'On Becoming a God in Central Florida': Showtime's new show is a perfect comeback vehicle for the talented Kirsten Dunst
We haven't heard a peep out of Kirsten Dunst of late, except for a few tidbits about her wonderful life with her partner Jesse Plemons, who she met on the sets of 'Fargo'. After becoming a mother in May 2018, this hard-working actress, who has been scoring acting gigs since the age of six, took a break from acting.
But she was obviously dying to get back in the game, stating working was easier than being a stay-at-home mom. Just six months later, she was spotted on the sets of 'On Becoming a God in Central Florida' which began principal photography in October 2018. The wait is over, with the show set to premiere on August 25 on Showtime. And can we just say this - we have missed her.
Ever since her breakthrough role as a child vampire in 'Interview with a Vampire', where she held her own against stars like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, Dunst has continually played complex female characters - from the tragic figure on the cusp of womanhood in 'The Virgin Suicides' to the clinically depressed bride of 'Melancholia'.
Lesser known are her roles in satirical comedies like 'Drop Dead Gorgeous' and 'Dick', where she starred alongside Michelle Williams. The 1999 'Drop Dead Gorgeous' that is now streaming on Hulu has become a cult classic while 'Dick' was a critical darling with a 71% 'Fresh rating' on Rotten Tomatoes.
Given that she pulled off a film like 'Dick' way back in 1999, it is a shame that it has taken this long for her to be cast in a darkly comedic TV show like 'On Becoming a God in Central Florida'. In a brief introduction to her character on Showtime's website, Dunst remarks that while she gets a lot of scripts, this one was "one of the best pilots" she had ever read.
She describes the show as being "about the falsehood of the American dream" where she stars as Krystal, a new mom whose husband falls for a cultish, multibillion-dollar pyramid scheme. Refusing to be "poor again", Krystal realizes that she can win if she becomes the hustler instead of being hustled.
Early trailers show Dunst tearing into her role, obviously hungry for the Emmy she lost when she was nominated for her role in 'Fargo'. Sporting a noticeable North Florida accent and a few extra pounds, Dunst is believable in her role as a working mother in the early 90s trying to make ends meet in a minimum wage job.
Her husband (a fabulously outre Alexander Skarsgård, fresh off 'Big Little Lies') suddenly starts bringing in the dough through a multilevel marketing scheme before the cookie crumbles. Her comic turn on the show promises to be another career-high and hopefully will pave the way to more such roles.