411mania Interviews: Nathan Fillion

Posted by Al Norton on 05.11.2009

411's Al Norton sits down for an exclusive chat with Nathan Fillion, talking about tonight's season finale of his new series Castle, working with Joss Whedon, and his past as a karoke singer.



Nathan Fillion made his TV debut on One Life to Live back in 1994 and his first regular prime time gig was on Two Guys, A Girl, and A Pizza Place in 1998. Since then he has starred in and/or appeared on Pasadena, Miss Match, Lost, Desperate Housewives, and Drive. His greatest success has been working for Joss Whedon, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the series Firefly and its big screen version Serenity, and most recently Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Currently Fillion stars as the title character in ABC's Castle, which has its season one finale tonight at 10 pm.

Al Norton: Does the waiting to find out if your show gets picked up get any easier the more you go through it?

Nathan Fillion: You know, what's helped is I've had the rug ripped out from me a couple of times, enough so that I try not to let it surprise me anymore. My theory is, "love what you do but just don't fall in love with what you do."

Al Norton: If you think back to what drew you into the show when you first read the script, do you think those things have come through in the 10 episodes you've done?

Nathan Fillion: Absolutely. Absolutely. I think Richard Castle is selfish and self serving and immature – he has so many very, very unlikable qualities – yet at the same time you tend to forgive him. He gets away with so much. Somehow how he is allows you to forgive him and he's loveable in those qualities. I really enjoy that about him, his deadpan honesty…he's so unapologetic and truthful and childish. He's like a little boy.

Al Norton: You think the hardest part for a show like Castle is to balance the ongoing character development and movement with the mystery-of-the-week?

Nathan Fillion: You know what, that part is done for me. That's the easiest part for me because all the really hard work is done before I get there. The writing, the production, the intensive labor, it's all done before I show up. I get there, I stand where they tell me, I say what they tell me to say, and I take all the credit.

Al Norton: How great is it as an actor to have three such talented actresses like Susan (Sullivan), Stana (Katic), and Molly (Quinn) to play off of?

Nathan Fillion: That's what makes it easy. Part of what makes an actors job easy is when I'm having breakfast with Susan Sullivan and Molly Quinn, they look at me and treat me as though I'm Richard Castle. When I'm in the precinct with Stana and Seamus Dever and Ruben Santiago-Hudson, they're looking at me and treating me as if I'm Richard Castle. It's really easy to pretend you're Richard Castle when everyone is acting like you're Richard Castle (laughing).

Al Norton: Did you have any idea how popular Dr Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog would be when you signed on?

Nathan Fillion: I had an idea that it would be good but you couldn't have told me it would be as wilding successful and as popular as it was. No, I wouldn't have bought that.

Al Norton: How often do people come up to you and quote lines from the movie? Are you constantly harassed by people saying, "the hammer is my penis"?

Nathan Fillion: I'm pretty grateful, people don't come up to me and say that. It might be a little awkward, having dinner with a girlfriend (laughing). People will say, "Dr. Horrible, Dr Horrible", usually pretty fast because they're walking by or shouting from a distance.

Al Norton: Had you ever done any singing before?

Nathan Fillion: I was a karaoke host in college. I've heard The Rose sung so terribly, so many times.

Al Norton: Did you have a signature song?

Nathan Fillion: Sure, we all did. Everyone in the company had their signature tune. Mine was Bobby Darin's Beyond The Sea.

Al Norton: At this point is there a project Joss could pitch you that you wouldn't be on board for?

Nathan Fillion: I doubt it.

Al Norton: Since I write on the internet I am obligated to ask about the likelihood of another chapter in the Firefly story.

Nathan Fillion: I'm writing those.

Al Norton: Really?

Nathan Fillion: No (laughing), I couldn't do that. I know 9 people who would sign on right away and one of them was killed off in the movie. We were wild about the TV show and we were all thrilled to be given the opportunity to put out a big movie. Joss Whedon has done so much for me and that is by far my most favorite job I've ever had. It was an incredible experience all around.

Al Norton: Can you give me a preview of tonight's finale?

Nathan Fillion: I can tell you that it's called "A Death in the Family" and there is a mob hit. I'll tell you that much. I don't want to spoil it as far as the cliffhanger goes but it's interesting because both Kate and Richard have connections that delve into that area of crime, both on the law making side and the law breaking side.

Al Norton: Does the episode end with enough of a cliffhanger where fans will be banging down ABC's door demanding a second season?

Nathan Fillion: Yes, a resounding, whole hearted yes. It's a cliffhanger meant for fingernail biting.

Don't miss the season finale of Castle tonight at 10 pm on ABC