These are two of the scariest words used on a TV show: “Omar is coming”. This warning, shouted by people as the streets of Baltimore cleared, meant Michael K. Williams’ deadly and unpredictable striker Omar Little was fast approaching, so stay away from him. Omar typically focused on drug gangs in his neighborhoods, robbing the Barksdale and Stanfield squads and making enemies the criminals and cops who populated the formidable HBO series. Wire. Unfortunately, Williams died of drug poisoning in September 2021 at the age of 54. But the mark of him as Omar was left on the cast and crew of the HBO series (that’s how we cook them 12 great films and shows by Michael K. Williams ), and spoke to Gossipify about their impact during a recent chat about the show’s 20th anniversary.
Wire celebrates its 20th anniversary this year and is available for purchase on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital, as well as for streaming on HBO Max . The series ran for five seasons and Omar Little has been a thorn in the side of the characters throughout the saga. However, not Michael K. Williams. The actor was adored by his cast, as well as series creator David Simon, who spoke about Williams’ contributions to the series. when he told Gossipify :
The thing I will always remember about Michael, and maybe that’s selfish of me because he too had a lot and lived a life like that, and we were very talented. But as a writer and as someone who was trying to direct a big bulky universal show about a lot of things in Baltimore and a lot of things in American life. When we got into season two … Michael looked at the first few scripts and walked into my office and said, ‘Why? Why are you running away from the series we’ve been building for a season? And I got it wrong. I worked with a lot of actors and I was like, ‘Oh, he’s counting the lines and he doesn’t have a lot of work. But instead he often took me in his arms and said: ‘No, no. I don’t care how many lines. I want to know what you are doing. … And then he became this incredible ally for the duration of the show.
And what an ally he was. Despite Wire could balance a succession of juicy stories involving charismatic politicians, cops and criminals, Michael K. Williams’ Omar is the one who resonated with so many viewers by showing them something they had never seen before. This is what Lance Reddick, with a lump in his throat, tried to explain as he held back tears and said about Williams:
This character was so special, in so many ways. So iconic. Being an openly gay gangster which is NOT a caricature. He was so three dimensional that you care about him at all times and how he interpreted him. The fact that, despite being a gangster, he operated under such an extreme code, a strict code of personal integrity that he almost looked like a hero.
It is almost impossible to choose the best episode of Wire or even to highlight the work done, for example, by the co-protagonist Dominic West as the unforgettable McNulty . But when the series turns 20, fans can celebrate what is easily one of the bets to stream. Max HBO (opens in a new tab)and even using the streaming service to experience David Simon’s next story, We own this citywith Jon Berntal.
Source: Cinemablend
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
