The new and old favorites from Heroes Reborn talked to us about their characters and the new world the heroes are living in.
The Toronto International Film Festival is well under way, and we had the opportunity to attend the red carpet for the world premiere of Heroes Reborn. We got the latest details on the new series, so check out our interviews with the cast below, and be sure to watch the cast Q&A video!
Related: Heroes Reborn review
Gatlin Green & Robbie Kay
What does Emily’s friendship mean to Tommy?
Robbie: I feel like Emily’s character is one that becomes his moral compass. It gets to a point where he faces a lot of challenges and dilemmas with his power, and she helps him come to realize the positives in that dynamic, as opposed to looking at all the negatives and how much of a burden it is on his life. And she also makes him see how valuable being a hero really is.
Gatlin: And I think she’s a source of encouragement for him, and just a friend. It helps him have a sense of normality I think, because he’s crazy– No, I’m just kidding! He’s got all these crazy things that aren’t normal going on, and she’s kind of like a home for him.
What is it about Tommy that endears Emily to him so much?
Gatlin: I think Emily is one of those people that likes to help the underdogs. And she knows that it’s super hard to be the new kid at school and kind of saw that and wanted to help him. And then got in way over her head and found a lot of crazy things about Tommy.
Does Emily wish she had powers?
Gatlin: I don’t know, I think Emily’s doing all right. I think she likes keeping up with him.
If Tommy had the opportunity to get rid of his powers, would he?
Robbie: I think at some point in the show he definitely would. It’s such a source of danger, and it really does become a huge burden in his life early in the show.
There’s nothing about his powers that he likes?
Robbie: None that I can say yet, but you’ll find out!
Danika Yarosh & Francesca Eastwood
What can you tell us about your characters?
Danika: I play Malina. Malina is a very unique teenage girl. She had a very different upbringing than most. From the beginning she was told that she was destined for greatness, so she kind of grew up separated and isolated from society and from the world, so that way she can train and use her powers and be the best she can be.
Francesca: I can’t say much! My character is somewhat of a grifter. She’s living a very dark life, she’s on a dark path, and she has some tricks up her sleeve though.
Have either of you watched the original show?
Francesca: Yes! Yes, a lot!
Danika: A lot!
How does Reborn differ from the original?
Danika: It’s a lot darker and a lot more action-packed, and it’s a lot grittier.
In what way is it darker?
Francesca: The lighting is darker- I’m just kidding!
Danika: Heroes ended with a giant cliffhanger, with Claire revealing to the world that people with powers existed. And in the original series there were flashbacks or flash forwards to the future where they saw what would happen if people knew that people with powers existed. And it’s kind of that future. It’s a version of that future. People with powers are hunted and they’re prosecuted, so people with powers are either hiding or on the run. So it’s just a lot darker.
Who from the original show do you wish had come back?
Danika: Sylar maybe?
Francesca: Yeah, oh my gosh, same here!
Why Sylar?
Francesca: I love him! I love that character.
Danika: I love Zachary Quinto, and he played Sylar brilliantly. I mean, I love villains. They’re always my favorite characters! *laughs* So I love him.
Greg Grunberg & Jimmy Jean-Louis
So Matt and the Haitian are back!
Greg: Nah, we just drove everybody here.
Jimmy: Just happy to help! *laughs*
Greg: I mean, yes, the Haitian is back in a big way, and yeah, Matt Parkman is back as well!
How have they changed from the last time we saw them?
Jimmy: Some of us have changed… (side-eyes Greg)
Greg: As he looks at me… Well, we’re all dealing in a not so nice world anymore, and a world that is just trying to figure out how to deal with these people with powers. So in a way there’s a lot of revenge, there’s a lot of greed, there’s a lot of allegiance. There’s good and bad in a big way. And which side either one of us is on, I think people are gonna be surprised.
So not necessarily the good side…?
Jimmy: Surprised!
Greg: Surprised!
Jimmy: Don’t forget that it’s full of other heroes.
Greg: Yeah, new heroes!
Jimmy: A lot of heroes are being chased, and yeah, you’ll be surprised.
Have their powers evolved since the last time we saw them?
Jimmy: My powers are pretty much the same. He was already very powerful, it would be difficult to change anything about it.
Greg: Yeah, he was shutting everybody down before.
Jimmy: Yeah!
Greg: My power has… Well they alluded to it, they showed my father in the first four years, and how bad he went, and the evil side that he took. So my character is definitely leaning that way. I’m not in the first couple episodes, but when they find me it’s badass Matt Parkman.
In this new world, do you think it’s easier for EVOs to live now, where superpowers are in the open, or before, when they had to live in secret?
Greg: That’s a good question, actually. Not knowing the plot, I would say, if you didn’t know what you’re about to see, I would say it’s easier in secret.
Jimmy: In secret, yeah.
Greg: For sure. I mean, who wants to get their head blown off by Zach Levi? I don’t!
Jimmy: He’s bad! Zach is bad.
Greg: Motherchucker.
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