What s next for him and Beckett, the role he really wants and what he
thinks about 'One Life to Live' going off the air
By Lie Shia Ong MSN TV
The Season 3 finale of "Castle"
left fans with Beckett (Stana Katic) gunned down, and just
as she lost consciousness, Castle (Nathan Fillion) proclaimed his love for her. When
the new season returns to ABC on Monday, Sept. 19, things will be a little
awkward for the duo as they avoid talking about Castle's proclamation and go
after Beckett's gunman.
MSN TV spoke with Fillion in between his rehearsals for "Castle," about
what's ahead for him, the role he really wants to get and why he loves
Twitter.
MSN TV: What can fans expect from the season 4 "Castle" premiere?
What scoop can you tell them?
Nathan Fillion: Expect some drama. That's a great question ... what to expect
... We're going to have tension-resolution. Some words have been said that can't
be taken back. We're going to see how Beckett reacts to Castle confessing his
love for her. What is she going to do?
Things might be a little bit awkward between the two of
you.
Once you say something like that you can't take it back.
What do you want to happen with Castle and Beckett's relationship?
Tell us on Facebook.
We told your Twitter followers we were going to be talking with you
today, and they sent in a lot of questions. @tennis80 asks "Stana just
said on KTLA that #Caskett need to make babies already." What do you
think?"
I'm on both sides of the fence on this one. People talk about the
"Moonlighting" curse: Once they get together the show is bad. I don't think
it's a curse so much as it is... it's like you have a Ferrari and you're in love
with the Ferrari. Everyone says 'Oh my God, that's the best Ferrari. You'll have
a great time with the Ferrari. Then you remove the engine from the Ferrari. It's
not such a great Ferrari anymore. I mean it's still a Ferrari it just
doesn't have the engine. I think it's the same way with Castle. I think what
drives people is: 'Why can't these two people get over themselves?' 'Why can't
things just work out in their favor?' 'How close can they get without getting
together? I think once you resolve that, all right, finally they're together.
Then there's nothing left to drive you to watch.
Caitlyn and Lora want to know how do you get into character for the
show? Do you watch shows or read books about crime?
I did read a couple of crime novels. Robert Parker. I read a lot of the
Spenser novels. Tough guy in Boston. Private eye. Very smart. Very clever. The
books span history from the more recent ones when he's on the Internet
investigating things, to the older ones he's scrolling through
-- microfiche, old newspaper stuff. I read a couple of those just to kind
of get into the idea, but after doing a television program for four years, you
don't have to worry so much about getting into character. You come to work and
you do it every single day; it's not as hard as one would imagine. It's not a
lot of prep work every morning of the week to get into character.
@Motley_Su wants to know you have such a great chemistry with all of
your co-stars on all the shows you've been on. Does it come naturally or is it
something you have to work on?
I've certainly had amazing opportunities to work with incredibly talented,
talented people. For me it's been very easy, but it's your job. Chemistry is
your job. If you come to work and you can't do your job you're not doing a good
job and they're not going to hire you for that job. Chemistry is my job. It's
what I do.
@teo765 writes "Saw the Castle S3 bloopers. You guys are so funny
together! You slapped everyone except Stana? Are you afraid of
her?"
I don't slap the ladies. I only slap the boys. In Season 4, no slapping. I've
stopped slapping. It's a good thing I don't slap anymore in Season 4, except for
last night I slapped Seamus (Kevin Ryan) one time, but it doesn't matter. No
slaps.
Tina writes you've had a lot of interaction on Twitter with your fans
and you've happened to work that into the script for "Castle" as well. Do you
have anything fun in store for your followers this season?
I don't plan my tweets. I don't say, 'Season 4, here's what I'm gonna do,
half way through in episode 8.' But I do enjoy Twitter. I love the forced
brevity. I love having a little connection. You want a little feedback? 'Hey
guys I'm writing this joke. What do you think? Is this grammatically correct if
I say this?' The Internet is a wealth of information. I find Twitter the same,
only you can actually find someone who's an expert in the field. I've connected
with rocket scientists on Twitter. You ask a question on Twitter and you'll get
answers and clever Web links and help you with what you're looking for. I think
Twitter is very handy. Certainly you can use it to raise awareness for benefits
or charities, and things that are important to me. But I also think it's just
fun to entertain. I think 95% of my tweets are just goofy.
