Bradley Cooper Surprises in The Righteous Gemstones Season 4 Premiere

The fourth and final season of HBO's The Righteous Gemstones premiered with a surprising twist, featuring Bradley Cooper in a lead role as Elijah Gemstone, a character set during the Civil War in 1862. Creator Danny McBride opted for a standalone episode titled 'Prelude,' which did not include any of the show's regular cast, a bold move intended to re-engage viewers after a 21-month hiatus. Cooper's character, a ruthless schemer, becomes a chaplain for Confederate soldiers, embarking on a morally questionable journey that includes murder and deception. McBride approached Cooper with the script, and to his surprise, the actor accepted the role without having seen the show, wanting to remain uninfluenced by its tone until filming was complete. This episode not only explores the Gemstone family's dark past but also sets the stage for their legacy in the series. The premiere's unique format has sparked mixed reactions, as it diverges from the ensemble-driven storytelling that fans have come to love.