![[Interview] Toby Kebbell & Rupert Grint for SERVANT](https://i0.wp.com/www.nightmarishconjurings.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Apple_TV_Servant_key_art_2x3-e1640896660487.png?resize=640%2C960&ssl=1)
It’s been a few months since we last saw the Turner family and things appear to be back to normal. Jericho has returned and is being doted upon. Julian (Rupert Grint) has a new girlfriend and Leanne (Nell Tiger Free) has moved back in with the Turners.
However, with the threat of the cult looming and the appearance of suspicious visitors, Leanne does whatever she can to feel safe and secure. Unfortunately, this only causes more chaos for the Turner family, as Sean (Toby Kebbell) begins trusting more in Leanne’s powers while Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose) feels increasingly threatened. While the Turners struggle to keep their family whole, they must come to terms with the cost of Jericho’s return. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for.
For the upcoming new season of SERVANT, we spoke with actors Toby Kebbell (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), who plays Dorothy’s aloof spouse, Sean Turner, and Rupert Grint (Harry Potter franchise) who plays Dorothy’s egotistical brother, Julian. During our chat, we discussed everything from the complexities of their characters and what to expect from them in Season 3.
Where do we find both of you after the traumatic events that unfolded at the end of Season 2?
Toby Kebbell: We’ve left off from all the drama, the burial, the overdose, and the return of the baby. Sean’s decision is that he’s going to believe [Leanne]. He’s been violently indicated that he should probably believe otherwise he’s going to wear a bandage for an entire 10 episodes and next his head might fall off [Laughs]. So he’s like okay, Leanne has to be great and I’ve got to look after her. I’ll interpret what Dorothy’s saying and I’ll be a barrier and I’ll try and protect and say my prayers and brush my teeth, it’s that kind of thing. He’s become superstitious and believes that there’s some way to solve this other than facing the truth.
Rupert Grint: It feels very different this time around, particularly for Julian who feels like a completely new person. Now that he’s sober, I kind of underestimated how much of him was wine and using all these kinds of distractions from grieving and facing his own guilt. It’s an interesting side of his character that I didn’t really know kind of existed and I didn’t really expect that to happen. It’s fun. You’re kind of always learning new things and always having to adapt as well cause of the mystery of a show like this. It’s really exciting.
Toby, this season you’ve found religion. How does that affect your relationship with Dorothy?
Toby Kebbell: It makes it tenuous as if it needed any more attention or oddities going on. There’s a kind of strange jealousy. This is kind of a sobering season for everybody. In a way, there’s kind of that element of a very deep conversation that happens kind of later into the season between Sean and Dorothy. It’s misguided again. It’s not really his intention and it’s not hers either, because they should really just be having the conversation about how angry they are at each other. Angry that Sean went away, which is a really shitty, cruel thing to do to someone who’s just had a baby, is extremely tired, is still struggling, emotionally is reducing all of her hormones, and you’re just like, eh, I’ve got a job. I’m going to go on and be cool somewhere else. And she should be, rightly so, extremely angry about that. And Sean, rightly so, should express how angry he is that she made that horrible mistake, but it is a mistake and Sean’s was intentional. It’s difficult when you’re playing that character, that kind of anger that you get at yourself at Sean and you become his conscience in a way. It puts a lot of strain on it and I think there’s too much strain on it already.
Rupert, you have a very complex relationship with Leanne. In this season, will we be seeing that relationship come to a head?
Rupert Grint: Yeah, for sure. I think it’s a very peculiar relationship. You don’t really know who’s in control and if there is a hidden agenda. It’s just very strange. I think they see some similarities in each other and I think they’re both quite broken and lost when they find each other. It definitely takes on a completely weird dynamic and Julian’s ability to control that is kind of not great. It’s a really interesting development.
Season 3 of SERVANT will debut on Apple TV+ on Friday, January 21, 2022.
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