Entertainment
Hollywood Struggles to Recapture Iconic ’80s Masculine Archetypes
Clear Facts
- FX producers nearly halted production on Love Story because they could not find an actor with traditional masculine features.
- The casting team searched for a lead with classic chiseled looks similar to icons like Richard Gere and Tom Selleck.
- Executive Producer Brad Simpson noted a distinct lack of men with broad shoulders and natural physiques in modern Hollywood.
The production of the new FX series Love Story faced a significant challenge while attempting to cast the role of John F. Kennedy Jr. Producers struggled to find a male lead who embodied the old-school masculinity required for the part.
Executive producer Brad Simpson noted that modern actors often lack the classic appearance of past generations. He emphasized the difficulty of finding men who look naturally fit rather than manufactured for superhero franchises.
“Part of it was just that sort of ’80s, old school masculinity — a man with hair on his chest, sort of Richard Gere, Tom Selleck — the classic chiseled looks,” he said.
“We’re not making those guys anymore, for some reason, and he really needed to have that.”
The search became so desperate that the show’s creator approached strangers at gyms and on the street to audition. The team eventually found Paul Anthony Kelly, who possessed the necessary charm and traditional physical traits.
“We live in a world of electrolysis men, and it was a real challenge to find that sort of guy — a guy that women and gay men are attracted to, but also guys want to hang out and have a beer with.”
The struggle highlights a cultural shift away from traditional male archetypes even within the entertainment industry. Producers ultimately secured their lead just weeks before filming was scheduled to begin.
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