'The Unicorn' star Walton Goggins says role on CBS show is 'closer' to him than anything he has ever played
Walton Goggins is all set to headline a light-hearted comedy by CBS named 'The Unicorn'. The actor plays the role of a single father Wade Felton, who is coping with life after losing his wife. The 'Tomb Raider' and 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' villain feels the role is "closer" to him than anything he has ever played.
Goggins shed light on his role in behind-the-scenes footage with executive producers Bill Martin and Mike Schiff as he spoke about what it meant to play the role of a "unicorn". In the trailer, a woman tells Felton how he is a unicorn, which means "that elusive creature all women are looking for." Martin and Schiff say: "'The Unicorn' is a take on the road into the dating scene for the perfect guy. He is a widower so he has already proved he is a great husband and father. He just checks all the boxes."
The trailer peeks into his life as he struggles to make sense of the hints when women try to hit on him or ask him out. In the series, Felton has a job, is attractive, has daughters and has a track record with commitment. Put it all together and he is a "unicorn" in the dating world. Goggins reflects on his character and says, "I don't think he knows who he is. And that is a kind of universal experience." In a scene, when his kid tells him: "I miss mom," he comforts her by saying, "I miss her too. But if we can get through this year, we can get through anything."
In real life, Goggins was married to Leanne Kaun who committed suicide after three years of their marriage. Hence, it has a personal connection with him. "When this came along, I fell deeply in love with him and his struggles and fell in love with his friends and his community," the actor had said at the Television Critics Association Press Tour in August.
“I’m in a place at 48 years old where kindness, and sincerity and being earnest are very important to me, and this show spoke to all of that. It touched me in a way that’s deep and meaningful.” Interestingly, in one comical scene, his daughters Grace (Ruby Yay) and Natalie (Makenzie Moss) check his phone for his dating options and joke, "You could do better!"
As the series premieres on Thursday, September 26 at 8:30/7:30c on CBS and CBS All Access, it will be interesting to see whether Wade Felton actually finds a love connection.