Special Report: The Deputy (2026)

The Projection Booth's special report focuses on Matt Sukkar's directorial debut, The Deputy (2026), a crime comedy-thriller starring William H. Macy and Duke Nicholson. Host Mike White interviews Sukkar about the film's conception and production. Sukkar reveals he cold-approached Macy with a letter to cast him as Sheriff Krueger, establishing the film's tonal foundation around Martin Scorsese's After Hours—a narrative structure where one bad decision spirals into an increasingly absurd night as the protagonist desperately tries to restore normalcy. The film adapts Victor Gischler's novel, relocated from Oklahoma to Natchez, Mississippi, with Carlo Bernard's script receiving a full dialect and cultural reference overhaul to fit the new setting. The story follows rookie deputy Toby Sawyer through a catastrophic overnight shift surrounded by an ensemble cast including Tiffany Haddish, Stephen Dorff, Billie Lourd, and Julia Fox—described by Sukkar as "eccentric, weird, but real." Production details emerge around the film's scrappy aesthetic: the sheriff's station was a converted mechanic shop dressed by production designer Julie Tosh with taxidermy and desk-drawer trinkets that mirror the film's own low-budget resourcefulness. Sukkar discusses the logistical challenges of shooting nights with strict hour limits due to underage cast members, and the unconventional post-production process where editor Javier Velasco worked across four cities (Mississippi, New York, Mexico City, and Los Angeles), changing locations to keep the same footage feeling fresh during editing. A personal note emerges: Sukkar lived with his real-life close friend and star Duke Nicholson throughout the shoot. The episode concludes by noting the film's September 25 release and Sukkar's nationwide theater tour with Q&A sessions. The interview captures both the creative vision and the grinding practical realities of independent filmmaking, emphasizing how constraint breeds innovation.

Verdict: A solid insider's look at an indie film's making with genuine production knowledge and creative vision, though the short runtime and lack of critical depth prevent it from reaching must-listen status.

TV & Film rubric

• Critical insight 3/5 20%

  Sukkar articulates clear tonal influences (Scorsese's After Hours) and thematic intent, but the show notes don't reveal whether White pushes deeper into the film's themes, performances, or cultural resonance.

• Behind-the-scenes knowledge 4/5 20%

  Rich production details: cold-approach casting strategy, location scouting and script adaptation, set design philosophy, multi-city editing logistics, and personal creative partnership dynamics provide genuine insider perspective.

• Entertainment 3/5 15%

  Anecdotes about casting, living with the lead actor, and creative problem-solving suggest engaging conversation, but the 20-minute format and show-notes-only evidence prevent confirmation of pacing or humor.

• Substance 4/5 15%

  Dense with concrete production stories, creative decisions, and logistical solutions; covers casting, adaptation, design, editing workflow, and tour plans without apparent padding.

• Delivers on its title 5/5 15%

  Titled as a special report on The Deputy, it delivers director interview, production breakdown, creative influences, and release context exactly as promised.

• Value for time 4/5 15%

  20 minutes is tight for this much ground; the density of production detail and creative insight suggests efficient pacing, though the brevity may leave some topics underdeveloped.

How we score TV & Film

Worth it if you're interested in independent filmmaking, directorial debuts, or want to understand the creative and logistical decisions behind The Deputy before or after seeing it.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.