Superman & Lois: Director Elizabeth Henstridge Previews “Anti-Hero”

Elizabeth Henstridge, who spent seven years in the Marvel Universe as an actor on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., comes to the director’s chair of Superman & Lois for this week’s episode which is called “Anti-Hero.” The episode airs at 8PM Tuesday, March 7 and features some big moments for several characters.

Elizabeth’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. directorial debut for the episode “As I Have Always Been” was critically acclaimed and she will probably get similar accolades for her DC/Superman & Lois episode. We were able to speak with her in anticipation of Tuesday’s episode, and of course, we did ask the obligatory “would you come back” question. Enjoy!

KRYPTONSITE’S CRAIG BYRNE: How did it come about for you to be directing an episode of Superman & Lois?

ELIZABETH HENSTRIDGE: I’m a massive fan of the show, and that was exactly the kind of thing that I wanted to direct, coming from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and having that episode available for people to watch, so my managers could pitch me for meetings with shows that were in the vein that I wanted to direct.

I love the superhero genre. I love the fight scenes, and also the lovely relationship parts of that, so I kind of focused my efforts on Greg Berlanti and his kind of “mecca” of shows. Superman & Lois was one that I absolutely loved. It just felt out of reach, but it was just the pinnacle… I still can’t believe that this was my first foray into the DC Universe.

[I had] meetings with a bunch of people at Warner Brothers and I eventually got to meet with Todd Helbing [Superman & Lois showrunner]. He was just so gracious because it was basically a meet and greet with a fan. I just knew everything about the show, I knew everything about every line… I was just quoting at him. I just got a front row seat to the creator of one of my favorite TV shows. Thankfully, he wasn’t freaked out, and they so graciously offered me an episode to do, and I just had the best experience.

I guess it was fueled by a genuine passion and love of the show, and then kind of backed up by my Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode and a couple of short films that I’d done. I think my incessant fandom helped too.

I know you’ve met and worked with several Marvel icons – you worked with Clark Gregg for seven years, after all – but what was it like to direct Superman?

Oh, my gosh. It was so crazy. It was amazing. Every generation has a different Superman, and a different Lois, and we get to see them in different phases of their lives. This really feels like “Elizabeth’s version.” I am so interested in where we get to see Superman and Lois at this stage of their life and them having teenagers. I get quite emotional talking about it, because it really speaks to me. The show really triggers me in so many brilliant ways and challenges me. I want to emulate who Lois is, in my life. I want to have that fire, and also that compassion and the drive to do the right thing. With Superman, he’s Superman. He’s trying his best to live this dual life and have a family and try make that work and dealing with very human things.

Honestly, it was an out of body experience when I first met Bitsie [Tulloch]. I first met Tyler [Hoechlin] in his Bizarro suit. I think he was shooting Amy Jo Johnson’s episode. I met him very briefly, and was suitably starstruck, but it was okay because it was just like a “Hi! Hi! Bye! Bye!”

Then I worked with him as Clark Kent… I was like “okay, I can deal with this. It’s fine!” But then when he walked on set as Superman, it was probably day three or four of my shoot, and I absolutely lost it. We had to do a literal meet-andfGreet for a while, like I’d have to have pictures before we did anything! Then I’d just about get back in my body and could actually get to work. It was surreal, and the thing is, they just look so much like they do on TV. Then when you’re meeting them, you’re like, “whoa, this is Lois in the Gazette! This is so crazy!” [laughs]

Speaking of challenges, when you directed Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., it was with a group of people that you had worked with for many years at that point. How did you feel different to direct people that you didn’t know as well or have that shorthand with?

It was easier in some ways, and harder in others. I knew the crew so well on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and we had been through so much together, but I was also known as an actor on that show. I think sometimes, stepping into a different role with people that know you as something else holds its own challenges. Everybody was so gracious on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but it was definitely a factor in directing it of [thinking] “how do I find my groove as a director when I’m still acting in it and I know in a couple of weeks, I’m going to be solely an actor again?” That aspect was taken away, obviously, on Superman & Lois, and it just allowed me to fully be a director.

