How Paul Giamatti Helped Cancelled Lodge 49 Show Get Made
Though now considered a cult favorite, the creatives behind Lodge 49 had a hard time selling the series until Paul Giamatti came along. Created by Jim Gavin, the comedy-drama series centered on Wyatt Russell's Dud, an ex-surfer drifting through Long Beach, California struggling to come to terms with his dad's suicide a year prior to the start of the show. As he nears his rock bottom, Dud comes across the Order of the Lynx, a fraternal order located in the titular building, and takes to bonding with members of the lodge as he hopes to turn his life around with their help.
Alongside Russell, the main cast for Lodge 49 included Brent Jennings, Sonya Cassidy, Linda Emond, David Pasquesi and Eric Allan Kramer, with some recurring stars including Bruce Campbell, Brian Doyle-Murray, Adam Godley, Mary Elizabeth Ellis and Cheech Marin. First premiering on AMC in mid-2018, the dramedy scored major acclaim from critics and audiences alike for its balance of surreal and grounded storytelling, charming humor and the performances of its cast, namely Russell and Jennings. Despite the acclaim, Lodge 49 struggled in its ratings and was cancelled after just two seasons, which may have been foreseen in its development.
Related: Paul Giamatti: 10 Best Movies, Ranked According To Rotten Tomatoes
While speaking exclusively with Screen Rant for the show's UK streaming release, Jim Gavin opened up about his initial struggles to sell his Lodge 49 show to a producer. The creator revealed that Paul Giamatti was a major help in getting the show made, with the actor/producer having "loved" the pilot script and worked hard with producing partner Dan Carey to find it a home. See what Gavin shared below:
«When the script was going around, no one wanted
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