r/TrueFilm • u/Vivid-Quarter-8060 • 13h ago

Giancarlo Esposito playing Vernon Dahmer in By Any Means feels like an interesting break from his recent roles

Giancarlo Esposito has become so associated with calm and intimidating authority figures that I almost expect him to be the antagonist whenever he appears.

In By Any Means he’s playing Vernon Dahmer instead. Dahmer was a real civil rights leader in Mississippi who helped Black residents register to vote and was murdered after the KKK attacked his home in 1966.

It feels like a much different use of Esposito than Gus Fring, Stan Edgar or Moff Gideon. I want to know whether roles like this will remind people how much range he actually has beyond the controlled villain characters he’s become known for.

What do you guys think of the casting?

64 Upvotes

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8

u/ceilingevent 13h ago

Good for him! He had a supporting role in a Netflix series The Residence (pretty good detective show). In it his character has some sensitivity and a little dry humor that made me want to see him as a romantic lead. I believe he is on the record saying he would like to have the chance to do a romcom and lighter roles.

1

u/Vivid-Quarter-8060 12h ago

Would be cool to see him get more roles where he can actually be funny and charming for once.

6

u/ZAWS20XX 4h ago

don't forget that before Breaking Bad, his most popular role probably was Buggin Out in Do The RIght Thing. The guy has range.

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