Rainn Wilson Discusses Playing Unlikeable Detective On Fox’s Backstrom

For many, he will always be Dwight Schrute, Assistant to the Regional Manager of a small paper company who loves beats and Battlestar Galatica. Rainn Wilson returns to TV after his long 10-year stint on The Office. He plays the title character in Backstrom, which is based on the Swedish book series by Leif G. W. Persson and from executive producer Hart Hanson (Bones). Wilson talked to IGN about coming to play Backstrom, a casually racist, sexist police detective.

On taking on the character Backstrom

“They had this kind of tone in their voice that was a little different so I read it and I was like, ‘Oh, darn it, they’re pulling me back into television.’ I really just wanted to take a nice long, long vacation and do some indie films that no one would ever watch. But I fell in love with the character and he is so fascinating and interesting and has so many facets and so much texture that I knew it was going to be something that I would love to dive into. I’ve never played a character like this before. He’s a lead and he drives scenes and drives episodes and stuff, which is an interesting challenge in itself. Dwight was always driving the B plot or doing the comic antics on the side. And then he’s got heart and there’s romance – not Hart Hansen; no pun intended. There’s a dark underbelly and humor. Plus I’ve always wanted to play a cop. It was a little intimidating. I was like how am I going to be a convincing cop? And I realized I didn’t need to be a convincing cop. I could be a schlubby, weird dufus cop like myself. So I was really excited to take on the challenge.”

On his character’s ex-fiancé played by Sarah Chalke

“That’s been really fun. He still holds a candle for her, he still really longs to be with her, but he knows he f**ked things up and dropped the ball. She’s just a delight to work with. She’s such a great actress and has such an incredible range. We’ve had a lot of fun. It allows you to see the softer side of Backstrom come out, the playful side. He’s not always just a mean son of a bitch.”

On his arch enemy

“His arch enemy is his father. And I love that. That’s really daring. Robert Forester plays him – a magnificent actor, obviously. Oscar nominated, incredible actor. But they butt heads. He’s incredibly charming and Backstrom believes that he’s a truly evil human being. Part of the reason he became a cop is to be a better cop than his dad. His dad is the sheriff of the county he grew up in and he vows his own father’s demise. It’s very Oedipal.”

[Photo Credit: Source]

Rainn Wilson Discusses Playing Unlikeable Detective On Fox’s Backstrom