Man, its always hard, added Lyle.
We just love him so much, we will put him in any show we ever make.
And so it really hurt for us.
Silvana Estifanos, Anisa Harris, Vanessa Prasad, Liv Hewson, Kevin Alves, Courtney Eaton, Sophie Thatcher, Nia Sondaya and Sophie Nélisse in ‘Yellowjackets’Colin Bentley/Paramount+ with Showtime
Im like, Oh no, Ive lost one of my best friends in Vancouver when Im up there.
Because we want to be around Steven.
None of that happens if Coach Ben is alive, he says.
Steven Krueger as Coach Ben Scott in ‘Yellowjackets’ (Colin Bentley/Paramount+ with Showtime)
DEADLINE:I feel like a lot of fans have assumed Coach Ben is doomed.
But no, its been great, honestly.
I mean, I knew this going into the season.
And its bittersweet as always.
This is a cast that Ive grown incredibly close with.
So, its fun to look back on it and think how far weve come for sure.
Why is it he wanted to die after all the ups and downs of the trial?
KRUEGER:I think that the trial was kind of a microcosm of his broader storyline.
Theres the ups and downs of, Yes, I want to fight to survive.
I have a strong will to survive and help and keep fighting.
Versus, sometimes its just like, This is too much, its not gonna happen.
Im starving, Im tired.
I dont want to do this anymore.
Did I want them to find me not guilty?
This isnt gonna get any better for me.
DEADLINE:And that was just such an emotionally well done scene, by the way.
KRUEGER:Well, thank you.
I mean, thats a testament to Sophie Thatcher, whos incredible to work with.
DEADLINE:Tell me about working with Francois Arnaud as Coachs boyfriend Paul.
Do you think well see more of him?
I mean, I think that would be a cool way for the story to go.
KRUEGER:I gasped when I read it in the script.
I think we all did.
DEADLINE:Did you have to sit for that mold or what was that situation?
KRUEGER:No, so this was the funny part.
And they were like, No, no, we, we would like you to do that.
Im like, Okay, great, cool.
Last thing I get to do on set is just lay naked on a table.
It was, at the same time, beautiful and the creepiest thing Ive ever seen in my life.
DEADLINE:So, was it like 3D printing or did you actually have to sit in the silicone?
They have a much better way of doing it now, thank God.
I would not have been able.
So, Im glad that the technology has evolved since those days.
I think it almost gave me a seizure, but it was cool and it didnt last very long.
Do you want to see it?
And I thought, Well, yeah, of course I wanna see it.
I was marveling at the artistry while also being like, Can you yo take that away?
Because its actually starting to creep me out a little bit.
DEADLINE:So you didnt keep it or anything?
In fact, some people were like, Do you want to?
You should ask if you might keep your head.
And Im like, why would I want that?
What would I do with it?
What, am I gonna put that over my fireplace?
I dont want to look at that every day.
Not to mention, Im pretty sure it costs like $25,000 to make.
So, I dont think they were just going to give that to me.
DEADLINE:Yeah, I did not see it coming.
It threw me for a loop.
Once that episode hit, I could tell its about to get real.
And I specifically remember Ashley saying, Are you sure?
And I was like, Yeah, thats a good point actually.
Ive seen some cool ones online.
I love the idea of like a Javier Bardem.
That would be pretty badass.
Thats an amazing compliment for whoever came up with that.
I mainly just want to see more Pedro Pascal on TV right now.
Pedro Pascal would be a good one too.
So, it was almost a year later that we got picked up.
I had heard no mention whatsoever of Coach losing his leg while we were shooting the pilot.
And Im like, Oh my God, what more can you do to this poor man?
Im built like a little stick, and so my legs dont look great in short shorts.
Every guy I looked at, I was just like, Oh, they really went for it.
DEADLINE:Do you have any favorite behind-the-scenes memory from your time?
KRUEGER:Season 1 will always stand out to me for a couple of reasons.
It was very much like life imitating art in a way, like we had nobody but each other.
We couldnt have friends or family come visit, we couldnt leave.
So, in a way, that doesnt always happen on shows like this with big ensemble casts.
