Forbes March and Howard Chaykin: 6/02 SciFi article, on Ground Control
Scifi: The Official Magazine of the SCI FI Channel June 2002
The DNA-Team
Go behind the scenes to learn the ABCs on the syndicated superheroes of Mutant X.
By Kathie Huddleston
…
By utilising the production team behind La Femme Nikita, casting a group of young, talented actors, backing them up with established actors Shea and Tom McCamus (who plays the evil Eckhart), and taking the material seriously, Mutant X has created a unique style and tone that make it unlike anything else on air.
Forbes March, who plays new mutant Jesse Kilmartin, gives a lot of credit to the crew. “I think that this is a very special show for the budget that we have. Our lighting and our sets are really kind of the sixth mutant. Laurie Drew (costume designer), man, she goes all out. I’ve never worked in a job where they were so fashion-conscious. She also did Nikita. She’s got her own following. The same with the sets. Rocco Matteo designed their sets and our sets. Our crew has done a fantastic job. I think that within the limits that we have, we’re really doing very well in just about every department. The writing, the lighting, the characters, the sets, the clothing is amazing, the action is good. It’s pretty miraculous.”
After putting in a successful first season, most writers might relax and dig in. However, Chaykin and his team have big changes in store for Mutant X that will affect all the characters. The biggest change will be caused by the temporary departure of McCamus, whose character, Eckhart, fuels the conspiracy to hunt down every new mutant he can find. “Tom McCamus is an astonishing actor. He’s basically going off to do Richard III. He’s wonderful, and frankly he didn’t want to expend himself. But he definitely comes back, there’s not a question of that,” said Chaykin.
Losing an outstanding villain like Eckhart as a regular presence has the potential to hurt a series, especially one that’s just starting to establish itself. However, Shea believes the writers are up to the challenge. “It’s been my experience that that which is at first seemingly really negative and horrible, like the thought of losing Tom, turns into a positive thing, because it allows new ideas and new creativity to enter the picture. So Tom is willingly stepping away from the role so he can pursue other opportunities. I’m very happy for him and I would do the same thing if I were in his position. What that will do is allow the writers to introduce new people from Genomex into the mix, and I already know it’s going to be fantastic because we’re going to introduce them in the last episode of the season.”
McCamus will return as a regular recurring guest star, but perhaps in a new incarnation, according to Chaykin. “One of the apt elements of our franchise is transformation. Don’t hold me to this, but one of the things we’re thinking about doing is putting Eckhart through a transformation that will make him more lethal, more deadly, you know, scarier in an entirely different way.”
Chaykin and his team already have a brand-new villain lined up to join Eckhart in his battle against Mutant X, and to take over when McCamus isn’t around. Michael Easton (VR.5, Total Recall 2070) has been signed for the role, in which he’ll probably be a regular recurring guest star. “We’re introducing a new villain in the season finale, named Gabriel Ashlocke, who is the most powerful new mutant ever and the first child of Genomex known as Patient Zero. He’s one scary son of a bitch. It’s a pretty exciting turn. One of the things about this show that we always try to do is take a challenge and make it a solution. It puts us in a position of trying some new directions and new stuff, and we love doing that. I think we’ve got some great stuff in store for you next season. This change is a positive one and it gives us an opportunity to do some new stuff alongside of the traditional stuff. It will effectively keep Tom in the mix in a way that’s kind of exciting.”
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