Lost Star’s Rare Transformation Into Villain Role Explained By He Bled Neon Director & Cast

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Josh Holloway is back in movies after more than ten years with the film He Bled Neon, and he’s taking on a role unlike anything he’s done before.

Josh Holloway is an actor most recognized for his roles as Sawyer on the TV show Lost and Will in Colony. He was last in a major movie in 2014, appearing alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the thriller Sabotage, where he played DEA Agent Eddie Jordan. Since then, he’s primarily focused on television, with appearances in shows like Yellowstone as a villain, and the HBO Max comedy Duster.

Drew Kirsch’s first feature film, He Bled Neon, follows Ethan, a young man struggling with the loss of his brother, who begins to suspect his death wasn’t accidental. Ethan, who escaped a troubled past in Las Vegas, must return and put his life in Los Angeles on hold to investigate, facing his old demons and uncovering the dark side of the city.

Joe Cole, known for his role in Gangs of London, stars in He Bled Neon as Ethan. The cast also features Holloway, singer Rita Ora, NFL player Marshawn Lynch (now an actor), Ismael Cruz Cordova from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and Paul Wesley of The Vampire Diaries. The film, written by Tim Cairo and Jake Gibson, and based on a story by producer Nate Bolotin, premiered at SXSW on March 16, 2026, as part of the Narrative Spotlight section.

At the SXSW festival, ScreenRant’s Ash Crossan spoke with the cast and crew of He Bled Neon, including Josh Holloway, ZHU, Joe Trapanese, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Nate Bolotin, and Drew Kirsch. During the interview, they discussed their roles in the film, and the conversation focused on Josh Holloway’s character, which marks a departure for the actor, who is known for playing heroes throughout his long career.

Holloway playfully claimed he’s “the star until things go horribly wrong,” and explained that the villain’s motivations, as described by Cordova, are surprisingly relatable. Cordova pointed out that the character, like many people, is driven by family and acts based on understandable, if perhaps misguided, reasons.

I approached the character by focusing on his motivations and finding a sense of empathy for him. For me, it wasn’t about playing just a typical villain. This character’s actions stemmed from a deep sense of loss – his family was killed, and that included a brother, even though that brother wasn’t a good person. They had all worked towards a specific goal since childhood, and in their minds, achieving it was their version of success. It was about survival, and they justified their actions as necessary. I needed to understand why he did what he did, and even find a way to see how he might have enjoyed it, to make the character feel real and complex.

The actor, known for his role on Lost, explained that his character from He Bled Neon has deeply influenced his perspective: he feels that if someone harms his family, he would relish getting revenge. He also admitted he rarely gets to play a truly villainous role – perhaps never – and therefore had to carefully balance making his character relatable while still portraying him as genuinely evil.

It’s all about how you look at things. I don’t matter from what angle you view the character. Working on this was really interesting and enjoyable, but also challenging. When I first got the script, I had to figure out how the character arrived at his key moments. I started reading, and around pages 60 or 61, I was wondering where my part fit in. Then suddenly, there it was – a four-page monologue! That’s when I understood him. The character made a strong impression when he was introduced. Working with Joe was fantastic, and we filmed fight scenes all night. It was definitely a challenge to play opposite someone so much younger – he was 28 and I’m 50! Overall, it was an amazing experience, and I’m excited to finally see how it all turned out.

Nate Bolotin & His He Bled Neon Team Wanted To Show The Grimy Side Of Vegas

ScreenRant: Just tell me where the origin of the idea came from, and how we got here.

Growing up in Las Vegas, I’ve always been fascinated by the city’s unique atmosphere, and I wanted to capture that authentically in a project. The idea for this movie really started about 20 years ago when my stepbrother and best friend tragically died from a drug overdose. I received a text message similar to one in the film, and had to return home to deal with the loss and reconnect with people from my past. Years later, I began thinking about a classic noir revenge story – a ‘what if’ scenario about someone returning to their hometown and discovering things aren’t as they remember. That sparked the initial idea for the movie. Then I started thinking about who could direct it. Drew had been doing amazing work with music videos, and he happened to be close with my brother – they grew up together. I felt a connection through that Nevada upbringing and believed his style would be perfect for this project. We reached out to Drew, and from there, the movie began to take shape. Of course, there were many steps along the way, but that’s how it all started.

ScreenRant asked if filming with all the bright lights and the Vegas setting presented any unexpected or easily missed challenges.

As a fan, I always loved how the visuals in this film really popped. From the start, the filmmakers intentionally avoided the main Las Vegas Strip. They wanted to show a different side of the city – a grittier, more textured version of the neon lights you’d find just off the main drag. It felt like a perfect fit because the director’s style is already so vibrant and colorful, and it created an amazing backdrop for the story. The title itself just seemed to tie everything together beautifully!

ScreenRant asked me to introduce the characters and explain who I play and how my character fits into the story.

Ismael Cruz Cordova describes his character as complex and secretive, someone who reveals new layers with each viewing and performance. He intentionally portrayed the character as harboring secrets beyond what’s explicitly shown in the film, building a sense of internal depth. At his core, the character is driven by a strong personal code and a unique understanding of family – one forged through hardship and shared experience, rather than traditional ideals. This ‘found family’ is his guiding principle. Cordova found the role exciting, and he was pleased with how the editing process further enhanced the character’s nuances, allowing him to experience the film as a viewer himself.

ScreenRant asked the actor how much they enjoyed creating a sense of mystery in the movie, where almost every character seems potentially untrustworthy. They highlighted the line, “We don’t know who to trust,” and wondered how satisfying it was to present that ambiguity to the audience.

