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Car and Driver
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Car and Driver
HBO Max Brings Back the Car Chase Show with 'Duster'
An empty desert. A ringing pay phone. A rookie agent. A grizzled criminal, torn between loyalties. Wavering in the heat shimmer of hot tarmac, the recognizable rumble of Mopar muscle. So begins HBO Max's new eight-episode 1970s crime thriller Duster, which is currently rolling out in June. No spoilers (apart from the one on the back of the titular, window-rattling Plymouth), but if you're a fan of Vanishing Point or Starsky and Hutch, you're going to want to catch this one. A 1970 Plymouth Duster is a pretty unusual lead for a '70s drama, which is exactly why it was chosen. Rather than opt for a more obvious Dodge Charger or Ford Mustang, co-creator and showrunner LaToya Morgan picked out a car that brought some character to the screen. It's a bit of a scruffy underdog of a car, but one with a bite, all jacked up in the rear and ready to pull tire-scorching spins any time a quick getaway is called for. Warner Brothers At the wheel of the Duster is Josh Holloway, playing underworld driver Jim Ellis. Perhaps best known for his appearance in Lost, Holloway did a villainous turn on the third and fourth seasons of Yellowstone, and he is note-perfect here as both good guy and bad guy, the rogue you love to root for. Duster's other co-creator is Star Wars director J.J. Abrams, and in Holloway he's got his Han Solo. There are punchups, car chases, gunfights, larceny, and plenty of groovy early 1970s rock and funk. As a crime drama with a sense of humor, Duster is a roller coaster. There's a team-up with an inexperienced but dogged FBI agent, a host of underworld villains, and a brassy stepmother from hell. The opening credits feature model cars crashing through the desert, and if you wanted to think of the show as a sort of R-rated Hot Wheels track, that'd be accurate. It's huge fun. However, for sharp-eyed auto enthusiasts, the background of nearly every street scene in Duster has hidden gems to spot. Getting the details right is the job of picture car coordinator Ted Moser, and as a longtime Mopar fan, he's dedicated to the task. "I'm married to a production designer, who designs the look of the sets—that includes the cars and costumes. So I've learned a lot," Moser says. Warner Brothers Duster is set in 1972, and Moser breaks down the vehicles into three basic eras. If it's five years old or newer, it needs to look new. If it's a 1962–1967 model, it should be fairly worn. If it's older than ten years, a background car should be a clapped-out hooptie. Moser has a great deal of experience as a picture car coordinator, and he specializes in this era of vintage car. His most notable work for gearheads is probably building all the cars for 2 Fast 2 Furious, but he also chose the background cars for 2012's Argo and 2016's Quarry, both set in the 1970s. Moser's company is called Picture Car Warehouse, and he has hundreds of cars to choose from. "You're looking for the muscle cars because that's what everyone's been hyped on," he says, "And I shift my focus to, 'Okay, but what about everything else?" The Duster 340 gets to be the hero, and there are plenty of other up-front cars matched to main characters, but Moser is most proud of the more subtle choices, the cars in the back of the shot. He calls them ND cars, short for nondescript, vehicles that make the Southwestern sets look period-correct and lived in. There's a bit of trickery done by swapping out wheels so a background car can appear on screen more than once, but it can't be the same Mustang on every corner or the audience will notice. Moser gives Morgan plenty of credit for being extremely knowledgeable and working with his team on getting the cars right for the year. Warner Brothers That level of care extends to the cars themselves, as Moser tries to protect the classics from getting used up in stunts. In one chase scene, the Duster is pursued by an AMC AMX, which gets wrecked. An AMX is a stubby little duck-tailed bulldog of a car, uncommon enough to deserve preservation. Instead of smashing up a real AMX, a little movie magic was applied to a rust-bucket Javelin that was beyond hope, and that was wrecked instead. As for the Duster itself, that car came with a few unexpected quirks. There are four cars used in filming, two hero cars with all the correct details, and two stunt cars for doing the skids. Previously, Moser set up the Challengers from 2 Fast 2 Furious with 318-cubic-inch V-8s and short 4.88 gearing, as stunt cars need to be sprinters, not top-end performers. Those Dusters were built by another specialist, and arrived in the filming fleet powered by V-8s that stung Moser's pride as a longtime Mopar enthusiast. "When we received [the stunt cars] for Duster, they had LS3s in them," Moser says with a rueful laugh, "These cars were nicely done, don't get me wrong, but being a Mopar guy you're falling on your sword to do that." The other surprise was Holloway's genuine skill behind the wheel. "We took Josh out to a racetrack west of Albuquerque for a day," says Moser. "He got so proficient at it, we started using him instead of the stunt driver in some of the stunts." Warner Brothers The stunt cars were not set up for interior filming, so the team had to scramble to get some of the details sorted. Moser refers to the result as "good enough for shoulders-up" filming, but says there will probably be some fine-tuning for a next season. Without giving anything away, the show ends with plenty of unresolved material to leave room for a second season filled with even more criminal capers, shootouts, and shots of a red Plymouth Duster, firing on all cylinders, ready to scorch across that desert and into a whole mess of trouble once again. With so many recent shows focused on psychological drama in boardrooms and Beverly Hills, it's fun to get a good auto-heavy action option for TV car spotting. Brendan McAleer Contributing Editor Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. Read full bio
