SPIES like us

Hollywood legends JOHN LITHGOW and JEFF BRIDGES on teaming up for a contemporary thriller

- STEVEN PERKINS

THE OLD MAN

FROM WEDNESDAY 28 SEPT, DISNEY+ DRAMA 

A rogue former CIA agent is forced to go on the run after an intruder in his home exposes his off-grid location in brand-new action-thriller series The Old Man.Launching with a double bill on Disney+, the seven-parter is based on Thomas Perry’s 2017 novel and sees Oscar-winning film star Jeff Bridges play Dan Chase, a widower living a quiet existence until his past catches up with him. His most dangerous adversary might be FBI assistant director Harold Harper (The Crown’s John Lithgow), who is in charge of finding him.

Filming for the series was suspended for over a year after Jeff was diagnosed with lymphoma in October 2020, but after entering remission, the actor returned to work in February this year.

Here, Jeff, 72, and John, 76, tell TV Times why The Old Man will be unmissable viewing…

What convinced you to sign up for this series?

JEFF I had a lot of resistance! My father, Lloyd Bridges, did six TV series, and I saw what hard work that was. When the offer came, I read the book, I read the script, and said, ‘Yeah, but can’t do!’

Then I met the creator, Jonathan E Steinberg, and I’m starting to get lured. Then I find out about the casting, and it gets too exciting to turn down!