Today a series starts streaming that shows you The Walking Dead star Jon Bernthal in a whole new light: Ober have you ever seen Marvel’s Punisher as a callboy?
At Paramount+, the crime series American Gigolo opens today, 28 November 2022, with a Jon Bernthal performing at his best as the lead character. While his casting isn’t the obvious choice, the dramatic thriller works out all the better thanks to it.
American Gigolo now streaming: a series remake with a new twist
American Gigolo is the series remake of Paul Schrader’s 80s thriller A Man for Certain Hours by David Hollander (Ray Donovan). Sex worker Julian Kaye (Jon Bernthal), convicted of murder, is released from prison after 15 years. The world and the escort business has now changed. While the ex-callboy is struggling to make a fresh start on the one hand, he is also looking for clues as to what really happened back then when he woke up next to a dead customer.
Hard-pressed, his search for clues leads the former American Gigolo to old acquaintances: Could Julian’s now-married great love Michelle (Gretchen Mol) have anything to do with framing him for murder? How do his old pimp Olga (Sandrine Holt) and her now grown-up daughter Isabelle (Lizzie Brocheré) fit into the picture? Was Julien himself perhaps responsible for the gruesome act of violence in the end and just can’t remember?
After The Walking Dead and Marvel’s Punisher, Jon Bernthal convincingly becomes the American Gigolo
In the original film 42 years ago, Richard Gere still embodied the American Gigolo, who became known for his womanizer roles. The fact that the series remake goes its own way, especially in terms of casting, is to the remake’s advantage: for the retelling draws its greatest appeal from its exciting cross-casting of Jon Bernthal.
In his most famous roles, the actor usually played tough guys, be it as a Daredevil antagonist with his own series (Marvel’s The Punisher), as ex-cop Shane in the first seasons of The Walking Dead or in action roles like those in Baby Driver, The Accountant and Wind River. Casting the American with the brawny figure and the 14-fold broken nose as a sensual escort man, however, works out as a calculation. Not only because he plays an ex-con, but also because he sells the role convincingly with his magnetic aura as an actor.
Jon Bernthal as American Gigolo
Thanks to small adjustments and changes, such as the newly inserted longer prison stay, the insight into the sex industry of Los Angeles and the remorseful policewoman Sunday (Rosie O’Donnell), even those who know Paul Schrader’s thriller template can still experience twists and surprises. All others may simply take the hand seductively offered by Jon Bernthal and let themselves be drawn into the erotic thriller.
American Gigolo starts with 2 of the 8 episodes on 28 December 2022 on Paramount+ (also watchable with Sky Q subscription) and will be shown with double episodes every Wednesday thereafter.
