'Succession's Brian Cox says they filmed a fake scene to throw the press off

"I thought no, I’d better go because I know there’s going to be a lot of paparazzi there."
By Shannon Connellan  on 
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Actor Brian Cox appears on The Late Show wearing dark glasses and a bright red/orange shirt
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The king is dead. Long live the king.

Succession Season 4, episode 3 rattled us all with the death of media mogul and family patriarch Logan Roy (Brian Cox). Of course, like a Marvel Cinematic Universe plot twist, the whole thing had to be kept under lock and key to avoid leaks, especially while they're leaving all their own hints — which means they planned a fake scene.

Speaking of the next episode of Succession, Cox told Stephen Colbert on The Late Show that of course, there will be a funeral ahead, and how the production team kept the press at bay while filming it.

"They’re silly buggers, a lot of these people who make these programs," said Cox.

"They invented this scene that I was to play at the church. I can’t remember the church, it was uptown, very fancy, big Catholic church. What happened was I was on my way to film this scene and I got the call saying, ‘We’re so behind, and it’s a scene that will never be used because it’s your funeral, so don’t come.’ And I thought no, I’d better go. I'd better go because I know there’s going to be a lot of paparazzi there, and as sure as eggs, I went there and as soon as I got out of the car they started clicking away. So immediately I was able to put off the fact that it was my funeral."

Cox said keeping the secret was "an absolute triumph."

"I was very proud of myself. I used to check myself in the mirror and say 'well done.'"

Well done, indeed.

Succession is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes airing at 9 p.m. ET Sundays on HBO and HBO Max.

A black and white image of a person with a long braid and thick framed glasses.
Shannon Connellan

Shannon Connellan is Mashable's UK Editor based in London, formerly Mashable's Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives in the Creel House. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about everything (but not anything) across entertainment, tech, social good, science, and culture.


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