Phil Dunster, the 33-year-old British actor who won hearts as Jamie Tartt in the hit series Ted Lasso, is back in the spotlight—this time, trading the football pitch for the halls of academia and the sharp edges of dark comedy. His latest project, Rooster, created by Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses, has already set tongues wagging with its offbeat humor, complex characters, and the kind of absurdity that only a show starring Steve Carell could pull off so effortlessly.
In Rooster, Dunster steps into the shoes of Archie, a character whose moral compass is, to put it mildly, a bit off-kilter. The series follows Greg Russo, portrayed by Steve Carell, a successful author who finds himself accepting a teaching position at a prestigious university. The reason? To support his daughter Katie, played by Charly Clive, after she splits from her husband, Archie, following his affair with a student. As reported by Metro, the premise alone sets the stage for a collision of egos, values, and plenty of comedic fireworks.
Archie, as played by Dunster, is not your typical TV villain. He’s affable, charming, and—despite his reprehensible actions—somehow manages to retain a sliver of audience sympathy. According to the show’s co-creator Matt Tarses, that’s precisely why Dunster was cast. Tarses explained, "He’s someone who the audience could still love when he was doing really dastardly things." Dunster himself finds the description amusing, quipping, "I love the word dastardly." But he’s quick to give credit where it’s due, insisting, "Honestly, the boring but true answer is it’s all there in the writing."
It turns out, the role of Archie was tailor-made for Dunster in more ways than one. As he revealed in an interview with Metro, the character was originally named Phil. "The writers and creators Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses wrote a part, and originally, he was not called Archie. He was called Phil, and they said, ‘He’s a real a***hole. He’s a British guy. We thought of you. Would you like to play him?’" That kind of personal touch is rare in casting, but it speaks volumes about Dunster’s knack for making even the most flawed characters watchable.
The dynamic between Archie and Greg is at the heart of Rooster’s comedic engine. Greg, still reeling from his daughter’s heartbreak, finds himself at odds with his former son-in-law. Their interactions range from biting verbal sparring to physical comedy, culminating in one of the show’s most memorable scenes: a slapstick fight involving a ladle, a bed, and Dunster in nothing but his boxers. As Metro described it, the scene is as bizarre as it sounds. Dunster recalled, "It was such a fever dream. When I first read it, I was like, ‘Is this right?’ I’m in pants, and Steve’s going to be hitting me on the bottom with a ladle?"
But the on-set atmosphere was anything but awkward. Dunster recounted with a laugh, "We watched it back a couple of times, which I think most people wouldn’t normally do, but it was so joyful to be working with this person who’s such an icon, and he’s the person who’s so giddily going, ‘Can we watch it again?’" The chemistry between Carell and Dunster is palpable, and it’s clear that the actors relished the opportunity to push comedic boundaries together.
Despite the surface-level similarities between Archie and Jamie Tartt—both British, both talented, both a bit too self-assured—Dunster is quick to point out the crucial differences. In his own words, "I think that Jamie probably knows that whilst he’s incredibly talented, he’s had to work his entire life to get to where he is. Whilst Archie’s incredibly talented, he probably also feels entitled to be where he is." He elaborates, "In episode two, he’s not yet willing to do the work to try to become psychologically healthy. I think that he is purely relying on the adoration that he’s enjoyed for most of his life."
This contrast is what makes Archie such a compelling—and frustrating—character to watch. As Dunster puts it, "So yeah, he’s reprehensible. But I think that it’s more fun for us as audience members to go, ‘My god, this person’s got a long way to go. Can he really become a decent person?’" The show doesn’t shy away from exploring these themes of entitlement, redemption, and the messy process of personal growth. If Jamie Tartt’s journey on Ted Lasso was about learning humility, Archie’s path in Rooster is about confronting the consequences of unchecked privilege.
Rooster isn’t just a two-man show, either. The ensemble cast includes Charly Clive as Katie, Lauren Tsai, John C. McGinley, and Connie Britton, each bringing their own flavor to the series’ unique blend of dark humor and emotional resonance. The show’s ten-episode run, available now on HBO Max, promises plenty of twists, cringe-worthy moments, and, if the early episodes are any indication, more than a few scenes that will have viewers laughing and wincing in equal measure.
For Dunster, taking on another complicated character was part of the appeal. As he told Metro, "Like a lot of Bill’s characters, [Archie] seems extreme, but is really just a normal person in extreme circumstances." It’s a sentiment that captures the essence of Rooster: a show that finds humor in the darkest corners of human behavior, but never loses sight of the fact that, at the end of the day, everyone is just trying to muddle through as best they can.
With its sharp writing, fearless performances, and willingness to embrace the absurd, Rooster is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about comedies of the year. Fans of Ted Lasso will undoubtedly be curious to see Dunster in a very different light, while newcomers to his work will find plenty to enjoy in the show’s offbeat sensibility and unflinching look at flawed humanity. And for those who appreciate a good ladle fight, well, this is one series you won’t want to miss.
As Rooster continues its run on HBO Max, it’s clear that Phil Dunster has once again found a role that lets him walk the fine line between lovable and loathsome. Whether Archie can redeem himself remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: Dunster’s star is only rising.