Brian Cox is ready to f*** off, as it were. With the final season of HBO’s acclaimed hit Succession about to begin, the acclaimed actor has revealed that he feels his time is done with the character after four seasons, opting not to return for any future spin-offs or specials involving the beloved show, airing exclusively on OSN+ in the Middle East.
“[Creator Jesse Armstrong] said, ‘maybe we’ll do a spin-off of one of the characters. It’s not going to be me, I can tell you that much,” Cox tells Esquire Middle East’s William Mullally.
“I’m very grateful, thank you very much. Bye, bye Logan, on to the next,” Cox says.
This isn’t to say, of course, that Brian Cox is tired of the character. After all, the actor has in the mind of many (including mine) created one of the greatest television characters in the medium’s history. He just feels that it’s about knowing when to step away.
“This has been so good. I don’t want to—you can sometimes stay too long at the fair. From a creative point of view, there comes a point where, rightly, somebody of Jesse’s integrity will say, no, this is what it’s about. This thing is complete. I’ve done it,” says Cox.
In his mind, this is a trait of British television creators.
“It’s a very British thing, as this has primarily British writers. We know how to keep it. Americans will allow it to go on forever,” Cox adds.
This isn’t to say that he isn’t grateful or proud of his work on Succession, of course.
“It’s been an amazing journey, this journey. I mean, there’s no question about it, from a certain point of view this has changed my life in many ways, because I’m identified with this animal. In a way, there’s nice elements to that, and there’s not so nice elements to that. My view is it’s a stop along the way. I love this show, it’s a great show, and I’ve had the best time ever. I’ve learned a lot. It’s been wonderful to work with this particular ensemble,” says Cox.
“At the same time, I’ve done a lot of work in 60 years. This is just another step along the way. I’ve still got things to do. I’m going to be directing my first film, I’m going back to the theater in England. Next year I should be doing Long Day’s Journey into Night in the West End. I just keep going,” Cox adds.
“My belief is you practice. When I see actors, for instance, who do one role in a year, I go, ‘so when do you practice?’ I’m a workaholic, and I can’t do it any other way, so I get a lot of practice. Each role gives me a chance to practice my craft, and that’s what I love about it,” he says.
Read more from Brian Cox and the rest of the cast of Succession in Esquire Middle East later today.