Our latest feature for Popternative Magazine is with actor Benjamin Charles Watson who stars as Royce Saxton in the Max crime thriller series Duster. Created by J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, the series premiered on May 15 and also stars Josh Holloway, Rachel Hilson, Keith David, and Sydney Elisabeth.
Set in the 1970s Southwest, the series explores the life of a gutsy getaway driver for a growing crime syndicate that goes from dangerous to wildly, stupidly dangerous when a tenacious young agent comes into town hellbent on taking his crime family down.
Exclusive photos for Popternative Magazine by Storm Santos
What was your experience like reading the script for Duster for the first time, and how did you prepare for your role?
Benjamin: When I first read the Duster script, I was immediately struck by the gritty tone and the incredible drive and motivation of each character. The world in the script felt so real and nostalgic, with the vivid imagery in every episode.
To prepare, I first had to tackle Royce’s experience of having health struggles as a child, his family history and his overall life goal living under his father’s dream for his future. I dove right into research about the 1970s, studying old crime thrillers from that era. On top of that, I had to understand the Black experience in the Southwest of America in the 70’s and how the class system differed from The Saxton Family experience. Another important element was the clothing. I worked with the costume designers on creating the terrific outfits and discussed how they shaped Royce’s movements through this world.
Photo: Storm Santos
How would you describe the series?
Benjamin: Duster is a gritty, high stakes crime thriller. It’s set in the 1970s, so there’s this retro, sexy feel to each episode. At the heart of the show, it’s about survival, trust, family and the cost of choosing a side.
What was something about your character you enjoyed that was different compared to past roles?
Benjamin: What I loved about Royce was the internal conflict. He’s caught with this complex reasoning of wanting love and trust from his father and his needing to be seen as a man. Unlike past roles before, Royce has an emotional rollercoaster almost in every episode, and his need to prove himself to his father and himself is something that’s been incredible to dive into.
When people watch Duster, what are you hoping they get out of it?
Benjamin: I want people to come away from Duster thinking about how far people will go when pushed to their limits. The motivations we have in life can cause us to switch to an unexpected survival mode in order to live. But more than anything, I would love to see audiences rooting for characters they didn’t expect to care about.
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A new episode of Duster drops Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Max leading up to the season finale on July 3.
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