On
Target: Talking To Justin
Hartley On The Eve Of "Justice"
Interview
conducted by Craig Byrne - KryptonSite Webmaster
January 2007
Smallville
assembles the Justice League on Thursday night, January
18, and leading this group of heroes into action is Oliver Queen,
the Green Arrow, played in several episodes of the current season
by Justin Hartley.
As we get
ready for the big event, which may also be the beginning of
a new adventure for his character, Mr. Hartley took the time
to speak with KryptonSite's Craig Byrne about the Emerald Archer.
The interview follows:
KRYPTONSITE'S
CRAIG BYRNE: Was the dynamic any different to play Green
Arrow alongside an entire group of heroes rather than just the
dynamic of Oliver and Clark?
JUSTIN
HARTLEY: Not really, because they kind of build him up as
the leader, no matter what, and I guess the only difference
would be that around Clark, the feeling is kind of that I'm
insufficient, as far as my powers go, because I don't really
have any. With these other guys, I'm still the leader, but there's
no rivalry. On a personal note, it was nice for once being around
other guys that had to wear costumes. So that was fun.
K-SITE:
Did you compare any notes with Alan Ritchson about your different
experiences playing Aquaman?
JH: He
mentioned that he had to do these buoancy tests or something
before he started, and I didn't have to do that. But no, not
really. My feeling is they're two different Aquaman characters.
His is more of a "what's up dude" surfer guy, kind
of fun, and mine was the lead of the show, so it was two different
perspectives of the same character.
K-SITE:
Many of your scenes as Oliver Queen have been shared with
Erica Durance as Lois Lane. Can you talk at all about the chemistry
between your characters, and what it was like to work together?
JH:
I thought the chemistry was really good. She's really fun to
work with; she's got a great sense of humor. We kind of have
the same brand of humor. It's a pleasure to work with [her].
Really easy, no ego. She's there for the show, and she seems
to put a lot into her work, and I've really enjoyed working
with her. We had a lot of laughs, and I'd like to work with
her again. I think she's great.
They do
a very good job writing the show, and they do a wonderful job
editing it, and they freed us up a little bit to add some stuff
that maybe wasn't word for word in the script. Which is kind
of difficult to do sometimes, andI can understand why, but they
let us play around with the words every once in a while, and
I think it helped. When they're in a relationship, people talk
differently than they do when you're applying for a job, so
I think that was a good thing, that they let us kind of use
the chemistry that we have to make the show, I don't want to
say better, but make it as good as any other scene.
K-SITE:
Do you think Oliver could trust Lois with his secret?
JH:
I think that he can. I don't think that's why chooses not to
tell her. I think that he chooses not to tell her because he
doesn't want to burden her with it. I think it's a sincere thing,
too. I think a lot of times in life when we get lied to or we
find out that someone's been keeping a secret, if it's someone
that you love or someone close to you, usually their intentions
were good. You get hurt in the end, it's like a political thing.
You try to shield someone from something, and they end up finding
out, and they kind of feel bad that you never told them in the
first place and they feel betrayed, but the trust is not the
issue. I think the issue is he doesn't want to burden her with
that.
K-SITE:
Spoilers for
the episode imply that Oliver will be leaving town after "Justice."
What
will become of his fantastic bachelor pad?
JH: You
know what,. I don't know, man. They were tossing around a couple
of things. I don't know if Lois is going to move in, or maybe
he'll sublet it. [Laughs] He might just lock the front door
and come back when he's ready. I have no idea. But he's got
more pressing issues. He's got people to save.
One thing
that I love about that show is they don't just have somebody
leaving town for no reason. They give him a reason.
K-SITE:
Given all of the buzz surrounding this episode, do you think
a Justice League series would make for a good show?
JH: I
think it would make a great show. I know for a fact that there's
an audience out there. They've got the tools, they've got everything
in place. so I think it would definitely be a great, great show.
I don't know what the details would be, but I'm young, I'm always
up for anything, so I think it would make for a good show.
K-SITE:
Do you have any other, non-Smallville related projects
coming up in the near future?
JH:
I've got this comedy coming out, Spring Breakdown, and
I've got a couple of indies coming out, and I just got [a] CSI:
New York gig, that I'm going to be on there for one show. Pilot
season hasn't really kicked in yet, so next week it should be
full steam ahead.
K-SITE:
Are you involved with The
Oliver Queen Chronicles at all?
JH: I
don't know. I have no idea what that is. I sat down with my
wife [to watch last week's show] and I was like "What is
that? I haven't seen that!" I don't know. I wish I could
give you some information about that, but I don't know what
that is. It looks cool, though.
K-SITE:
Are you involved at all with any of the bonus features or commentaries
on the season 6 Smallville DVD?
JH:
They definitely have some occasions where I was giving commentary
and stuff like that, but I don't know if they're going to use
it.
K-SITE:
What have you thought of all the positive press that your character
has received?
JH: I
think it's the show. You never know how these things are going
to go. You sign on to do something like this, and people are
either going to love it or they're going to say "What happened
to my show? My show changed, and I hate it, and I'm not giving
anybody a chance." You never know how people are going
to respond, and I guess I've been fortunate that it's been the
way it has been, because the response has been positive thus
far.
K-SITE:
Some interview quotes with [Smallville executive
producer] Al Gough have hinted that Oliver Queen might be back
on the show by season's end. Do you have any news about that
that you can share?
JH:
I don't [have any news]. I'd love to. It's the most fun I've
ever had on a set. These guys are great. So I don't know. I'd
be up for discussing whatever they want to do, but that sounds
good. As far as the details go, I would share them with you
if I had them. I just don't know.
K-SITE:
In the Smallvilles that you have filmed, do you have
a particular favorite episode?
JH:
"Rage" was a lot of fun for me, just because as an
actor, it's fun to get broken down like that and have some kind
of huge obstacle to get over. "Arrow," of course,
was a lot of fun, just because of all the gadgets and stuff,
and "Justice" was great. You'll see for yourself and
see what you think, but there's a very, I think, powerful, romantic,
and kind of heartbreaking scene between Lois and Oliver, and
that scene I really remember a lot. There have been some moments
that stick out, but as far as episodes go, no, I don't have
a favorite. I liked them all. I liked "Reunion." They
did a really good job with the character.
---
We'd like
to thank Justin again for taking the time to talk and promote
the big Justice League episode. Hopefully we'll be seeing him
again on our TV screens soon. For more on Justin Hartley, you
can visit his official web site at http://www.justinhartleyonline.net.
For more on the Green Arrow, visit http://arrow.kryptonsite.com.
Don't
forget to watch "Justice" Thursday night at 8PM on
The CW!
Here are
some extras associated with the "Justice" episode
which you may enjoy:
Longer
Trailer Caps
- Shorter
Trailer Caps - Short
Trailer #3 Caps - Image
Gallery
- January
2007 Trailer Caps -Episode
Guide - Spoilers
- Forum
Read
"The Many Faces of the Justice League"
Read
an advance review of "Justice!"
Note:
The views of Craig Byrne don't necessarily represent the thoughts
and feelings of everyone at KryptonSite.
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