Hollywood is full of famous families, but every once in a while, you get a collaboration that actually stands out. That’s what’s happening with Jake Cannavale and his dad, Bobby, in the new crime thriller ‘Scarpetta’. Both play the same character, Pete Marino, just at different ages. Jake recently opened up about what it was like working on the show with his dad. Turns out, it didn’t just push him as an actor. It brought them closer, both as artists and as family.

Jake Cannavale on working with dad Bobby Cannavale

At the ‘Scarpetta’ premiere in New York City, Jake talked to People about how teaming up with his father hit on a bunch of different levels. It was emotional, sure, but it also made him think more deeply about the work. Their conversations went way past the usual “actor talk,” as they dug into who this character really is, what drives him, and how to make it all feel authentic.Jake, who’s 30, plays young Marino in flashbacks. Bobby, at 55, takes on the older version. Nicole Kidman is in the mix too, playing forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta. According to Jake, the whole process was a lot more brainy than people might expect.“The preparation was, honestly, it was pretty cerebral,” Jake said. “We worked together 15 years ago playing father and son, and all of our scenes were together, but this time we don’t have any scenes together,” he added.Jake shared that they’d sit around and break down the character, tossing around ideas and getting philosophical. Sometimes, things got heavy. Other times, they just ended up cracking each other up like a couple of guys at a bar.“It would get really deep and cathartic and philosophical, and sometimes we’d just be laughing our ass off like we were at a bar or something,” Jake added. “So, you know, we got a whole spectrum of collaboration, which is really awesome to see my dad in that light.”Jake also pointed out that this wasn’t their first time acting together. Fifteen years back, they played father and son on screen. However, Jake admitted, ‘Scarpetta’ was different. They don’t share any scenes, so all the collaboration happened behind the scenes, digging into the character and swapping ideas.Jake admitted the experience changed, and ‘enhanced’ their relationship. It’s one thing to grow up knowing your dad’s an actor. It’s another to meet him as a fellow artist, to really get what drives him. “There’s this very sort of, dare I say, mature understanding that happens as the son of anybody when you realize what your parent does to feel this sense of purpose,” Jake said.Jake continued, “My dad was an actor before he was a dad, and he’ll always be both of those things, but really seeing the thing that gave him drive in this life now as a young man and not just his son was really cool and really humbling and definitely enhanced our relationship and made me a better artist, I’d say.”

‘Scarpetta’: All about the crime thriller

‘Scarpetta’ is a crime thriller series based on Patricia Cornwell’s bestsellers. In the series, Nicole Kidman’s Dr. Kay Scarpetta is a forensic pathologist who heads back to her hometown to take on the job of chief medical examiner, and gets pulled into a brutal murder investigation. The show mixes forensic science with psychological drama and big, twisty crime stories. What makes it really interesting is the dual timeline. You get to see Scarpetta’s earlier career in the late ‘90s and then catch up with her in the present. That structure lets you watch how old choices and secrets shape everything these characters do now. The Cannavales’ Pete Marino is a big part of Scarpetta’s world, both in her past and present.

Bobby and Jake Cannavale: The father-son duo

As for Bobby and Jake Cannavale, they’re not new faces. Bobby’s been a staple in TV and film for years, with shows like ‘Third Watch’, ‘Boardwalk Empire’, ‘Nurse Jackie’, and movies like ‘Ant-Man’. He’s known for being able to do just about anything on screen. His son Jake, whom he shares with ex-wife Jenny Lumet, has got his start on ‘Nurse Jackie’ too, working with his dad. Jake has also worked on ‘The Mandalorian’, ‘The Offer’, and a bunch of indie films. His role in ‘Scarpetta’ is one of his most prominent television projects to date.