Extant’s new star Jeffrey Dean Morgan has promised he will bring an element of “edginess” to the show.
The 49-year-old actor has joined the cast of Amazon Prime’s sci-fi show as “cop from the future” JD Richter, which has returned for a second series.
“My character isn’t a sci-fi guy, JD isn’t in that world,” he said.
“The thing with Extant last year is it lives so seriously in a high-brow science world and this year I’m going to bring that high-brow s**t back down. Last year’s Extant had a very surreal quality to it, whereas this year it’s much dirtier.
“Hopefully we can bring the audience in not only through the relationships that are going on. My character is there because I’m just as confused as everyone else is at the science aspect of it all, but it’s got a little more edge to it that it didn’t have last year. It’ll be a different ride.”
Jeffrey, whose previous roles include Grey’s Anatomy and Supernatural, admitted he is partial to sci-fi, although Extant marks his debut in the genre.
“When I was a kid, I loved sci-fi. I go to see the occasional sci-fi film especially if Spielberg’s involved in it, and I love Star Wars because I have a five-year-old son,” he said.
“I’ve now relived the whole Star Wars saga 500 times this year so I’m very hip on that… I’ve not done a sci-fi show or film before so this is very much my first foray into that.”
He joins Halle Berry, who reprises her role as astronaut and scientist Molly Woods. She is also an executive producer on the show.
“Halle’s very aware of what’s happening. Really good for me is she shares with me everything that’s going on and so I’m able to use her for my advantage as well,” the star explained.
“She’s the executive producer so they have to listen to me now, because she does, so it’s great. It’s a hard job and she takes it really seriously.
“She’s not a passive person by nature so she’s very hands on. This year in particular she’s in the trenches and has her say. I have to say, her gut instincts are right so that’s been great to watch. It’s kinda new for her and to see her blossoming in the role of EP, I think the show’s very lucky to have her.”
Extant is available on Amazon Prime Instant Video from Thursday, July 2.
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