Acclaimed British actor Lennie James, best known for his roles in Line of Duty and Snatch, has spoken exclusively about the extreme challenges of filming the latest season of Paramount+'s hit crime thriller, Mayor of Kingstown.
Bitter Cold and Gruelling Nights on Set
James, who stars as Detroit gangster Frank Moses in the show's fourth season, described filming in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as being in the 'last place on Earth I would want to be'. The location, which doubles for the fictional prison town of Kingstown, presented actors with bitterly cold and wet conditions, particularly during night shoots.
'There [were] a few days that were just... inhospitable. Pittsburgh, when it's cold, is bitterly cold,' James told Reach. 'And when it is cold and wet, and it's night, it's up there with the last place on Earth I would want to be.'
The actor detailed that his character was situated in particularly grim locations, including a train yard and a stone masonry place, which amplified the harshness of the environment.
Surviving the Elements with Crew Support
Despite the brutal temperatures, James praised the dedicated local crew for their efforts in ensuring the cast could withstand the conditions. He highlighted that the team, accustomed to the Pittsburgh climate, provided essential gear to keep everyone functional.
'The other side of that is, they're used to it in Pittsburgh, so you get all of the thermals and hand warmers and leg warmers and electric socks that keep you comfortable,' he reminisced. 'So it's inhospitable, but the crew means you can survive it, because they look out for you.'
A Compelling New Character in a Ruthless World
In Mayor of Kingstown season 4, James' character, Frank Moses, arrives in Kingstown to seize control after the departure of the Russians. He forms an uneasy alliance with local power broker Mike McLusky, played by Jeremy Renner.
James was drawn to the role because Frank Moses is a gangster with layers and a formidable reputation, a man for whom 'there isn't much he hasn't seen'.
'I liked him because he was a gangster who didn't present as a gangster,' James said of his initial impressions. 'He was a guy who had a legend. There is the legend of Frank Moses, the OG Detroit gangster who they never put cuffs on. It's a great legend to try and manifest as a man, and that's what attracted me to it.'
The new season also sees Frank navigating a complex relationship with young drug dealer Bunny Washington, played by Tobi Bamtefa, while a new threat emerges in the form of a ruthless assassin named Cortez, portrayed by Derek Rivera.
James has promised viewers that Frank's journey will be filled with unforeseen twists and turns. Mayor of Kingstown season 4 continues with new episodes released weekly on Paramount+.