CNET
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
'Duster': When to Watch New Episodes of the Throwback Grindhouse Series
Lost alum Josh Holloway is back on TV doing what he does best: walking the line between good and criminal while flashing a wry smile the entire time. Duster, the show in question, takes place in Arizona in the early 1970s and follows a conflicted getaway driver named Jim Ellis (Holloway), who's just trying to do what's right for his loved ones -- even if it's by breaking the law. He ends up partnering with a focused FBI newcomer named Nina (Rachel Hilson), who is dead-set on bringing the crime family that employs Ellis to justice. Also starring in the series are Keith David (as crime boss Ezra Saxton), Sydney Elisabeth (as Genesis), Greg Grunberg (as FBI boss Abbott), Camille Guaty (as Jim's ex, Izzy), Asivak Koostachin (as Awan), Adriana Aluna Martinez (as Luna) and Benjamin Charles Watson (as Royce). The show was co-created by J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan. Scroll on to find out more details about streaming Duster and information about how using a VPN may help. Read more: Max Streaming Service Review: Loads of Content, but You Have to Make It Fit You Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson star as Jim and Nina in Duster on Max. Ursula Coyote/Max Where and when you can watch 'Duster' Duster will drop its sixth episode on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT on Max. The eight-episode season will air new episodes weekly until the finale, which will drop on July 3. James Martin/CNET Max The home of Duster Want to stream Duster? Well, buckle up, pal. The key you'll need is a subscription to Max. You can choose the ads tier, which costs $10 per month, or the ad-free option, which is $17 per month. Want to watch in 4K? The Ultimate plan offers that feature and costs $21 per month. There's also the Hulu, Disney Plus and Max megabundle. The ad-based bundle comes with a $17 monthly price tag, while the ad-free version is $30 a month. See at Max How to watch 'Duster' with a VPN If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with your favorite shows while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming. It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance. If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions, ensuring you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Glen Powell spotted filming with stunt double in Scotland
Glen Powell was joined by an uncanny stunt double as they filmed a new sci-fi fantasy in Glasgow, Scotland. The actor, 36, was seen shooting Ghostwriter, a fantasy adventure that also stars Samuel L Jackson. He was seen doing intense exercises in front of a bemused cast and crew before his stunt double was spotted hanging off a bus in pursuit of a girl. Glen was on set with director JJ Abrams, who is behind films like Cloverfield and the more recent Star Wars films. Filming started in Glasgow on Saturday after other scenes were shot in London on April 26. Several streets have been transformed to create the fictitious setting. Unusual signage, faux brick walls and a makeshift subway entrance have all been added. A well as Glen and Samuel the movie is due star Jenna Ortega - best known for playing Wednesday Adams in the Netflix TV show named after the character. Produced by Warner Bros, the film marks Abrams' first project since Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker in 2019. Glen previously worked in Glasgow for Edgar Wright's reboot of 1987 action flick The Running Man. Similar to his current project, a number of sites in the city were used to emulate the streets of New York, with scenes shot across the city centre, the West End, and the SEC Armadillo.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
In Duster, Josh Holloway finally gets to go full Sawyer again
Duster, in which Josh Holloway slips into '70s outfits and effortlessly cruises in the show's titular cherry-red car in balmy Arizona, is tailor-made for the Lost alum. Max's breezy crime drama finds him playing Jim Ellis, the trusted wheelman of mob boss who can charm the socks off of (almost) everyone he interacts with, whether it's by sharing a drink with an assailant sent to kill him or convincing a budding actor to help him steal Elvis' blue suede shoes. Fifteen years after ABC's seminal hit went off the air, Holloway finally gets to properly channel the rugged bad boy with a heart of gold archetype that made his performance as James 'Sawyer' Ford so indelible. Of course, Lost and Duster couldn't be more stylistically different, despite sharing J.J. Abrams (who co-created the latter with LaToya Morgan). One takes place on an esoteric island and features a smoke monster, time travel, and healthy debates on faith versus science, while the other is set is the sunny American Southwest during a race to bring down Jim's criminal employer. While Lost was a game changer for TV storytelling, the serialized action-comedy Duster feels much more like a throwback. But genres notwithstanding, both shows afford Holloway the opportunity to capture the pathos of a defiant, dangerous leading man with an undercurrent of emotional pain, surprising vulnerability, and Southern swagger. (And, hilariously, Jim and Sawyer are also skilled at throwing out nicknames and rocking flowy manes.) Sawyer wasn't always a winning hero who was easy to root for, though. Lost's writers had