The joke in Hollywood is that Pedro Pascal is in each third film.
It’s an exaggeration, however not by a lot. He’s starring in two motion pictures this month alone – “Eddington” and “The Implausible 4: First Steps.”
The identical might be stated of Neal McDonough, the versatile actor from “Band of Brothers,” “Justified” and lots of extra initiatives.
In current months, the 59-year-old star has appeared in “The Shift,” “Skillhouse,” “The Final Rodeo,” “Tulsa King,” “Homestead” and this week’s new mystery-thriller “Weapons & Moses.”
And he couldn’t be happier in regards to the work move.
“I can’t pound a nail. I’m horrible at jokes, however man, I can act. If that is my God-given expertise, I’m going to make use of it to one of the best of my means to entertain folks,” McDonough tells HiT. “Now that we’re producing our personal motion pictures, it’s even crazier.”
McDonough didn’t produce “Weapons & Moses,” nevertheless it’s the sort of challenge that fuels his artistic fires. The movie follows Rabbi Mo (Mark Feuerstein), a mild chief who takes firearm coaching after his synagogue comes underneath assault.
The principle suspect is a neighborhood White Supremacist (Jackson A. Dunn), however Rabbi Mo isn’t satisfied. To seek out the killer, he turns into an newbie sleuth, a job that places him within the crosshairs.
His enemies ought to know he’s removed from a smooth goal. He’s able to shoot again.
“To be a part of a movie that makes you suppose, it’s sort of my aim. I really like studio movies … however I’m an actor, and I like to sink my enamel into a personality, whether or not it’s a superb man or a nasty man,” he says. “And ‘Weapons & Moses’ is fairly darn thought-provoking.”
The movie, in theaters now, was conceived and shot earlier than October 7. All of a sudden, self-defense is prime of thoughts to Jewish populations throughout the U.S. McDonough notes that these fears existed lengthy earlier than Hamas’ unspeakable atrocities.
“These issues have been occurring for 1000’s of years … folks have tried to erase the Jewish religion from the planet, and if we neglect about that, disgrace on us,” he says.
“There’s so many alternative concepts occurring [in the film] … however you’ll come out of it considering hate will not be the correct selection. Understanding and compassion is. Sure, it’s a thriller. Sure, it’s a neo-western … I’m the western man. My youngsters make enjoyable of me, ‘Dad, do you may have every other garments apart from blue denims?’
“’Weapons & Moses’ has so many various kinds of genres all rolled into one movie … nevertheless it’s about making an attempt to forgive and making an attempt to grasp as an alternative of making an attempt to hate,” he provides.
CAT AND MOUSE.🐱🐭🐈
A beloved small city rabbi within the excessive desert turns into an unlikely gunslinger after his group is violently attacked. Prepare for GUNS AND MOSES. In theaters July 18.
Starring, Neal McDonough, Christopher Lloyd, and Dermot Mulroney#gunsandmoses pic.twitter.com/pamHbSDfhu
— MoviePass (@MoviePass) July 17, 2025
You received’t discover McDonough getting on a political soapbox like a few of his friends. He speaks earnestly of his religion in a approach that’s welcoming and type.
That religion additionally price him dearly behind the scenes in Hollywood.
McDonough received’t kiss one other girl on display apart from his spouse, mannequin Ruvé Robertson. That price him a gig on ABC’s “Scoundrels” and, as McDonough put it, briefly blacklisted him in Hollywood.
Gigs abruptly dried up, the actor recalled in a 2019 interview earlier than Graham Yost, a producer on “Band of Brothers,” tapped him to play a villain on FX’s “Justified.”
And no one performs a baddie fairly like McDonough. After that, he was again at work, busier than ever.
McDonough’s “The Final Rodeo,” the newest movie from Angel Studios, got here by way of his new manufacturing shingle. The actor stars as a retired bronco rider pressured again into the game after his grandson’s sudden sickness.
The drama earned $15 million at U.S. theaters and has scored effectively on VOD platforms. The story matches into producer McDonough’s recreation plan. Create tales that uplift as an alternative of divide or demean.
“You would possibly name it corny, however that’s who I’m. I wish to make movies that make the world a greater place,” he says.
You’ll be able to hear the entire interview, together with McDonough’s ideas on working with dwelling legend Sylvester Stallone on “Tulsa King,” on The Hollywood in Toto Podcast.