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Jack Huston's star ascends: Boardwalk Empire role expands, Chase inks for series

By April MacIntyre Dec 17, 2010, 18:12 GMT

The breakout star of "Boardwalk Empire" (next to Michael Shannon who plays Agent Nelson Van Alden) is Jack Huston, who is cast as wartorn Richard Harrow on HBO\'s amazing period drama which dazzled us this year, is now firmly in the fold of the core cast.

The breakout star of HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" (next to Michael Shannon who plays Agent Nelson Van Alden) is Jack Huston.

Huston is cast as wartorn Richard Harrow on this amazing period drama which dazzled us this year, and he is now firmly in the fold of the core cast. Nellie Andreeva of Deadline reports this happy news and we couldn't have asked for a better Christmas present. So thanks Nellie!

Huston is an up-and-coming British actor who nailed the complex psychological damage and resignation that this WWI veteran brings home on-screen.  Harrow's fortuitous chance meeting at the VA hospital with Jimmy Darmody (Michael Pitt), also scarred by the war, creates a male friendship born of unspoken empathy and practical need. 

Nucky needs Darmody, and Darmody needs Harrow. Even Margaret Schroeder (Kelly Macdonald) warms to him after her initial recoil, and call me crazy but I sensed a possible chance between them for a romantic dalliance for future storylines.

Harrow is a trained sharpshooter who lost half his face in battle, yet seems oddly at peace with his lot in life currently.  He now views the world matter-of-factly, and his allegiance is to his new friend Darmody, as he pragmatically engineers hits in that distanced and dutiful way a true soldier would.  He is genius in this role.

The "Boardwalk" cast is led by Steve Buscemi (Nucky) who absolutely deserved this moment to show the world he is a leading man.  Buscemi is fortunate to have so many supporting actors who fuel his intense fire as the conflicted boss of AC, and the continued excellence in casting decisions makes this no-miss show such an addiction. 

Andreeva reveals that Huston is part of an "acting dynasty as the grandson of John Huston and nephew of Anjelica Huston."

Genetic drift doesn't get any better. If you have yet to sink into the sumptuousness of this grand effort, watch the series replay on HBO and get with it.

Bonus: Deadline reports too that Huston is cast as a lead in David Chase's feature debut, a music-driven coming of age story set in 1960’s suburbia.

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