Hamish Linklater is leaning into the eerie similarities between his role in Widow’s Bay and his earlier work in Midnight Mass, saying he is aware that both characters involve him playing a “bad leader of a parish on a little fishing island.” In the new Apple TV+ series from creator Katie Dippold, Linklater portrays Richard Warren, a figure tied to the island’s dark history and supernatural mythology. The actor acknowledged the risk of typecasting, but said the quality of the project made it easy to say yes.
In the episode “Our History,” Linklater appears as the 18th-century founder of the island town, a man who makes a dangerous deal with a demon in order to protect his people through the winter. That bargain brings long-lasting supernatural consequences that continue to shape the town centuries later. In the follow-up episode “Seasickness,” the character is awakened more than 300 years later and becomes part of Mayor Tom Loftis’ effort to break the curse that still grips the island. Matthew Rhys stars as Loftis, with the story expanding the series’ blend of horror, mystery, and dark comedy.
Linklater said he was especially drawn to the show because of the creative team behind it, including writer Katie Dippold, director and executive producer Hiro Murai, and co-star Matthew Rhys. He described the collaboration as a major reason he “ran towards” the project. He also joked about the strange pattern of being cast in horror roles, saying the genre seems to be drawn to him even if he does not fully understand why. Still, he made clear that he is happy to keep working in projects with strong writers, directors, and cast members.
Widow’s Bay continues to roll out new episodes weekly on Apple TV+, with episodes available on Wednesdays. The first season finale is scheduled to premiere on June 17.
