Following the first season of the Tulsa-set noir series The Lowdown, creator Sterlin Harjo is reflecting on his creative partnership with star Ethan Hawke. In a recent interview, Harjo opened up about the unique experience of building the show around Hawke, contrasting it with their first collaboration on the 2021 critically acclaimed drama Reservation Dogs.
Harjo, who created both series, directed Hawke in a powerful guest role on Reservation Dogs, where the actor played the estranged father of Elora Danan. That initial collaboration laid the groundwork for a deeper creative relationship, one that Harjo says he always felt was destined to happen.
From Guest Star to Leading Man
Harjo explained that working with a well-established star on The Lowdown felt different from directing a cast of relative newcomers on Reservation Dogs. However, their long-standing professional respect made the transition a natural one.
“It’s a strange thing. I’ve always thought I was going to work with Ethan Hawke,” Harjo told Variety. “Maybe it’s because I just grew up watching his performances and movies. But once we met, everything kind of just fell into place and made sense. It was like we were old friends” .
Their first collaboration on Reservation Dogs was brief but significant. Hawke played Rick, the long-absent father trying to explain his past failures to his daughter. Harjo noted that Hawke has a singular ability to portray flawed, earnest characters who remain deeply compelling .
“He walks the line of being — people have said ‘insufferable,’ I’ve heard that used a few times — and really charismatic and lovely to watch. You want to be around him, and you believe him,” Harjo said .
Writing for a Friend and Muse
Harjo revealed that his long familiarity with Hawke’s filmography actually influenced his writing process. He had unknowingly been crafting roles with the actor in mind long before The Lowdown was officially conceived.
“I’ve been watching his movies for so long, I also kind of had ideas for writing for him: things that I know that he’s good at, or things that I haven’t seen him do that I wanted to see him do,” Harjo said .
This time, Harjo wanted to create a role that showcased the full range of Hawke’s talents, particularly his ability to blend humor and heartbreak. The result is Lee Raybon, a self-proclaimed “truthstorian” and bookstore owner whose crusade for truth in Tulsa constantly gets him into trouble.
“Ethan’s the perfect actor for that tone. He can break your heart while making you laugh and putting himself into physical pain. He can do all of that. I’d seen him do everything, but I hadn’t seen him do everything in one character,” Harjo explained .
A Partnership Built on Trust
The foundation for this successful collaboration was built on the set of Reservation Dogs. Harjo recalled offering Hawke the script for The Lowdown under the guise of seeking notes, secretly hoping the actor would connect with the material.
“You know, we’re friends now. We talk about each other’s projects. Could you just read the script and give me notes?” Harjo remembered asking. “That’s literally what I said. I didn’t ask him if he would play it” .
Hawke saw through the ruse immediately. He recounted his reaction to reading the script: “I sat there reading the thing, thinking Why is he not offering me this part?” He told Harjo directly, “My thoughts are that I should play that character” .
For Harjo, the chance to write a leading role for an actor he admires, set in his hometown of Tulsa, represents a creative full-circle moment. His partnership with Hawke has evolved from a director guiding a guest star to two storytellers building a world together.
Also Read: The Lowdown Episode 8: Everything You Need to Know About the Season Finale
