William Fichtner portrays the menacing Wayne Whittaker in the new Apple TV+ crime thriller "Lucky," a character who instills fear even in the formidable mob boss Priscilla Matheson, played by Annette Bening.
In the series, adapted from Marissa Stapley's 2021 novel, Bening's character, Priscilla, is initially presented as a ruthless antagonist. However, episode two introduces Whittaker, a figure whose power and intimidation factor surpass even Priscilla's. Bening shared her thoughts on their dynamic in a recent interview, noting the deep and troubling history between their characters.
"The writing and their past — they have this long, complicated, horrible past," Bening told DECIDER. "And I think that Priscilla’s still trying to get his approval, and trying to get his love. She wants something back from him. And she deserves it. And she does not get it."
Whittaker's presence is foreshadowed as a man seeking the return of his money, with threats against "Lucky" (Anya Taylor-Joy) if he doesn't get it back. His introduction in a scene where Priscilla visits his mansion reveals his sinister nature beneath a veneer of wealth and health consciousness. He espouses the benefits of kale for eye health, but quickly pivots to his financial concerns and Priscilla's alleged mismanagement.
"It’s a clusterfuck out there, but we have picked up the trail," Priscilla attempts to placate him, referencing earlier warnings about the speed at which money was being processed. Whittaker dismisses her explanation, sharply criticizing the confidence man, John Armstrong, for his role in the scheme's complications.
The narrative reveals that while Priscilla was the architect of the plan, her entanglement with Armstrong led to its unraveling. Whittaker's response is volatile and physically threatening. He expresses a disturbing mix of what Bening interprets as potential jealousy towards Armstrong and outright contempt for Priscilla, culminating in him strangling her.
"There’s something pathetic about a woman at your age thinking sex still enters into the equation. Have some dignity for fuck’s sake," Whittaker tells a gasping Priscilla, who begs him not to threaten her son. Bening, who has a history of finding Fichtner terrifying since her middle school days watching "Prison Break," noted his effectiveness in the role.
"[Fichtner] is scary, and he’s so handsome. In life, he’s the loveliest man. He completely loves to mix it up, loves to play together. I enjoyed him thoroughly. But he’s so terrifying," Bening said. "In the scenes, he’s scary and tough, and that was all really fun to play. We were shooting in this amazing house above Hollywood. And we were up there at night, and it was great. But he scares the hell out of her, and she’s not easily scared."
The relationship between Wayne Whittaker and Priscilla Matheson, and Fichtner's performance, are central to the unfolding story of "Lucky." New episodes premiere Wednesdays on Apple TV+.