In a 2020 interview with Creepy Kingdom, Maggie Levin spoke about casting and working with Benedict Samuel: "Benedict is an incredible actor, and was a surprise gift to this whole process. I saw one tape. He was in New York, so he wasn't even able to come in for a callback or anything. But we all saw that tape - myself, the producers, Hulu - and there was something about it. There was a quality of chaotic madness and unpredictability in just the audition that he recorded, that I felt was really essential to the character. Because he goes to some very high, wild places.
It takes a precision actor to be able to do all of those levels, and not have them come off as cartoon-y. I know that some people will probably watch that performance, and go, 'This is over the top.' But I've encountered that behavior in real life. I've encountered a person just like that - persons just like that in real life.
That element of psychosis, the edge of sociopathy next to psychosis, is so specifically dangerous, and so specifically manipulative. And I think Benedict did a beautiful job of going to all of those places in a really convincing manner.
The first shot of the first day that we did was a push in on his face, where he was turning and clapping, going, 'Oh, Valentine Fawkes.' And my stomach dropped when it happened. I was like, 'Oh man, we are in for a ride here.'"