Brian Cox has revealed how the Succession cast and crew pulled off one of the biggest plot twists in recent television memory.
This article contains major spoilers for the highly-acclaimed HBO show — so only read on if you have seen the latest episode.
Fans of the show were stunned in the latest episode of the drama, aired on Monday night, when Logan Roy, played by Cox, died.
Just 18 minutes in to the show, Roy begins having breathing difficulties as he travels by private jet, collapsing in the bathroom.
The 76-year-old Scottish actor appeared on Monday’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where he revealed how they put fans and press off the scent of the major plot twist.
The actor revealed he turned up to film scenes at his character’s funeral so no one would know who it was actually Logan who had died.
Spoiler alert: Brian Cox has something Logan Roy wants to get off his chest. #Colbert pic.twitter.com/I3osHd3SFN
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) April 11, 2023
Cox said: “So what happened was, they invented this scene that I was supposed to play at the church. The church was uptown, fancy.
“What happened was I was on my way to film this scene and I got the call saying we are behind. It is a scene that will never be used because it’s your funeral, so don’t come. I thought no, I’ve got to go. I better go.
“I knew there was going to be a lot of paparazzi there, and as soon as I got out of the car they started clicking away. So immediately I was able to put off the fact it was my funeral.”
Colbert then showcased a DailyMail.com story from January, which showed photos of Cox on the set along with Jeremy Strong, who plays his son Kendall Roy, and Nicholas Braun, who plays Greg Hirsch.
Cox added: “If I hadn’t done that, it would’ve been right in the s**t, I tell you.”
Cox said he was told about his character’s death when he was “summoned to head office and I was given the news”.
He said being on the show had been “fantastic” but that he felt like it was time to bring the series to a close.
“You can’t knock it,” he said. “It’s been fantastic. But I just knew that it had to come to a close and I just admire, I admire Jesse Armstrong so much because it was a brave decision.”
