Ewan's Double Trouble

As Fargo returns, Ewan McGregor talks bout changing his looks and channelling Donald trump to play two feuding brothers

 

Following two addictive, award winning seasons, the Minnesotaset murder-mystery Fargo returns this week after a two-year hiatus with brand-new characters, fresh crimes and Ewan McGregor taking on not one, but two lead roles.

With the action set in 2010, the 10-episode third run sees the Trainspotting star play warring brothers, Emmit and Ray Stussy, alongside a new-look cast including Harry Potter actor David Thewlis and The Leftovers’ Carrie Coon.

Emmit is a successful real estate magnate, while Ray is an eternally down-on-his-luck parole officer, who resents his older brother for convincing him to swap the items they inherited from their father, leaving Emmit with a valuable stamp collection and Ray with a now-rusty red Corvette.

But when Ray asks his brother for money to buy an engagement ring for his parolee girlfriend, Nikki Swango (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Emmit’s refusal triggers Ray to concoct a simple plan to steal a rare stamp – a scheme which quickly goes drastically awry and sparks a trail of bloodshed across the wintry Midwest.

We spoke to the 46-year-old Scottish actor about his dual role…

Why did you want to get involved in Fargo?

I hadn’t seen the first two seasons because I thought it was a silly idea to make a TV show based on a much-loved movie. I just didn’t get it. But I was talking to a producer about another idea for a TV show when he said I should check out Fargo because they were casting season three and wanted one actor to play two brothers.

Did you end up watching the show?