SDCC: Mr. Mercedes - Jack Bender Interview

All Photo Content from Mr. Mercedes

Jack Bender started out as an actor in his early 20’s, guest starring on many iconic TV shows including All in the Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Mod Squad, although he soon shifted his focus to directing. The next chapter was filled with directing theatre at the Old Globe in San Diego, the Seattle Rep and The Empty Space in Seattle and the Mark Taper Forum in L.A. He was Assistant Director to Gordon Davidson on the world premiere of the Pulitzer Prize winning play The Shadow Box and also on Luis Valdez’s Zoot Suit, both in LA and on Broadway. After directing a play for the legendary John Houseman, Bender was hired by Mr. Houseman to be a dialogue coach on the CBS series The Paper Chase.

After writing and directing the award-winning short film A Real Naked Lady, Bender went on to direct dozens of movies for television, mini-series and groundbreaking series including Felicity, Alias, Boomtown, Ally McBeal, The Sopranos and Carnivale. Among the many pilots he has directed is Alphas for Syfy.

As Executive Producer/Director, Bender was one of the creative forces behind the worldwide ABC hit Lost, which won both the Academy Award® and the Golden Globe for Best Drama. He was also Executive Producer/Director of Stephen King’s Under the Dome for CBS and TNT’S hit series The Last Ship. Prior to beginning production as executive producer and director on Mr. Mercedes, he directed two episodes of Game of Thrones and received his sixth Academy Award® nomination for his direction of The Door.

As an artist, his art/storybook The Elephant in the Room was published last year.

      

A demented serial killer interrupts a detective's retirement, opening old wounds and orchestrating new havoc. Starring Brendon Gleason and Harry Treadaway. Based on Stephen King’s best-selling Bill Hodges Trilogy, which includes Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers and End of Watch. Directed by Jack Bender and adapted by David E. Kelley.

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THE JBN TEAM INTERVIEW WITH JACK BENDER
JOURNALIST: JAMES VALLESTEROS
LOCATION: COMIC CON, SAN DIEGO, CA

WATCH THE FIRST TWO EPISODES ON THE LINK BELOW - SEASON TWO
MISSED YOU

EPISODE ONE - FREE

Based on the best-selling trilogy by Stephen King. With Brady hospitalized, Hodges and Holly rebuild, opening private investigative agency Finders Keepers. Brady’s care falls to Dr. Babineau, an ambitious neurosurgeon, with input from his brilliant wife, Cora.

LET'S GO ROAMING

EPISODE TWO - FREE
Hodges struggles with his cases at Finders Keepers, putting him at odds with a concerned Holly. Sadie senses a shift in Brady’s medical state and informs Dr. Babineau. Jerome arrives home from Harvard for the summer. 

WATCH THE FIRST TWO EPISODES ON THE LINK BELOW - SEASON ONE

PILOT
EPISODE ONE - FREE
Based on the best-selling book series by Stephen King. Two years after retiring, former homicide detective Bill Hodges is still haunted by his last case – a massacre that left sixteen people dead. When the demented culprit begins to torment Hodges, he is compelled to revisit the case.
TV-MA | 57 min | Air Date: Aug 9, 2017 at 8pm ET/PT

ON YOUR MARK

EPISODE TWO - FREE
As Hodges struggles to maintain his sanity, both Pete and Ida take notice. Deborah worries about Brady, who gives her a window into his latest work. Hodges connects with Olivia Trelawney’s sister Janey, who hires him as a private detective.
TV-MA | 54 min | Air Date: Aug 16, 2017 at 8pm ET/PT

Video/Audio/Edit: James Vallesteros (@jamesvallesteros)

JACK BENDER TRIVIA:
In 1973, he appeared in a Columbo (1971) episode called "Publish or Perish," which starred Jack Cassidy. Then, in 2000, he directed a made-for-TV movie about Jack's son called The David Cassidy Story (2000).
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