Dan Payne – Legends of Tomorrow

By starrymag | October 20, 2016

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

 

A) It’s been a really good year. I did a movie called Everything, Everything with Nick Robinson and Amandla Stenberg. I finished the second installment of the Disney “Descendants.” I just booked the reoccurring new villain for “MECH X-4,” which is now going through the process of creating the costume. I just got word on the final cut for a movie called The Plateau that I did. I’m excited to get a viewing that. “Legends of Tomorrow” was a good start to a wave of happy!

 

Q) How do your kids feel about you being in the super hero series “Legends of Tomorrow and “Descendants?”

 

A) The “Descendants” one they like because the kids at school come up to me and say, “Excuse me, sir. Are you Beast in ‘Descendants?’” Then, my kids are looking at me like, “Really? That’s just my dad.” I guess they get it, but they don’t. They definitely keep me humbled because they are like, “Yeah, that’s you. Can I get a sandwich?” It’s just neat. I want to make sure that they understand it is just a job and it is something that I love to do. Whatever you choose to do, go for it. It’s neat and interesting when kids come up at their school and ask me about “Descendants” because it’s always weird since I like to see my son with his one raised eyebrow thinking, “What’s happening right now?” With “Legends,” I did wear the mask for it. I’m hoping that because the show is about traveling through time that they will reveal that I’m the son of the Green Lantern in his younger form. I’m honored that Lance Henrikson is playing the older version, what a legend from Aliens and so many other things.

 

Q) What was it like for you to work on “Descendants?”

 

A) In “Descendants,” I got to do a bunch of dancing. Kenny Ortega had some of the most amazing choreographers on the planet helping me to dance was a crazy experience. Getting these old bones to bounce around for a choreographed routine was quite an experience.

Q) Were you a DC Comics fan and familiar with the character Obsidian?

 

A) I am a huge fan of superheroes and comics, but not enough to know Obsidian and the powers he had. Obviously, when you get a job you do your due diligence and it was like, “Wow!” He has a heck of a backstory. There is a whole bunch of elements there about why he dabbles in the dark and why he has the twisted youth that he grew up through. It’s intense and he’s fairly borderline bipolar! There is a twist of darkness, but he’s on the good side. It kind of means it might be a tenuous situation where you never know what side he might play for.

 

Q) What kind of breakdown were you given when you first auditioned?

 

A) I was extremely grateful that I didn’t actually have to audition for this role, but that means when you come in you have to ask the questions. This show is really good and has a great concept and a wonderful sense of tone. They invite you in with a great amount of welcome and information to try to maintain that tone that they work so hard to achieve. So, I was grateful when I arrived. They did tell me that there was a dark side to him. He is the guy that you always want on your team, but you aren’t sure that he is fully on your team because he has amazing power. Then, there is also that darkness that is swallowing him. The directors and producers are always there to make sure if you have any questions they are answered immediately. It was great! Also, how cool is it to hang out with Dominic Purcell and all of those guys? Talk about being a superhero…

 

Q) What was it like for you joining such an already established cast?

 

A) It’s extremely welcoming. When you show up to the show and it’s been going for a while and it is a hot show and a lot of talented people are on it…having someone come up and introduce themselves that you know and respect who automatically remembers your name the next time he sees you…You have that sense of being invited into the family that already exists. When you have to do a job that you respect and have to bring you’re A-game for, that helps. That goes a long way to take on any of that stress. And they all know what their characters are and where they are going so there is a collaborative effort with directors to shape the character with what they believe it should be. They are welcoming of that and it is a well oiled machine. Then, there is a beautiful introduction of Maisie [Richardson-Sellers] as Vixen. She is just tremendous, too. She’s just a wonderful human being. I just can’t say enough things about the cast.

 

Q) Who is someone you wish you had more scenes with on “Legends?”

 

A) It was kind of nice to see Victor Garber again. We did the movie The Hunters together and I didn’t get much time with him on that. I’ve always admired and respected him throughout the years. He is pretty much a powerhouse in the industry and a great guy to model yourself after. It was nice to be able to sit and talk with him in the holding areas. He is just so amazing. His talent is seamless. He is smooth and seamless with his work. It would be wonderful to be in a scene with him and have to just be so present that you have to say there. It would be a heck of a ride. So, I’d like to do some stuff with Victor. We were in these big fight scenes with everybody. It was so cool to be in between takes like, “You good? You cool? Nobody got hurt? Okay.” Everyone is looking after each other. The other cool part was that I got to do the stunts since I have some pretty extensive experience in the stunt world. So, I got to be my own stunt double, which is funny. When they asked all of the stunt doubles to come in I didn’t go anywhere.

