Editor’s note: The below interview contains spoilers for Duster Episode 3. Since its premiere, the new HBO Max crime thriller series Duster has put the pedal to the metal and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. Much of that pace comes courtesy of Jim Ellis, played by Josh Holloway, a hotshot getaway driver for Arizona mob boss Ezra Saxton (Keith David), who finds himself in more than one hot-water scenario where he needs to make a quick exit. Despite his longtime dedication to Sax and his family, Jim starts to question his employer’s true intentions when rookie FBI agent Nina Hayes (Rachel Hilson) brings him evidence suggesting that Sax played a role in his brother Joey’s death. This week’s episode, written by series co-creators J. J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, sees Jim escorting Sax to an important meeting that doesn’t remove any real suspicions he might have about his boss — but it does culminate in a terrific bar fight. Ahead of the episode’s premiere, Collider had the opportunity to speak with David about his character’s biggest moments this week, as well as what initially drew him to want to play the role of Ezra Saxton. Over the course of the interview, which you can read below, David explains why he finds Sax’s sense of morality fascinating, what the biggest difference is in Sax’s relationship with his son, Royce (Benjamin Charles Watson) versus his daughter, Genesis (Sydney Elisabeth), why Episode 3’s bar fight was a career first for him, and more. COLLIDER: Ezra Saxton is such a great character, and the premise itself is irresistible, but what appealed to you about becoming part of Duster in the first place? KEITH DAVID: Oh my god, the cast is wonderful. LaToya [Morgan] and J.J. [Abrams]. What’s not to like? There was every good reason to want to be a part of this. I was so happy to be invited to the party and could join in the fun. When I read the first episode, I was like, “This is thrilling, and I love this guy!” I’m like Fred Williamson in the ‘70s, you know? The Black Godfather. It’s just splendid. It’s a splendid character. It’s a splendid storyline. He’s the guy that gets away with it. You can’t beat that.
Keith David Had His Own Questions About ‘Duster’s Ezra Saxton

Image via HBO Max

Watching the season, I found myself questioning Saxton sometimes because there are so many facets to his character. He’s not your stereotypical mustache-twirling antagonist. It’s not always so black and white with him. I went on the same journey that Jim takes, where he starts to question the man he’s known since he was a boy. Was that the experience that you were having reading through the scripts and stepping into the shoes of this character who gets to really be more three-dimensional? DAVID: I’m certainly glad you think so. There was a monologue that he had that was ultimately cut and transformed, which told you something about his value system, where he comes from, and why he believes what he believes. I certainly wanted to, and I think got the opportunity to, carry that with me. He’s not just some amoral guy. He’s got values that mean something that he believes in, and he sticks to. It’s not like he’s got this expedient morality. He is what he says he is. Period. And, like with Corbin [Bernsen]’s character [Wade Ellis], he is who they say he is! And he is who Nina says he is. He is definitely all of that. Like you just said, I find that fascinating, because you do have to wonder, “Oh, shit, could that be true? Is that what he really is?” Even when you answer yes, you gotta go, “Oh, man. There’s something else behind this.” Because he’s the man with a plan. There’s always a “yes, and…” when it comes to Saxton. DAVID: Yeah! He always has a master plan. Always.

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Holloway and co-star Rachel Hilson also discuss the original pitch for the show and the experience of working with the legendary Keith David.

One thing that really helps dimensionalize Saxton is not just the fact that we know he’s a father, but he’s also a father figure to Jim. What was it like working with Josh [Holloway] and really developing that relationship onscreen? DAVID: I think that’s true. Besides Jim’s father being Sax’s best friend, he was raising him through the ranks, Jim and his brother. There are those people in our lives who take on the role of a father in ways that your own dad just doesn’t quite embrace. It’s not that you have anything against your dad, but just all the stuff that your father doesn’t have, that you wish he had, the other guy has, and Sax has that for the boys. They follow him like a favorite uncle, and that’s how he treats them. It’s really another wonderful thing about parenthood, surrogate or otherwise. When somebody treats you the way you want to be treated and gives you that kind of respect, it’s not difficult to give it back to them. That kind of mutual, reciprocal respect is also something you don’t see every day, especially when you’re dealing with “gangsters” and guys who are unscrupulous to some degree. You kind of wait for them to betray each other, and they don’t.
‘Duster’s Keith David Explains Why He Was Drawn to the Show’s Blend of Thrills and Comedy

