, producer Ryan Murphy thinks the best is yet to come. Specifically, he thinks the best McGregor role of all time is in the upcoming “Halston” miniseries on Netflix.
Speaking to Collider, Ryan Murphy, who is one of the most accomplished TV producers working today, opened up about the long-in-development “Halston” limited series, which stars McGregor as the title character, based on the tumultuous life and career of famed designer, born Roy Halston Frowick. The producer claims that not only is McGregor great in the role, but this might very well be one of the greatest of the actor’s storied career.
“I think it’s one of those roles, it’s one of the greatest roles of Ewan McGregor’s career and he’s just extraordinary in that part,” said Murphy. “And it’s a hard part, and he has spent a lot of time on it, on the voice, on the look, on everything. I mean, he’s such an incredibly disciplined actor who likes to do a lot of research. I think it’s one of the great roles of his career.”
He added, “I don’t think it could have been made five, six years ago. It’s very graphic. It’s very inside about the fashion world, but it’s also about the struggles, and what it takes to be successful and what you have to lose to get there. And it’s also a cautionary tale about fame and drugs and sex, but Ewan is just so mesmerizing in that part, as I think you can tell. But it’s going to be something, I’ll tell you.”
The five-episode “Halston” miniseries comes from director Daniel Minahan, who has worked with Murphy previously on “American Crime Story.” He’s also directed episodes of TV series such as “The Newsroom,” “Game of Thrones,” “True Blood,” “Homeland,” and “House of Cards.” Most recently, he directed “Deadwood: The Movie.”
There’s no release date set for “Halston,” but Murphy is doing one hell of a job hyping it up.