Despite having earned critical acclaim and plenty of money over the years, Jim Parsons knew that it was time for his run on The Big Bang Theory to end. After twelve seasons, the sitcom wrapped up last year and, following its conclusion, Parsons decided to sign on for Netflix's Hollywood. But why exactly did Parsons choose the historical miniseries as his next project?
Following his farewell to the character of Sheldon Cooper, Jim Parson was left with the task of figuring out his next move. This led to a period of uncertainty for the Emmy-winning actor, but things finally started to turn around when he was approached by Hollywood's Ryan Murphy. And from there, it would appear things really began to take off:
To be honest, I agreed to do this before I knew anything about Henry. Ryan approached me at a time in my life and career where I had honestly no idea what was next or what I wanted to do. It was only a few months after Big Bang had ended. I’m not going to tell you what I was looking for, because I didn’t know. I thought I’d know it when I saw it. And then Ryan came along, and that’s all I needed to know. I love the people he surrounds himself with and the kinds of projects that he does. It always feels very right, like a part of my artistic family.
Based on his comments to The Globe and Mail, it sounds like Ryan Murphy was the big draw for Jim Parsons when it came to Hollywood. Considering Murphy’s resume, it makes sense that Parsons was willing to sign on for the Netflix series. In addition, his actual role in the series was great way to shake things up after spending over a decade bringing Sheldon Cooper to life.
In Hollywood, Jim Parsons plays Tinseltown talent agent Henry Willson. Parson’s part is based on the real Henry Willson, who helped shepherd some of the ‘50's top stars to mega-stardom.
Jim Parsons committed to his post-Sheldon role with tremendous determination, as it required some physical changes. To play Hollywood’s Henry Willson, Parsons spent hours in the makeup chair to transform for the role. On that note, was there a concerted effort on Parsons' part to make such a change after doing The Big Bang Theory for so long? When asked about that, Parsons responded by saying:
None in the intent, but perhaps it was for Ryan. He’s got a real way of seeing a possibility in performers; he knows they can do things that they’ve never thought of. He gets a real tickle doing exactly that, which is showing people in a light you’ve never seen before.
It's interesting to hear that Jim Parsons decision to take the role wasn't predicated on wanting to do something completely different. Still, Ryan Murphy deserves a lot of credit for seeing that Persons had the potential to play the role of Henry Wilson. And it's safe to say fans are now going to see Jim Parsons in a new light they stream the seven-episode miniseries.
Jim Parsons has undoubtedly entered the next phase of his career. It goes without saying that it's gotten off to a huge start with Hollywood, and there should be even more projects on the way. Parsons is next set to team up with his former co-star from The Big Bang Theory, Mayim Bialik, for an upcoming TV show. Although, he'll remain behind the camera for this particular project.
To check out Jim Parsons' latest performance, you can now stream Hollywood, along with the streaming giant’s other 2020 additions. This summer, you'll also be able to revisit Jim Parsons performance on The Big Bang Theory through HBO Max. And of course, be sure watch this summer’s premieres.
