First it was Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte signing to do an HBO show, and now Kevin Kline has jumped into the pool.
Doing an indie film or a B’way play used to be how you got your career restarted — now it’s HBO. Movie parts have shrunk for older “name” performers who can’t comfortably portray a superhero mentor or a flamboyant comic-book villain, so they’re all running to lucrative TV gigs for their third acts. Agents are able to sell feature stars much easier on this due to the phenomenal success that 24 gave Keifer Sutherland. TV is also the only place where the older guys can expect royal treatment.
