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Does Michael Shannon Know His Lines?

Variety | March 7, 2026



Michael Shannon begrudgingly plays Variety’s Know Their Lines and talks ‘Boardwalk Empire,’ playing General Zod in the Superman film ‘Man of Steel,’ and his role as President James Garfield in Netflix’s ‘Death by Lightning.’

0:22 Revolutionary Road
1:49 The Shape of Water
2:38 Boardwalk Empire
4:24 Man of Steel
5:32 The Runaways
9:45 Let’s Go to Prison
11:23 Take Shelter
13:47 Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
16:13 Mud
17:19 The Bikeriders
19:58 Death by Lightning
23:00 Groundhog Day

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Written by Variety

Comments

This post currently has 49 comments.

  10. @miguelmelo1814

    March 7, 2026 at 11:48 am

    All jokes aside, this man encapsulates what it is a man who doesn't really wants to take a bite at the posioned apple that is celebrity. He only cares about his work, and accolades be damned. True artist and I have admired his work since watching him in Revolutionary Road. He says it ashe sees it. No bulshit. "You want me to guess my lines to promote some shit, yeah, I'll do it, but it doesn't mean I will put on a smile."

  20. @cottontooth

    March 7, 2026 at 11:48 am

    Can’t believe they didn’t go with lines from his character Mark, on Delocated. “All I have is this pair of rollerblades and a candy apple red, Dodge Durango”. Peak cinema, a master class

  23. @BannedCinema

    March 7, 2026 at 11:48 am

    Got to see this guy do a Q&A for his own movie ERIC LARUE (which you NEED TO SEE RIGHT NOW, ONE OF THE BEST AMERICAN FILMS OF THE YEAR) and I'll tell ya, he was EXACTLY as animated then. Bummed a cig' off him. This is just what you idealize an actor as being for me: He knows his lines at the drop of a hat, but he is still just so completely down to Earth you're kinda shocked actors are even ALLOWED to be that regular. Had less hair when I saw him, though. And he speaks about every role with exactly the brevity it requires, because he knows his job is more emotional portrayal than anything. One of the absolute best to ever do it and he's not even done.

  24. @kdhr3tbc6

    March 7, 2026 at 11:48 am

    This is the kinda guy where you are about to run to the store and ask if they need anything, and they say "no but I'll come with" and then proceed to say like 2 sentences over the next 2 hours but clearly enjoy their time with you during the process.

  27. @jklax

    March 7, 2026 at 11:48 am

    3:26 I miss those days when you could just turn on the TV and find a game. Now you're lucky if the 100 subscriptions you have isn't blacking out your game.

  28. @solemgameinsights

    March 7, 2026 at 11:48 am

    This is a man who loves acting, actors, characters, and storytelling. But despises, and has become completely depleted by the politics and backstabbery of the film industry.

  35. @JonOfTheDead23

    March 7, 2026 at 11:48 am

    Do you think interviewing this guy is like being on a bad date? You just don't really know how it's going and just hope that maybe you can get drunk and get laid at the end of the night and never see the person again.

  36. @JonOfTheDead23

    March 7, 2026 at 11:48 am

    What an amazing actor. I remember watching him doing an interview during COVID and it was him at home being interviewed over the computer. Seems like a total hilarious, goofy, nut bar, but a solid dude and an awesome actor

  41. @LeBrom

    March 7, 2026 at 11:48 am

    Towards the end of the interview – is that the sound of bagpipes and drums in the background, or is it just me?
    Anyway, Shannon seems like a real chill guy.

  49. @chriswatt4717

    March 7, 2026 at 11:48 am

    I’m happy to tell the same stories I’ve always told about groundhog day… again.

    I’d give my canines and incisors to be s effortlessly cool as Michael Shannon.

Comments are closed.

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