The Dropout tells the story of self-made billionaire Elizabeth Holmes as she rose to fame and then burned out. When sources revealed that Holmes' medical device didn't work, the network of lies she told to sell her company and her idea fell apart. Holmes' neighbor, Richard Fuisz (William H. Macy), was integral to that process. Himself a rich inventor, Fuisz was an imposing figure in Elizabeth's childhood and attempted to prevent Theranos' work through the legal system and eventually by working with journalists.

Ahead of the March 3 premiere of The Dropout, William H. Macy spoke with CBR about his role as Richard Fuisz. Macy dove into what made the story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos so compelling and how he understood Fuisz' actions. Macy also revealed that he'd love to play a superhero in the Marvel or DC universes despite how hard those roles can be (and a dislike of violent movies).

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CBR: I'd love to start broad -- how did you get involved with The Dropout?

William H. Macy: Through the normal channels. The script was sent to me. I read Liz Meriwether's pilot and maybe the second [episode]. I just thought it was magnificently written. I knew this story. I find the story to be sort of profound in a Greek tragedy kind of way. What a character she was -- is. The transition that she did... I'm gobsmacked by that, that she could lower her voice and keep it that way. I love the fact that obviously a lot of men just lost their hearts to this woman.

Earlier someone asked, "If it had been a man doing this, would it have come out the same?" I think no, it wouldn't. I don't think a man could have gotten away with this. She was so alluring. She wore genius on her. It was, and is, an astounding idea. Unfortunately, she couldn't pull it off. The technology didn't exist. So at some point, she went to the dark side.

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She is not the only character who goes through a transition in The Dropout. Richard is similarly complex. How do you think viewers will feel about him?

He is complex and a bit of a conundrum. I think what happened was this. I think because Richard was an immigrant, foreign-born, and Elizabeth was so... Especially when she did her transition, [she was] such a white, American, beautiful, genius, can-do young woman that he made the assumption that she looked down her nose at him. That's what I think happened. It's covered in the script, but he invented medical devices. When the next-door neighbor's kid started doing the same thing [and] didn't ask him for advice, he was quite piqued by that. So he really wanted to bring her down. It cost him everything. It was a Pyrrhic victory at the end.

Did you get a chance at all to meet with the real Richard, to draw on that for your character?

No. No, I didn't particularly want to either. I thought everything I needed was on the page. I didn't feel like we were encouraged to reach out to these people. I mean, it is an ongoing investigation, or at least it was at the time. It was well written. I thought all the information I needed was there in the script.

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Richard and Journalist sit next to each other on a bench

In Mystery Men, you played a superhero before those were the cool roles to take. So now that you've finished with The Dropout, is there any interest in putting on a new costume for Marvel or DC?

Yeah! I think it'd be fun. Sometimes I find them too violent for me -- I don't like violence and I don't like violence in movies -- but yes. I am waiting for the role that comes along and I go, "Yeah, I'll do that," because they look like they're having a lot of fun. Although I gotta tell you, it's a lot of work. Having just done a film where I had to sit in the makeup chair for two and a half hours.

A lot of work and a lot of fun. 

I really liked myself when I looked in the mirror. I thought they did a magnificent job.

Dive deeper into the story of Elizabeth Holmes with The Dropout, premiering on Hulu on March 3.

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