the advantage of a lengthy first season and overall run to carefully take him from a morally fickle con man who pissed off his fellow plane crash survivors to, ultimately, a protective savior who fought for their safety. (Remember the LaFleur persona in season five?) Holloway took what was on the page and churned out a believable take on Sawyer's development, imbuing the character with both tenacity and heart. (This early-ish Lost conversation where he admits to Jack about meeting his father is a turning point for Sawyer—and for Holloway—and a sign of the growth to come.) In the case of Duster, only four of its first season's eight episodes have aired so far, so Holloway hasn't had as much time to flesh out his character. Still, he's already tapped into what worked for him in Lost, whether it's in a well-timed delivery of a one-liner, cool handling of an action sequence, a potent display of agony, and that aforementioned fantastic Southern drawl. Just look at the fourth episode, 'Criminalus Velocitus Super-Sonicus,' when Jim proves his Sawyer-esque ability to wriggle his way out of a chaotic situation. After facing off against a hitman in a urinal—and with blood still smeared over his face—Jim wisely stops beating him up. He instead proposes that the two men take a break and bond over a beverage. The hour ends with them expressing anti-establishment sentiments, admitting they want more from life, and hunting down the two idiots who stole an expensive vehicle owned by Howard Hughes. This scene reinforces Duster's entertaining yet lightly serious tone and allows Holloway to expressively bring out more layers to his flawed character. He reminds the viewers that, even if Jim is loyal to the nefarious Ezra Saxton (Keith David) right now, there is good and a desire for change underneath that hard exterior. This characteristic is highlighted in the premiere, too, when Jim meets determined rookie FBI agent Nina (an equally powerful Rachel Hilson). She urges him to become her spy in Ezra's organization so they can bring him down together, revealing to Jim that his beloved boss is likely responsible for his brother's death. And as we know from Lost, Holloway is excellent whenever his character has grief as a driving force. But again, Duster is not all doom and gloom. Despite the simmering tension, the show can be very lighthearted, a vibe reflected in Holloway's performance whenever Jim shares time with his young niece (who is actually his daughter), flirts with Izzy (Camille Guaty), and cracks jokes with Ezra's adult children. It's clear that Abrams and Morgan know how to utilize the actor's strengths in a way that shows after Lost failed to do, like the far-too-brief Intelligence, Yellowstone, and the niche Colony. (Heck, Community was better at tapping into Holloway's hunky cowboy appeal than those series.) And whether Max renews Duster or not, for now it's just a delight to see the guy playing in this sandbox once more. More from A.V. Club 3 new songs and 3 new albums to check out this weekend Duster gets to the fireworks factory Hollywood a flat circle as Matthew McConaughey and Nic Pizzolatto team back up
South China Morning Post
05-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Who is Gracie Abrams' mother, Katie McGrath? She once worked for RFK Jr's uncle, was a ‘proud mum' when her daughter supported Taylor Swift, and runs a film company with her husband, J.J. Abrams
Gracie Abrams is on the rise. The musician has been on tour for her The Secret of Us album, and last year, Abrams joined Taylor Swift for the last leg of her Eras tour, which concluded in December after an epic two-year run. Abrams also opened for the 'Anti-Hero' singer during several of her 2023 shows too. More recently, she's been supporting her boyfriend Paul Mescal at the Cannes Film Festival; the pair wore matching black outfits, though they did not pose for photographs together. 'The bar is very high in my relationships,' she told Cosmopolitan in February. 'It's not appealing to me to not feel settled and seen, so I don't date people who make me feel like that. I would rather be single for the rest of my life than feel uneasy in a relationship.' Advertisement But Gracie Abrams ' trajectory has long been plagued by nepo baby allegations: her father is filmmaker J.J. Abrams and her mother is producer Katie McGrath. 'Obviously we can't control where we are born into, and there are a million visible and even more invisible advantages to having family members who are in any entertainment industry,' the singer told Rolling Stone. 'I know how hard I work, and I know how separate I've kept [my parents] from every conversation about anything careerwise, but of course you can understand what it looks like from the outside.' You might recognise J.J. Abrams for his work on Star Wars and Lost, but who is Katie McGrath, who was a 'proud mum' watching her daughter perform at one of Swift's shows? She was in politics Katie McGrath (right), mother of Gracie Abrams (left), once worked for RFK Jr's uncle, Ted Kennedy. Photo: @ktmcgrath/Instagram Katie McGrath had a prolific career in politics before turning to public relations and production. Per People, she started off in Washington as Senator Ted Kennedy's legislative aide before taking on a directorial role at MTV Networks. Along the way, she also founded her own political media company, First Tuesday Media. She now works with her husband Katie McGrath and her husband J.J. Abrams. Photo: @ktmcgrath/Instagram McGrath and Abrams have been married for 28 years and share three children, Henry, Gracie and August. McGrath, alongside her husband, is co-CEO of Bad Robot Productions, the production house behind several Star Trek films and mega-hit shows including Lost, Person of Interest and Westworld.