I was kind of curious because you strive to do something for ages… I was having meetings for 18 months, and this was my kind of first go at doing a show that I hadn’t been on, and I was like “wow, I’ve put the work in. I hope I like this! People are taking a chance on me right now”… and I loved it! I love actors. I love being around them. I am so impressed by everybody on this show. They’re just masters at what they do and it was a total joy to be able to kind of guide the episode. I thought I’d find it more difficult than I did. Not wasn’t that it wasn’t challenging, but I felt at home straightaway. Everybody made me feel very welcome, and maybe some of that ease came from always being seen as the director possibly. The other thing is before you step on set, you’ve had two weeks of pretty intense prep work where you know that episode inside out and upside down. There’s a confidence I think that comes with walking on set, knowing you obviously have to be flexible in the moment because nothing quite goes to plan, but you at least have a plan. You’re never walking on set having no idea of what you’re going to do… hopefully, at least.

Do you think your experience on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. prepared you for working with so many visual effects?

Definitely! I have great friends now such as Mark Kolpack, who was our visual effects guy on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. who I could call. He’s the best! I think that prepared me massively; just kind of understanding that process, and also having the confidence that the effects people are just incredible. Their vision is amazing and I just knew I would be in good hands. I think as long as you ask enough questions, you’ll be okay.

Did filming Superman and his brother inside a cell remind you at all of some of the more confined spaces of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s later seasons?

Yeah! [laughs] Definitely. I feel like we were so lucky on S.H.I.E.L.D. to do it for so long. We had kind of done everything, so nothing really fazed me on this episode of Superman & Lois, in the way that I knew everything’s possible.

Shooting in that confined space was a challenge, but it also forces you to be creative because we were in there for quite a few scenes. That’s something I love about the world of television, you have to be creative to get it done. The crew on Superman & Lois is just amazing! We moved so quickly through those scenes… the speed at which they go is incredible. There were hard days, because it was a lot of handheld. There was a lot of moving everything, and moving everything out, and trying to keep our heads around all the different props, and angles, and stunts, and more stunts. The mastership of Stephen Maier who’s the DP on the episode of how to really use the windows, and the reflection of it all, all whilst there is this red light on…. how we all didn’t go mad, I don’t know. [laughs]

We’ve talked about all the superhero aspects of the show, but this episode also has a lot of human and emotional beats as well. Can you talk about those?

Yeah, they’re some of my favorite parts. I feel so lucky in that I got to do both. There’s a Lois and Lana scene where two mothers are talking about trying to do the right thing, and it being very complicated. They were just an absolute joy to direct and honestly, I did very little. The actors are amazing. Bitsie is incredible, as is Emmanuelle. Every actor in the show shows up extremely prepared, not just with their lines, but also with what they are doing and where the characters are emotionally. We’re also very open about discussing it and trying things. The actors made my job very easy, as did the writers. They wrote such beautiful things.

When you read the script, were you anxious and in anticipation, wondering what is coming in the episode after yours?

Yes, of course! I couldn’t believe I got such an inside scoop on the show! I got to read all the scripts up until my episode, and see the dailies and cuts that hadn’t aired yet. Honestly, as a super fan of the show, it was a delight!

For those who love to see you in front of the camera, you have a show airing right now called Suspicion. Where can people see that?

It’s an 8-part thriller series on Apple TV+, so you can watch it on your Apple TV device or you can also just download the app on your phone or computer. It’s very fun. It was very different from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. or Superman & Lois. It’s not sci-fi, although there are more movie effects in it then I thought that there would be. It’s a thriller, kind of a “whodunnit?” suspenseful series and I think we’re at episode 6 now, and we have two more.

I know you’re probably sick of getting this question but now that past Marvel TV folks are showing up in things like the new Spider-Man movie, do you think we’ll ever see Jemma Simmons again in something new?

Oh my gosh, I am never tired this question! I hope so, I’d play her again in a second. It was one of the greatest experiences ever getting to be an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Those people on that show are my family. They are extremely special to me. So yeah, anything where the duty of Jemma Simmons calls, I am there!

Would you ever like to appear on camera on Superman & Lois?

Of course! Who do you think I could be? The thing is, they would probably cast me as some massive Lois superfan. Maybe I’d apply for an assistant role and I might be the intern or something. I’d love it if they put me in a superhero suit,…can you imagine?!

Obviously we know why people should tune in on Tuesday, but why do you think people will enjoy watching the “Anti-Hero” episode of Superman & Lois?

I think it has a bit of everything that you love about the show. It has the heartfelt moments and the massive fight scenes. It’s kind of the gateway to completely change the course of these characters’ lives. Without revealing too much… it’s a very pivotal episode.

Our thanks to Elizabeth Henstridge for the interview. See a gallery of photos from “Anti-Hero” here!