Of course you're going to follow @MSNtv on Twitter after this
interview, right Nathan?
Of course. I actually already do!
@TheTopherReaves writes you were his favorite Joey Buchannan on "One Life to
Live," and that he's probably the only straight guy to ever say that. What
are your thoughts about the show going off the air soon?
That makes me sad. That makes me very sad. I think daytime drama gets a lot
of flak, but the fact is, people who don't see the value in daytime drama have
never seen daytime drama -- have never seen the work that goes into daytime
drama -- the kind of work that goes on offscreen. I have known a lot of
actors in my time and I've never known them to be harder working or better at
their job than they are on daytime drama. You have to be better on daytime
because you're doing it every day. We do a 42 minute show in 8 days here on
"Castle." They do one at least one every day on "One Life to Live." You have to
be good. You can't go there and half-ass it. That was my training. I went there
ready to learn and I learned a lot. I learned a lot. It taught me a great deal.
I think I was very fortunate to have the castmates I did on "One Life to Live."
Those people are family to me. I think of them constantly. I thank them for the
lessons I learned there both for acting and in life.
Jonathan and Meagan want to know, do you ever regret "Firefly" being cut so short and what do you miss most about
the show?
Dear Jonathan and Meagan. Yes, I miss "Firefly." It was sad that it got
canceled, but if it hadn't gotten canceled I would have never gotten to do
"Serenity," my first lead in a film. So a blessing and a curse all at once. What
do I miss the most? I get to see my castmates from "Firefly." I still get to see
them. Adam Baldwin, Alan Tudyk is one my best friends in the world, Jewel Staite. But I don't get to see their
characters they played. When we went back to film "Serenity," the first time we all got dressed up
into costume and went to set, when I saw Jewel Staite I saw Kaylee. I saw Gina Torres and I saw Zoe. I realized 'my God. I
miss these characters.' I used to get to hang out with them all the time and
they would look at me and call me Captain and treat me like a Captain as Bishop.
I miss that. I also miss my horse.
What about "Uncharted?" Mark Wahlberg is no longer associated with the
movie. The role of Nathan Drake was written for you.
Ages ago I missed an opportunity to be the voice and motion capture for
Nathan Drake on the video game, which now would have I think translated a little
more easily to putting me in the running for the Nathan Drake character in the
film. However, there are incredible actors out there available and ready and
right for that role. I'll throw my hat in the ring and say 'I want to try it
too.' Everyone wants their Indiana Jones. Everyone wants a super hero. Everybody
wants an Indiana Jones. Nathan Drake would be my Indiana Jones. Would I love the
part? Yes! Would I begrudge another actor for getting it? No. Do I want the fans
hassling the writers or directors or producers about hiring me? Umm ... you know
what? Pleasant hints, sure. Hassling? No! You're going to lose the part for me.
You're going to get me blacklisted. Pleasant hints. PLEASANT! Don't harass!
Is there any sequel or prequel planned for "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along
Blog"?
The time is ripe for a sequel. I've heard buzzings. Twitterings. Not actually
Twitter, but twitterings of little birds. There's been talk of a sequel. There
may or may not have already been some songs being written. I'm just saying we've
got a lot of talented people over there who wrote that thing. They can't help it
but make awesome stuff. This is what they do. So, I will say a very, very strong
maybe.
Is there anything else you want to add, a message you want to send
out to your fans?
I say 'thank you.' I enjoy what I do. If someone else is enjoying what I do,
too then I think we have that much in common. I say thank you for watching and
for being entertained and for coming with me on this journey. And thanks to
those who are positive and cool and write great things on Twitter. That's my
connection. When I used to be on stage, you do something great you get laughter
and applause and gasps from the audience. It's very immediate and visceral, that
experience. Now, if I meet someone face to face-to-face on the street and they
say something to me, Twitter is the applause of the new millennium. And I say
thanks for that.
Season 4 of "Castle" premieres Monday, September 19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on
ABC.
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