I really connected with the show’s flawed characters. I’m drawn to complex, even unlikeable people – those who are broken, struggling, or morally ambiguous. I don’t believe most people are inherently ‘good,’ and these characters feel more realistic because we all have those fleeting, darker thoughts and impulses. Exploring those shades of gray, even through fictional characters, can actually help us understand ourselves better.

Working with Drew Kirsch was fascinating. He played a really layered character, and we spent a lot of time on set discussing the best way to approach it – bouncing ideas around and even debating some of the trickier choices. Honestly, editing his scenes was tough! When I first put everything together, I really had to focus on maintaining the mystery of his character and avoid revealing too much too soon. It felt like a really demanding role, but he absolutely nailed it.

ScreenRant asked the actors what they were hoping to find in a new role, considering they’re both known for specific characters. They wanted to know what career goals led them to take on this particular project.

I didn’t seek out the role; it came to me. As an actor, being offered a part is always flattering – it means people are noticing your work and that something you’ve done has connected with them. This role, though, was particularly interesting because the character is deeply flawed and even awful. I loved that complexity; it was a brokenness I enjoyed exploring. We see a lot of stories designed to lift us up, but those stories are popular because life isn’t always happy. I’m drawn to portraying the darker, more difficult sides of life, and this character carries a lot of pain. He’s searching for answers I can’t provide, and that journey was incredibly rewarding, even though it was challenging to play. I had to hold back so much, not hinting at anything that would reveal what happens later in the story. It was a constant effort to restrain my performance. If I’d read the character breakdown for auditions, I would have been eager to try out for the part. So, I was thrilled to be offered the role and committed to giving my best possible performance.

ScreenRant and I recently spoke about my work on The Bluff and Lord of the Rings, and they shared their enthusiastic support, saying I’m doing a fantastic job.

I was offered those roles around the same time and had to pick one, but it ended up working out well. One was a charming, free-spirited sailor who played the violin, and the other was a really rough, untrustworthy character. But what I realized is that, at their heart, they’re both just people. As an actor, you focus on finding that human core, that small piece of truth within the role and the world it exists in, and you can’t get caught up in the genre. Ultimately, they’re driven by the same basic things: a need for family and a desire to defend their beliefs, and that’s all that really matters.

Absolutely. Let’s talk about the music. Given your background in music, what discussions took place to determine the film’s overall sound, and how did you decide on the composers?

I envisioned an electronic sound for the project, inspired by the feeling of a city. I’ve always liked ZHU’s music, and as I read the script repeatedly, I kept listening to his work at a low volume. Talking with Nate, we thought collaborating with him would be a great fit. Nate then introduced me to Joe Trapanese, whose work is incredible. When we met at his studio, we discussed bringing in another artist, something Joe had done before. It seemed like the perfect combination, so we decided to bring both of them on board, and that’s how it all came together.

ScreenRant asked about the parts of the film that inspired the sound design, and what the team was aiming for with the audio.

When we started working with ZHU, I anticipated our initial discussions would focus on electronic music elements like synthesizers and drum machines. However, we quickly dove into the script itself, concentrating on how to create a believable and immersive world through natural, organic sounds. We all agreed the score needed a driving energy and rhythm, but we spent a lot of time exploring the use of guitars, acoustic drums, and even unique, world-influenced percussion. The goal was to make the music feel grounded and textured, reflecting the gritty, realistic setting of the film, rather than sounding overly polished or purely electronic. We wanted it to have a genuine sense of depth.

ScreenRant: And ZHU, what was your process for the music in the film?

I’m passionate about creating music that evokes strong emotions, and I wanted this project to feel incredibly raw and real, reflecting the experience of loss and the will to survive. Having personally lost a friend, I know what it’s like to be in survival mode, making difficult choices. I wanted the music to capture that intensity, to be powerful and unfiltered. Combining cinematic scope with underground energy allowed me to convey a feeling that words alone couldn’t express – a sense of immersion. I wanted listeners, especially in a large crowd, to truly feel that energy, to understand the story of survival at its core. That’s what I aimed for with this film’s music – a primal, powerful experience.

ScreenRant: Is there a companion album that we can buy, pick up?

Nate Bolotin confirmed a movie soundtrack is planned, though they haven’t set a release date for either the soundtrack or the film itself. They’re currently looking for distribution partners and exploring options for both the movie and the music, aiming to maximize the project’s potential. Drew and he always envisioned the music as a standalone piece – something memorable that people would continue to enjoy and discuss. They felt the music was essential to the film and were very pleased with the final result.

It was a real privilege to be involved with the project from the beginning. We started working on the music even before filming began, reading the script and getting familiar with the story, and we even got to visit the set. It’s clear how much effort everyone put into making the music a key part of the film’s narrative.

As an actor, the emotional core of the character was always present. From my first meeting with Drew, we focused on the character’s soul. He immersed us in the world by sharing playlists before scenes, letting us experience the sounds and atmosphere. It was a wonderful process where the character felt fully realized. We weren’t just acting out lines or a genre; we were embodying the entire experience, and the music played a huge role in grounding us and making a real impact.

I think it stems from my background in music videos. When you’re making a video, you get the song and listen to it repeatedly while developing the visuals. It’s reassuring for me to be familiar with the music beforehand and to share that with the whole team before we start filming.

Be sure to dive into some of ScreenRant‘s other SXSW coverage with:

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2026-03-26 00:32