March 28th 2023.
Chris O’Dowd is tackling fate and fortune in his new drama, The Big Door Prize, produced by David West Read of Schitt's Creek.
Set in Deerfield, a fictional small town in the USA, the daily lives of its citizens are suddenly disrupted by the emergence of a machine named Morpho in a grocery store.
For only $2, Morpho can tell you your 'true life potential', which could be as vague as 'gum' or as dark as 'liar', throwing the entire community into a spin.
The IT Crowd actor's character Dusty, an affable family man and teacher, is hesitant about the machine, prompting him to ask himself whether he is as content as he once thought.
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk) Chris O’Dowd stars as Dusty in the Apple TV Plus production
Recently, we had a birthday celebration for my kid and we got a magician, who mentioned his wife was a palm reader and would be able to read the parents’ palms. She came and she was remarkable. We set her up in a room and my friends and [wife] Dawn’s [O’Porter’s] friends went in one by one. I didn’t want to participate. It felt a bit odd. It felt a bit like, “Oh no, I don’t know, what if she tells me something I don’t want to hear?” So I don’t know. I believe I might react just like Dusty would have.
Did you get your palm read eventually?
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk) The arrival of Morpho in Deerfield turns the town upside down
No, I didn’t do it. I didn’t do it. I don’t know why because when we were booking her and when she was coming, I’m like, “Oh, I’ll do that”. And then all of a sudden, when she was there, people were coming out and looking at their palms as if they’d been told something important. I’m like, “Oh man. The stakes are way too high. I’m out.”
What would be your worst nightmare life potential occupation-wise?
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk) Dusty is made to reconsider his satisfaction in The Big Door Prize
It’s going to be so horrible for a great deal of people for me to go “[Your job is a nightmare]”. Oh, I tell you what, I’m not great with numbers. So I think it would be an actuary, who I think decide on insurance. I remember it being the most difficult degree to do.
Tell us about your character Dusty and how he responds to Morpho
It is a bit of a midlife crisis of a show anyway. And I think that one of Dusty’s many issues here is that he feels like he will be left behind, that he is not adaptable enough to keep up with everyone, particularly his wife, who is increasingly looking for an escape route.
How significant do you believe external guidance is on people's decision-making?
It’s the major crux of the show. And what attracted me to the script initially was the concept that people can easily be influenced by the idea of an Oracle. We are all desperate for some kind of definite direction. But I think it differs for different people. A lot of people loathe the idea of being controlled. A lot of people really enjoy the idea of being led. You can see that in every political realm in the world – the dichotomy of that. So I think that the show is, in a way, a representation of how various people would respond anywhere. And I’m hoping the audience will have to make a choice like we do.
Chris O’Dowd is taking on destiny and fate in his latest drama, The Big Door Prize, created by Schitt’s Creek’s David West Read.
Set in suburban America in a fictional town called Deerfield, the ordinary lives of its inhabitants are suddenly upended by the arrival of a machine called Morpho in a grocery store.
For the small sum of $2 , Morpho will inform you of your true ‘life potential’, which can be as vague as ‘gum’ or as dark as ‘liar’, thus throwing the entire neighbourhood into a tailspin.
The IT Crowd actor’s level-headed character Dusty, a cheerful family man and teacher, is sceptical of the machine, which then causes him to reconsider if he is as content as he once thought.
Ahead of the Apple TV Plus drama’s premiere, The Agency caught up with the Bridesmaid star, 43,
How would you respond if Morpho suddenly landed in your local shop?
(Image Source: https://metro.co.uk) Chris O’Dowd plays Dusty in the new Apple TV Plus drama
Recently, we held a birthday party for my kid and we hired a magician, who told us that his wife was a palm reader and would be able to read the parents’ palms. She came and she was wonderful. We set her up in a room and my friends and [wife] Dawn’s [O’Porter’s] friends went in one by one. I didn’t want to do it. It felt a bit strange. It felt a bit like, “F**k, I don’t know, what if she tells me something I don’t want to hear?” So I don’t know. I think I would react in precisely the same way Dusty would have.
Did you get your palm read in the end?
The residents of Deerfield are thrown into disarray when Morpho arrives
No, I didn’t do it. I didn’t do it. I don’t know why because when we were booking her and when she was coming, I’m like, “Oh, I’ll do that”. And then suddenly, when she was there, people were coming out and looking at their palms as if they’d been told something important. I’m like, “F**k me. The stakes are way too high. I’m out.”
What would be your worst nightmare life potential career-wise?
Dusty is pressured to question if he’s really happy in The Big Door Prize
It’s going to be so uncomfortable for a large portion of people for me to go “[Your job is a nightmare]”. Oh, I tell you what, I’m not brilliant with numbers. So I think it would be an actuary, who I think decide on insurance. I remember it being the most demanding degree to do.
Tell us about your character Dusty and how he responds to Morpho
It is a bit of a midlife crisis of a show in any case. And I think that one of Dusty’’s many issues here is that he feels like he’s going to be left behind, that he’s not going to be agile enough to keep up with everybody, particularly his wife, who is increasingly looking for an escape route.
How important do you feel external guidance is on peoples’ decision-making?
It’s the main crux of the show. And what drew me to the script originally was the idea that people can be easily persuaded by the idea of an Oracle. We’re all desperate for some kind of absolute guidance. But I think it’s different for different people. A lot of people detest the idea of being controlled. A lot of people really love the idea of being guided. You can see that in every political realm in the world – the contrast of that. So I think that the show is, in a way, a small-scale version of how different people would respond anywhere. And I’m hoping the audience will have to make a choice like we do.
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