Image via HBO Max

One thing I really love about this show is that it doesn’t always take itself too seriously. Despite the fact that this is a crime thriller, despite the fact that Sax is in a deadly line of work, there’s comedy, too. What did you enjoy about getting to play that blend of genres on Duster? DAVID: I have always loved double-edged swords, where there’s the seeming side and then there’s the other side, especially when I get to play up the seeming side, only to reveal, “Don’t take it too seriously. Don’t take yourself too seriously.” I have that kind of relationship with my daughter. It’s like, “There are things that I don’t particularly care for, but I love you, and I could never forget that up until the very end.” My love for her, my deep love for her, wins out. Along those same lines, Sax is modeling his son Royce to follow in his footsteps, but, despite his daughter Genesis really wanting to step out and become her own person, he’s a little overprotective of her, as well. Did you bring some of your own real-life experience into Sax’s dynamic with his children? DAVID: Oh, yeah! I have two daughters and I have an older son. There’s that dichotomy of heir apparentness, especially in a kind of macho society like they have, especially at that time in the ‘70s. But there’s also the recognition that he has, that, “If [Genesis] were my son, there would be no problem.” But she’s not. And, besides the generalized notion that women shouldn’t be involved in this, she’s got the smarts! It’s just that he would prefer her not to be involved with this stuff. That’s another protective element. It’s not that she can’t handle it. She can handle it better than Royce, but he doesn’t want her to handle it. He doesn’t want her to have to handle it. I kind of love that about Sax. He knows exactly what Genesis capable of. “If there’s anyone who’s like me, she is my child.” Royce is, too, but he’s just made of different stuff to begin with. But after the first incident, there’s been a big shift that he doesn’t quite understand. I don’t think it makes Sax love him anymore, but it certainly doesn’t make him love Royce any less.
‘Duster’s Keith David Breaks Down Episode 3’s Action-Packed Bar Fight With Josh Holloway

Image via HBO Max

You get in on the action in this week’s episode, when Jim and Sax end up in that bar fight. Josh has spoken before about how he tries to do as much, stunt-wise, as they’ll let him, so how many bottles did you get to smash over heads? DAVID: I am made of the same stuff! That’s why Josh and I get along so well. As much as I can do, I’m going to do. I was involved in every element of it. They did some without me, but most of it they did with me. So, I had a ball. I’ve been waiting to have that moment for 40 years. Are you kidding me? That’s my Shaft moment! [Laughs] From a character standpoint, what’s your take on why Sax wants to go to this bar? Do you think he’s anticipating that when they walk in there, he’s going to have a fight on his hands, or is it more about, “I have this power, and I’m going to go where I want”? DAVID: I think all of the above. He absolutely knows what he’s walking into. He talks about it later when he said, “This reminds me of back in Detroit when I walked in with my boy and some shit went down. I’m not afraid of shit going down.” There’s a part of him that wants it to go down because, as he says earlier in the episode, “This thing comes off, and we’ve got power like we’ve never had before. We got the real shit. We got the real deal power, and I’m not about to let that go. And I certainly ain’t about to let some knucklehead redneck wrestle that away from me.” No. It ain’t that kind of party. I would be remiss if I didn’t ask you about another role that is one of my favorites of yours, which is the president in Rick and Morty. DAVID: Oh my god! [Laughs] Can you tease anything about him possibly returning for Season 8 or in the coming seasons? It’s always nice to see the President in all his disastrous glory on Rick and Morty. DAVID: Well, all I can tell you is you will be seeing him. You will definitely see him, and we’ll be having some big fun.

Duster

Release Date

May 14, 2025

Network

Max

Directors

Steph Green