Question:

On playing two characters: Are you able to focus all day on Henry or focus all day on Edward, or are you jumping back and forth from one minute to another?

Christian Slater:

Yeah, we are - you know, I think in the first episode it was pretty specific, you know, who I was playing on what particular day.

But as we’ve moved on, you know, we’ve gotten to do a lot of fun things and the other
personality starts coming on in the midst of being in the middle of like a fight or something like that - you know, having a hand-to-hand fist combat with a guy on a train and starting to feel the other character coming out who doesn’t really know anything about fighting.

So it’s been - that’s been challenging and fun.

Question:

Were the dual personalities the aspect of this that made it irresistible to you?

Christian Slater:

I think the dual personality aspect was certainly something that I enjoyed about this particular script. I thought the title was great fun.

I thought, you know, taking the Jekyll and Hyde type of premise and, you know, of putting that sort of angel and devil on your shoulder sort of scenario - theme and blowing it out into such an extreme way was something that was very identifiable and very interesting.

Question:

Are you a fan of the genre of spy movies?

Christian Slater:

Oh yeah. Oh yeah.

Question:

Do you have a favorite?

Christian Slater:

Well yeah, I love Sean Connery. I grew up watching all of, you know, his films as Bond and I love Daniel Craig and think he’s a great Bond. So I have - yeah, I’ve traditionally always loved this genre.

Question:

What would you say to that audience to convince them to stick around and check out your show? And what do you think your show offers to the comic book fans?

Christian Slater:

Well this show has so many, I think, phenomenal twists and turns. I think we’ll continue to keep audiences guessing. You know, we have continual storylines and I think some characters that are very well developed and are in the process of being developed, and some really great actors.

I mean, James Cromwell and Alfre Woodard, and Saffron Burrows, and Madchen Amick –
they’re all just very, very interesting characters. And I hope people enjoy it as much as I’m enjoying making it.

Question:

On any projects he’s especially proud of in his career

Christian Slater:

For me, you know, I go way back probably to a film I did called Pump up the Volume that I enjoyed a great deal and I loved playing that character.

And he kind of had a bit of a dual, split personality thing going on as well. And so I think with this particular show it’s reminiscent in some ways of that.

Question:

Is there something different you’re tapping into to get those two characters to be separate?

Christian Slater:

Yeah I mean, there are subtle differences and I think, you know, certainly some specific
emotional differences between the characters. As we’ve gone along we’ve discovered a lot of ways, I think, to -- in a very subtle fashion -- make some clear distinctions between the two characters.

But, you know, I think Henry is certainly a character who is much more in touch with his heart and certainly a much more compassionate character. I mean, Edward is without a doubt, the opposite end of that spectrum.

And, you know, we come to discover Henry is in a way specifically created - not that I want to give anything away really why he was specifically created, but as we delve deeper into the story, you will see what the purpose and reasoning for Henry’s existence is.

Question:

As a long time move actor what do you like or dislike about the storytelling differences with working in television?

Christian Slater: 

Well I mean, it’s a phenomenal experience to come in every eight days and, you know, be handed a new script and, you know, see the direction that things are going and the questions that are being answered.

You know, for me as an actor having done theater and having done movies, it’s like you show up and you get to tell that one whole complete story within two hours that night or over a certain period of time - 30 days or however many days it takes to make the movie.

You know, with this it is a continual unfolding journey and it really is up to the writers and how creative and clever, and interesting they’re feeling and willing to be.

And I can honestly say I mean, John Eisendrath and the direction he’s been taking the show, I couldn’t be more excited or - you know, it makes me laugh.

It makes me - it’s fun to sit in the read-through’s and hear the other actors go oh my goodness, you know, because they haven’t read the scripts yet. So it’s fun to hear that they’re genuinely surprised.

Question:

How much creative input do you have into Edward and Henry?

Christian Slater:

As we’ve gone along and I’ve worked with the directors and with John Eisendrath, it’s been great.

The relationship - if I have a question about a particular moment or a particular scene, or feel like a particular action would be more Edwardian -- that’s kind of the word that we’ve come up with now -- or Henry-esque, the directors and John have been very, very happy to hear the suggestion.

And often at times have incorporated it into the script.

Question:

Can talk a little bit about working with the women in the cast?

Christian Slater: 

Yeah. Well Alfre is - she’s certainly a phenomenally strong actress and is great, and is I think, a perfect matriarch for this, you know, for this kind of environment. And she carries herself with great authority.

And what can I say? I mean, she’s just - she’s a powerful actress so I’m glad that she’s kind of the one holding the leash on Edward and Henry.

And Saffron Burrows is - couldn’t be a better therapist. She’s intelligent and sharp, and I think emotionally a very, very strongly developed character.

And Madchen is just full of life and I think really represents a great deal of the heart and soul of the story, and what keeps Henry and Edward grounded.

Question:

Henry and Edward don’t really know that one another exists. Do you think there are going to be clues along the way that they find that kind of gives them a heads-up that something is not quite right?

Christian Slater:

Well yeah, I think in the - in this first episode it’s called Breakdown and the microchip that is implanted into Edward’s brain has started to break down. And the two personalities are
beginning to merge and a lot of chaos starts to ensue.

And, you know, they do find different ways to communicate with each other and, you know, writing signs on each other’s hands so when they do come to they can see what they’ve been up to.

And as the show develops they find much more technological ways to stay informed.