 

Q) What kind of stunt work did you perform and were allowed to do?

 

A) I got to fly around a bit and hit the ground. I did a little fly across the ground. It’s intense and a lot of fun, but again they are all professionals there. They set it up for you to succeed. So, you might get a bump or a bruise, but that’s why it is called stunts. The choreographers and the team they have there put together these elaborate fantastic fights that make it a feature type feeling on a TV show. Kudos to all the stunt team there. Everybody on that stunt team brings feature like fights to life on a TV show with TV timelines and a TV budget, which I think is part of the magic of that show.

 

Q) What was it like for you to take on the iconic role of Obsidian?

 

A) I’m not going to lie, ever since I was a kid I wanted to be a superhero. So, it was kind of an unwritten bucketlist thing to check off to say I got to be a superhero. I don’t want to brag, but I’m pretty sure Obsidian’s powers are the best. They are pretty kickass. I’m not putting down anybody or taking away from anybody, but I pretty much rock the house. Bucketlist? Check. Awesome powers? Check.

 

Q) You mentioned that you will be in just two episodes, correct?

 

A) I have two to date and I don’t know what the future holds. Because the show travels through time quite brilliantly, I’m hoping that Obsidian does show up at an age that is worthy of his fate and they unmask me and I get to play gain from the acting standpoint a bit more. That would be wonderful. Even having the dance that did, I’m extremely grateful. Whichever way the cookie crumbles I’m in.

 

Q) Where would you like to see Obsidian go in the future?

 

A) I would love it that when it comes to Obsidian that there be an episode that because his powers are so amazing and strong maybe the darkness that he struggles with and carries everywhere he goes starts to make him question his alliance to the Justice Society and possibly he has to make some grave difficult moral decisions that could jeopardize the future of the team or they have to bring him back from “the dark side.” I think we need to travel into the moral ambiguity that he seems to potentially possess so there is that conflict. Everyone wants to have layers and an arc that travels from somewhere to somewhere else in a great way. I think that Obsidian has a rich history, a history that allows for an episode of moral dilemma that jeopardizes so many different levels like the Justice Society, mankind, the future and the past.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Have you been enjoying the instant fan feedback you have been receiving?

 

A) They have been nothing but supportive. I’ve just seen really cool, kind and supportive tweets and Facebook messages about how glad they are that I could bring him to life. Interestingly, in my career I did a movie called Mulligans, which was the story of a man going through a midlife crisis and coming to grips with he is gay which blows up his family. It is still on Netflix and I still get feedback and fanbase from it. What I love about Obsidian (and they haven’t delved into it yet) is that the character is meant to be gay. If you truly do your due diligence on that character he was gay. I don’t know if they are going to address that. I don’t know if they have time or they intend to, but I love is the fanbase I have from other movies I have done that are saying, “Thank you for bringing to life another character for the LGBTQ world. I’m happy to be a part of any job that has integrity and merit and maybe puts a smile on people’s faces. It’s kind of cool.

 

Q) What has been your favorite moment or most rewarding moment from filming “Legends of Tomorrow?”

 

A) There is a farewell scene between the two teams – the Justice Society and Dominic [Purcell] and his team. There is an interaction between Dominic (Mick Rory) and my character. It made me laugh when I read it and laugh outloud when we did it. It was just a nice moment. There was a moment of levity thanks to Dominic’s character. Obsidian being that he didn’t speak, Dominic played it so well. We just had a little bit of fun and it was a good little laugh. It was just a nice little button for the whole experience. We did film it last. So, it was a nice way to finish – that nice moment of levity between Dominic and Obsidian. They are rivals. Right away they go to toe to toe and square off. They have maybe a love-hate relationship and maybe at the end a little bit of respect that comes through with that moment of levity. I just loved the whole experience.

 

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure fans know?

 

A) As far as “Legends of Tomorrow,” I had such an amazing experience that I do hope I get to come back and play again. As far as the fans go, I’m blown away and so unbelievably grateful for all of the constant and growing support by everybody. The whole concept of “fan” is still kind of unique to me. I love what I do and I’m so grateful to be able to do it. To on top of that have people who are supporting you and giving you nice boosts (sometimes when you need them) with tweets and just following you and being there in a neat sort of connected but disconnected way – I can’t thank them enough. I can’t say how great it is to know that exists. I do what I do because I love it, but when you are struggling, having a tough day and wondering if you are doing well and you get that tweet from a fan that says, “You’re killing it. I love what you’re doing,” or “You’re my favorite actor…” Anything in that line, makes you think, “Wow! Cool. Get rid of that negativity because there is no reason. Keep pushing and following that passion because it is worth it.”