Timberlake joins wife Biel in ‘Candy’
Viewers tuning in to “Candy,” starring
Jessica Biel, may recognize a familiar face: Biel’s husband, Justin Timberlake. The musician and actor portrays a deputy who investigates the killing on which the show is centered.
Biel, a co-executive producer on the project, says Timberlake first approached her producing partner, Michelle Purple, about wanting to be involved.
“They sort of had this whole plan. I didn’t even know about at first. And then I thought he was kidding. And then he said, ‘No, for real, I want to do this.’ And then it was off to the races. He was getting a wig fitting, it was so fun and was such a good surprise.”
Biel admits to being worried at first about whether their dynamic would “translate at work” but that quickly went away.
“I actually felt total peace when he was around. Like, I knew he was going to hold that sort of safe space for me to work in the way I needed to and be nonjudgmental and open and free. And he gave me the freedom to improvise, which he’s so good at and I’m less comfortable with.”
In “Candy,” Biel plays Candy Montgomery, a wife and mother in Texas who begins an affair with a man from her town and ends up killing his wife, Betty (played by Melanie Lynskey), with an ax. The story is based on a real case from 1980. The real-life Montgomery pleaded not guilty and a jury sided with her.
Timberlake isn’t the only surprise casting in the show: Lynskey’s husband, Jason Ritter, plays Timberlake’s partner. Biel credits “Candy” co-creator and showrunner Robin Veith for “the idea to have Jason as well and have these two be partners in crime. It tickled us,” said Biel.
Biel wears a wig with short, curly brown hair in the series. She jokes that it’s a similar hairstyle to one her husband had in the late ’90s with his band ‘N Sync.
“He definitely had that hairstyle,” said Biel. “I always ask, ‘Please grow those beautiful curls back out. I love that curly hair.’ I know. It’s so weird. We were laughing about that.”
‘Spinal Tap’ sequel in works:
A sequel to “This Is Spinal Tap” was announced Thursday, and four major characters are set to return.
Rob Reiner will return as the fictional and actual director, while Michael Mckean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer will once again star as
“one of England’s loudest bands,” Deadline reported. However, their drummer has not been announced. Ric Parnell, who played the band’s drummer in the original film, recently died.
The follow-up to 1984’s beloved mockumentary is scheduled to premiere on March 19, 2024.
Reiner said the sequel will be based on a classic premise: The band is forced to get back together for one last show. “All these years and a lot of bad blood we’ll get into, and they’re thrown back together and forced to deal with each other and play this concert,” Reiner said.
May 16 birthdays: Actor Danny Trejo is 78. Actor Pierce Brosnan is 69. Actor Debra Winger is 67. Actor Mare Winningham is 63. Singer Janet Jackson is 56. Singer Ralph Tresvant is 54. TV host Tucker Carlson is 53. Actor Tracey Gold is 53. Actor Tori Spelling is 49. Actor Melanie Lynskey is 45. Actor Megan Fox is 36.