Scott Foley's New Twist on the Action Hero
In the world of action heroes, we often see two distinct types: the invincible characters like James Bond who shrug off every challenge with effortless charm, or the jaded former heroes—think Bruce Willis in the early Die Hard films—who must rise from their ashes to save the day. But 'Whiskey Cavalier' introduces us to a new kind of hero: Scott Foley's Will Chase, an FBI agent who's just gone through a painful breakup and wears his heart on his sleeve. And no, you won’t want to ask the actor if his character will become less... emotional as the series progresses.
“What’s your problem with emotion, man?” Scott Foley quipped during the TCA Winter Press Tour panel for the show.
Uh… no problem here, Scott. Not at all.
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Scott Foley went on to elaborate, speaking more earnestly this time. "Will Chase carries the weight of his experiences with him, but it’s not a constant theme in the episodes you'll see in the first season," he explained. "This was a fantastic way to introduce a different side to the typical action hero. I strongly believe it’s time to reinvent the trope of the leading man in action series. Many of the action heroes we grew up watching were often unrelatable to the average person."
Reinventing the Action Hero Trope
Foley's comments refer to the traditional "robotic" action heroes who keep their emotions tightly under wraps. "This," he emphasized, "is something modern and more intriguing, at least to me. It's far more relatable to have a character who wears his heart on his sleeve than someone who remains stoic all the time." In essence, Foley's vision is to bring humanity and vulnerability to the forefront, creating a character who resonates with today’s audiences.
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A New Kind of Action Drama
ABC's Whiskey Cavalier is described as a high-octane, hour-long action dramedy that follows the adventures of the tough yet tender FBI super-agent Will Chase (code name: “Whiskey Cavalier”), played by Scott Foley. Following an emotional breakup, Chase is assigned to work with badass CIA operative Frankie Trowbridge (code name: “Fiery Tribune”), played by Lauren Cohan. Together, they lead an inter-agency team of flawed but heroic spies who save the world—and each other—while navigating the complexities of friendship, romance, and office politics.
The Inspiration Behind the Show
According to series creator David Hemingson, the concept was inspired by a real-life relationship with one of his best friends, an FBI agent. It all began a few years ago when he received a call at 2:00 a.m. "When you get a call at 2:00 in the morning, you think, 'Oh my God, who died?'" Hemingson recalled. "But it was my buddy, who shall remain nameless, an FBI agent. He had just thwarted a terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia, and he called me because he was breaking up with his girlfriend. He asked me to edit a playlist he had created for her because it was 'too heavy' with The Smiths. I realized this guy, who is an American hero, just saved the world, and yet he’s calling me about his breakup. It made me think, why do we always portray these heroes as cold, unfeeling lotharios? Why not show them as people who want love and connection just like the rest of us?"
