Christopher Briney on Emulating Rock Icons and His Romantic Role in HBO Max’s 'Hacks'

Fresh off wrapping up The Summer I Turned Pretty, Christopher Briney steps into a vastly different role in HBO Max’s Hacks, an opportunity he embraced as he pivots in his career. “I’m happy to have any job, but I’ve been a fan of Hacks for a long time,” Briney told TheWrap.

“As soon as I got the opportunity, I was like, ‘Of course, I’m gonna do it’ — there’s no world in which you don’t agree to an invite to hang out on Hacks,’” he added. “It’s been the best comedy of TV the past five years.”

From Conrad to Nico: A Bold Career Shift

Briney’s role in the final season of Hacks marks a significant departure from his boy-next-door portrayal in the YA hit. Instead, he trades Conrad’s pressed khakis for loud, unbuttoned button-down shirts and tattoos reminiscent of Harry Styles and Mick Jagger, embodying up-and-coming rock star Nico Hayes, the new artist-in-residence at the Palmetto.

The first images of Briney as Nico drew immediate comparisons to Styles, which the actor acknowledged. However, he clarified that the character’s style draws from multiple rock icons across decades, including Jagger.

“It is not one person — there’s obvious inspiration from a few of those,” Briney said. “I think it’s important to this character that he is sort of an old soul, and he’s been through a lot, and he’s had to grow up quicker than most people have to. I wanted him to have some sort of swagger of someone older, of a different generation … I watched a lot of videos of dudes in the ’70s, the original rock stars.”

Romantic Sparks with Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance

Nico’s old soul quality becomes the catalyst for a romantic connection with Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance, sparking both chemistry and comedic moments. Briney delves into the dynamics of their relationship in the latest episode.

Behind the Scenes: Auditioning for ‘Hacks’

TheWrap: How did this guest star spot come together? What was the audition process like?

Briney: I had a Zoom with casting, a Zoom audition read. There’s more to the story here, and I forget it because it was a while ago now, but I got the info and the sides two days before the Zoom. I was in the middle of really long press days, and I had no time to look at it. I think it was like 8 p.m. for me, and I was rushing home. I got back at like 7:59 and I was running upstairs, and I flipped my laptop open and hopped on the Zoom, not really knowing the material at all. But casting was lovely. I settled down a little bit, and we got into running the scene a few times. They asked me if I sing, and I said, “yes,” even though I don’t.