Last year, when season 2 of Mayor of Kingstown came out, Taylor Handley told me about “brotherly love” His character Kyle and Jeremy Renner’s character Mike share a relationship, and over the last three seasons we have seen that relationship grow and develop. Now that Season 3 of the Paramount+ show is nearing the end of its run on the TV schedule 2024The Kyle actor talked about working with Renner and why it was “one of the highlights” of his career.
During an interview with CinemaBlend, I asked Handley what kind of conversations he had with Renner that helped them understand and recreate everything in Season 3. Considering that both Kyle and Mike lost his mother and they welcomed a new baby into the world, making Handley’s character a father and Renner’s an uncle. They had to deal with an overwhelming amount of change. This led to the Kyle actor revealing that he loves that behind the scenes, they don’t really talk about it, they just do it:
You know, working with Jeremy has been pretty much one of the highlights of my career because he and I don’t have to talk about it. He shows up, he’s got what he’s prepared, and I show up with what I’ve prepared. And then, all of a sudden, we’re in the scene, we’re just diving in. And Jeremy starts doing some amazing things. And I say, “Yeah!” and I get on that train, and I’m kind of his co-pilot, and I follow his lead.
While Jeremy Renner spoke openly about his recovery from the snow plow accident and how this Injuries affected his work and character on Kingstownhis co-stars have only raved about him. The co-creator of the show and Ian actor, Hugh Dillon, told me they were preparing for Renner’s return, but did so with caution. Mike actor came back with enthusiasmshot some of his own action sequences and was able to effortlessly capture his character’s confidence. Handley told me he loves working with Renner because he brings so much love and energy to the set.
Both avenger Actor and Dillon is both a musician and an actor, so it made sense when the Kyle actor further elaborated on his point by saying:
When you’re in the middle of that energy as an artist or a musician or whatever, and you’re creating that art, you’re always looking for the magic, and that’s why you love doing it so much. That’s why you love making music so much. That’s why you love acting, because those magical moments happen. And with Renner, there’s always a magical moment. And I love doing scenes with him because he always brings something so true, but also so sublime. And he makes me a better actor.
I love this energy between Handley and Renner and am very excited to see the scenes between Mike and Kyle in the next two episodes.
Warning, spoilers for episodes 7 and 8 of Mayor of Kingstown Season 3 is just around the corner!
In episode 8, for example, we saw how Mike reacted to Tracy’s horrific attackand it will be exciting to see the moment when Kyle finds out. I imagine the brothers will seek justice and vengeance for their family member in the final two episodes of season three, and hopefully that will lead to some dynamic moments between the actors.
This season of Kingstown was brutal, intense, and a time of transition for Mike and Kyle. It was entertaining to watch them as Handley’s character learns to be a father and navigates his new job while Mike continues to wield power in the city. And I can’t wait to find out more!
To see Jeremy Renner and Taylor Handley in action together, you can stream new episodes of Mayor of Kingstown Sundays with a Paramount+ subscription.