SDCC 2019: Cobie Smulders' PI character in Stumptown is 'out there kinda crazy', spills the cast and creator
Everybody's favorite Robyn Scherbatsky from 'How I Met Your Mother' made our jaws drop when she became S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill in Marvel Cinematic Universe's Avengers franchise. There's no speck of doubt when it comes to Cobie Smulders' versatility, but she's taking her on-screen badass persona to a whole other level as an army veteran turned private investigator in the upcoming ABC show 'Stumptown.'
What's better? MEA Worldwide (MEAWW) managed to catch up with series creator Greg Rucka at the San Diego Comic-Con 2019, and he spilled along with actors Adrian Martinez and Tantoo Cardinal some exciting details about the yet to be released series.
"It's gonna be awesome!" enthused Rucka, quickly adding that "It sounds like fluff, but it's amazing. It is a show that you haven't seen anything like on TV for at least 20 years!" When asked about the biggest attractions of 'Stumptown' that makes it stand apart from its contemporaries, Rucka stressed on its uniqueness, saying, "I don't think you see a lot of shows like this anymore. We have cop dramas, we have medical dramas, we have legal dramas. But this is fundamentally an interpersonal drama which has elements of private investigators and so on. There's a Raymond Chandler line about what the private eye needed to be and it paraphrases into the best woman in her world and a good enough woman in any world, and right now the world needs her."
Smulders' character Dex Parios is Chandler's words come into life, says Rucka. "It isn't a question of being about superpower, it's about having your heart in the right place and the willingness to do the right thing, even when the right thing is really hard to do."
The official synopsis of the show describes Smulders' character as "A sharp-witted army veteran becomes a private investigator in Portland, Oregon, where she takes care of her brother."
Speaking of brother, Martinez plays the role of Tookie on the show, who is the signature big bro that watches out for his young sis character. Speaking about Tookie and Dex's relationship, Martinez told us, "Tookie is run by this one dark secret that really shapes the entire show. He's the guy that's looking out for Dex, like a big brother that loves her. That's the hook for me - protect Dex, that's my arch, it's what I gotta do. His number one priority to make sure Dex fine, because she's out there kinda crazy! And she's funny and she's wild and she's taking chances and risking her life here and there and Tookie is like 'Yo, I love you and I want you around here.'"
Cardinal skillfully evaded spoiling anything about her character Sue Lynn Blackbird, only revealing that she 'runs the casino' that's 'a power base - a tower to work out of.' But worry not, Rucka had more to spill about the show in terms of elements you have to watch out for.
"It's not about the mystery," warns Rucka, explaining: "It's about the people, their connections, it's about the world, and the trouble the main character gets into because she unerringly tries to do the right thing even when she doesn't want to. And it's about the people around her who are all trying to do the best they can for themselves but they all bring some conflict around each other."
'Stumptown' premieres on September 25 at 10 pm, only on ABC.