Dave Davies

I'm Dave Davies.

From WHYY in Philadelphia, this is Fresh Air Weekend.

I'm Dave Davies.

Today, actor Michael Shannon.

He understands he's associated with some intense, menacing characters he's played, like Agent Nelson Van Alden in Boardwalk Empire.

In two new projects, though, Shannon plays good guys.

He's President James Garfield in the new series Death by Lightning, and he's a prosecutor trying Nazi leaders for war crimes in the new film Nuremberg.

Also, we hear from Ray Sehorne, star of Apple TV's Pluribus.

The series has a sci-fi premise, but the themes of the show are more existential, like what is happiness?

What's the importance of individuality?

Later, Maureen Corrigan shares her list of the best books of the year.

That's coming up on Fresh Air Weekend.

This is Fresh Air Weekend.

I'm Dave Davies.

My guest today, actor Michael Shannon, has appeared in nearly a hundred movies and television productions, perhaps best known for playing brooding, villainous or unhinged characters like Agent Nelson Van Alden in HBO's Boardwalk Empire.

But Shannon's range is far broader, and his two latest projects find him playing real-life historical characters engaged in noble pursuits.

In the film Nuremberg, he plays the U.S.

Supreme Court justice who organized the International Tribunal to try Nazi leaders for war crimes after the Second World War, serving as lead prosecutor in the ensuing trial.

And in the new Netflix series Death by Lightning, he's President James Garfield, who fought against corrupt Washington politicians for civil service reform before being assassinated only four months in new office.

Michael Shannon earned Oscar nominations for his performances in the films Revolutionary Road and Nocturnal Animals.