'Stick' creator Jason Keller talks Owen Wilson bringing 'vulnerability' to Apple TV+ golf series

Owen Wilson stars in the new Apple TV+ golf comedy series Stick, and show creator Jason Keller loved what he brought in each episode. On3 recently spoke to Keller about working with Owen Wilson on the series that premiered on June 4.

“What Owen brought to that character is, I think a real accessibility,” Jason Keller told On3. “The character is a very sort of broken, vulnerable character. I think Owen really brought his own vulnerability to that character. It’s one of those things that I don’t think you can quantify it, but you can feel it when you watch somebody’s performance when you know they’re really connecting to a character. I think right out of the gate, Owen, he was Pryce, and I think that’s what I hope audiences are going to respond to in his performance.”

Wilson plays Pryce Cahill, a former pro golfer whose career was derailed 20 years ago. After losing his job at a sporting goods store and the collapse of his marriage, Pryce goes all in with a 17-year-old golf phenom named Santi (Peter Dager).

Owen Wilson ‘threw’ himself into golf to prepare for ‘Stick’

Along with Wilson and Dager, the show also stars Marc Maron, Mariana Treviño, Lilli Kay, Judy Greer and Timothy Olyphant. Stick also features guest appearances from golf superstars such as Collin Morikawa, Keegan Bradley, Max Homa, Wyndham Clark and more. 

To prepare for the role, Wilson and Dager spent over a year playing golf since they had no experience. “Both those guys were not golfers before we started this show,” Keller said. “I mean, Owen was kind of, but that wasn’t a sport that he really pursued hardcore. Both of those guys threw themselves into the sport of golf and played every day and took lessons every day. I just played 18 holes with both those guys on Tuesday here in Los Angeles and they’re really good now.”

“They both have just really beautiful swings,” Keller added. “I don’t know what Peter shot. Owen and I weren’t keeping score, but Owen said that he wished he’d kept score because he played such a great round of golf. Both of those guys have become great golfers over the last couple of years.”

Stick premiered with three episodes on June 4, and a new episode will premiere every Wednesday through July 23. Wilson is also an executive producer on the series with Keller.