A struggle occurred between the two.
In an act of self defense, Montgomery fought against Gore, striking her with the axe 41 times.
At least, that’s her side of the story.
Jessica Biel in ‘Candy’.Hulu
I was Candy’s daughter’s age in the 1980s.
But there’s always things bubbling underneath the surface when you’re stranded out in the middle of nowhere.
Was there deliberate reasoning behind this?
Melanie Lynskey in ‘Candy’.Tina Rowden/Hulu
Friday the 13th is a key date in our story.
It was like one a night for a week and you look forward to it.
Can you tell me more about your research process?
Justin Timberlake in ‘Candy’.Tina Rowden/Hulu
Did you contact anyone involved in the story?
He provided us with crime scene photos and coroners reports, medical examiners reports, all of his material.
You mentioned Jim Atkinson, the reporter.
Melanie Lynskey and Jessica Biel in ‘Candy’.Tina Rowden/Hulu
We had grand jury testimony.
We had all of the court testimony.
The woman thought that this was terrible, like this was nasty.
These people were terrible to her.
And almost because she’s better than them.
She was more educated.
She was more independent.
I think that they just wanted this all to go away.
Can you speak more on that decision from a showrunner perspective?
Because it was very important to all of us and Michael Uppendahl, the director, as well.
We are not presenting this as fact.
How and why did you land on this creative decision?
She’s the one who got to tell the story.
Let’s not forget that.
Candy gets to tell the story, [but] there is another side to it.
What did those discussions look like?
Nobody wanted to put me on the spot.
So I think that there was a discussion of who was going to raise this to me.
But Justin Timberlake is an insanely good actor.
Why would I ever say no to that!
It was basically like having a second dialect coach for free when we met and talked about it.
He was like, “I know this guy.
I know this guy.”
I’m like, “I bet you do, man.”
Were there any discussions about why the role resonated so much for him?
I think just growing up in a small town in Tennessee.
There was something about this guy the way that he talked and everything.
Justin just felt like, “I know who this guy is.”
He just felt really drawn to it.
With Jessica and Melanie, they really disappear into their roles.
Can you tell me more about the casting process and how you landed on these two?
It just felt like one of the luckiest weeks of my life.
We sent the script to Jessica and she got back to us, I think, within 48 hours.
That’s exactly what you want in a creative partner and a collaborator.
So, it’s an exceptional day when you get Jessica Biel wholeheartedly onto your project.
I’m like, “There’s no jot down.
It’s Melanie Lynskey.
The key in is Melanie Lynskey and it’s Melanie Lynskey.”
We just got lucky; she happened to be available.
She had worked with Mike Uppendahl before onCastle Rock[and] loved working with Mike.
We sent her the script.
She agreed to do it.
I was just like, “How is this happening?
I’m going to get everything that I want.”
Candy and Betty’s story will be the subject ofanother series on HBO Max.
What do you think makes this case so compelling, 42 years on?
I’m excited to see theirs when it comes out.
So I think that’s why people keep coming back to it.
Also, we started on this in 2019 at sort of the height of #MeToo.
I think everyone can identify with this story right now, where we’re locked up in our houses.
We have to do the right thing for society.
And we’re all going to do it.
Of course we’re going to do it.
But if you asked me to do one more thing, I swear to God.
So I think it’s that.
If I was pushed to my limit, I hope I don’t pick up an axe.
I don’t think I would.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
All five episodes ofCandyare now streaming on Hulu.
