Succession: 10 Behind The Scenes Facts Only Die-Hard Fans Will Know

Succession is arguably one of the most popular shows on TV right now. On the surface, it might just look like a dysfunctional family drama, but the HBO series is much more than that, serving as a satire on the uber-rich and a Shakesperean saga of greed and power.

Spawning a huge fanbase, the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning series has several behind-the-scenes details that only diehard fans would know. All in all, Succession boasts a talented cast and crew all of whom use up their skills to make Succession the pop culture phenomenon that it has become.

Adam McKay Was Adamant On Shooting The Show On Film

Instead of being shot in a digital format, the episodes of Succession are shot on 35mm film. This was very much a conscious decision on behalf of the executive producer and the pilot episode’s director, Adam McKay, whose 2015 movie The Big Short was also shot on film.

Speaking to Kodak, cinematographer Andrij Parekh offered his reasoning behind this creative decision, “I think the result of that decision, to use 35mm, helped to give Succession a special visual platform that is markedly different – dirtier, with more texture and feeling – than most audiences have been used to with modern digital-originated shows.”

Kieran Culkin Was Supposed To Play Greg

Before Nicolas Braun sunk his teeth into the character of the bumbling “Cousin” Greg, Keiran Culkin was supposed to play the part. But as Culkin revealed in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, there was something about Roman Roy’s character that drew him towards the spoilt, rich brat and the rest is history.

While reading the script, he couldn’t relate much to Greg. However, the moment when Roman enters a room in a scene and greets everyone with expletives from the start, Culkin knew this was his role. In his words, “There was something that clicked with me and this character that’s something I still don’t understand, and probably don’t want to understand, considering the kind of guy he is.”

Connor Roy’s Injury Was Caused By A Shovel Accident

In some of the funniest moments in Succession season 3, Connor Roy is found to be wearing an arm sling. While the character says that he got the injury after an accidental fall in his ranch, actor Alan Ruck explained in his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live that it was a real-life injury.

The actor received a shoulder tear while shoveling snow in his New Jersey home. When the doctors recommended him to keep an arm cast, Jesse Armstrong incorporated the injury in his screenplay. This contributed to the hilarious scene during Kendall’s birthday when Connor insisted on not removing his coat.

Frank Ocean Texted Jeremy Strong After Listening To “L To The OG”

Perhaps one of the most memorable Succession scenes is in season 2 is when Kendall Roy spits “L to the OG” on the mic, a hop-hop tribute to his father’s legacy. The song is corny and yet addictive in every way and quickly became a phenomenon in its own right.

Kendall Roy actor, Jeremy Strong, told Variety how even singer Frank Ocean texted him with a “crying emoji” complimenting the actor’s unexpected rapping. Strong said that it was a small gesture, but it meant the world for him as “he’s one of my heroes.”

Creator Jesse Armstrong Is An Oscar-Nominee

Before delving into the family drama of Succession, Jesse Armstrong was popularly known for his British sitcoms. He created the Channel 4 comedy series Peep Show and Fresh Meat, both of which are regarded as cult favorites now. He also wrote the screenplay for In The Loop, a political satire spawned out of the BBC series The Thick of It.

For his work on the latter, he even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Apart from his several other writing credits, Armstrong also wrote the Black Mirror episode, “The Entire History of You.”

Logan Roy Wasn’t Meant To Be Scottish

Fans will know that Logan Roy traces his roots back to Scotland’s Dundee, the same as actor Brian Cox’s native city. However, initially, the plan was to introduce Logan as a Quebec-bred Canadian who establishes his business empire in the United States.

As Cox said in an interview with The Scotsman, he too wanted the showrunners to incorporate his Scottish heritage, but they had rejected his idea. Ultimately, by the end of season 1, the creators gave in and Logan was indeed of Scottish heritage.

The Show’s Producers Include HBO Regulars, An Oscar Winner, And A New York Times Critic

The most popular executive producers on the show include director Adam McKay and producer Will Ferrell, both of whom have collaborated on several projects in the past. Among other executive producers, Mark Mylod is also a part of the ensemble. Mylod had previously worked with HBO, directing some of the best episodes of Game of Thrones and Entourage. Tony Roche similarly served as a writer for Veep before joining Succession as an executive producer.

Then, there is Frank Rich, who started out as a critic and columnist for The New York Times and then ended up producing several episodes of Veep and other HBO documentaries. Ron Bozman is also among the producers of Succession and is otherwise best known as the producer of the 1991 Oscar Best Picture-winner Silence of the Lambs.

Two Of The Cast Members Are Connected To King Lear

While Succession has drawn parallels with several Shakespearean plays, there is a general consensus among fans that it resembles King Lear the most. As mentioned in The New Yorker, even Adam McKay pitched the show to Jeremy Strong as “King Lear for the media-industrial complex.”

Interestingly enough, Brian Cox (whose Logan Roy is equated with Lear) did play the titular protagonist on stage in a much-acclaimed performance at London’s Royal National Theatre. Cox even authored a book called The Lear Diaries, documenting his experiences. The Daily Mail writes that Sarah Snook (who plays Logan’s daughter, Shiv Roy) also started her acting career with a 2009 adaptation of the Shakespeare play for the State Theatre Company in Australia.

Pusha T Remixed The Theme After His Manager Compared Him To Logan Roy

Nicholas Britell’s Succession theme makes for one of the best TV opening credit songs in recent times. If the music wasn’t iconic enough, rapper Pusha T hopped on for a remix called Puppets right around the release of season 2. In an interview with Vulture, the G.O.O.D music CEO revealed how he’s a fan of the show and decided to record a track when his manager said he reminded him of Logan Roy.

Pusha’s first version was asked to be tweaked by the showrunners, as it seemed to reveal details from the sophomore season. Hence, the rapper went on to reference generic themes like “family, fortune, envy…privilege, passed on legacy” in the final version.

The Writers’ Room Do A Lot Of Reading

A New Yorker profile on showrunner Jesse Armstrong also offered a glimpse into the show’s writers’ room. It turns out that Succession‘s writers are avid readers, consuming archaic works like the Epic of Gilgamesh and Roman myths, as well as modern media biographies and copies of The Financial Times.

Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Russian classic Crime and Punishment came in handy to explore Kendall’s inner turmoil, while the legend of Roman Emperor Nero and his slave, Sporus, served as an allegory for Tom and Greg’s relationship in season 3. With such literary inspiration, it’s no wonder that critics refer to the show as “Shakespearean.”

About The Author

Shaurya Thapa
(727 Articles Published)

Shaurya Thapa is an Indian freelance journalist who mostly dabbles in writings on cinema, music, and human interest features. When it comes to Screen Rant, he writes lists on a wide array of subjects ranging from international films to mainstream Netflix series and comic book trivia. He also hosts a podcast called ‘BhindiWire’, an Indian parody of IndieWire.

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