[IMG:L]Fox is racing into spring April 15 with Drive, a new adrenaline drama sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. The story starts with people from all over the United States competing in an illegal, cross country race, run by an underground organization. With a rumored $32 million jackpot waiting at the finish line, some sought out the race themselves hoping for a better life, while others see it as their only chance to save a loved one.
Sci-fi favorite Nathan Fillion plays Alex Tully, an average Joe manipulated into the competition by race organizers when they kidnap his wife. He’s pressured to win the race or risk losing her forever. Fillion, best known for his role as Firefly and Serenity’s Captain Malcolm Reynolds, tells Hollywood.com about life in the fast lane.
Hollywood.com: What attracted you to this role?
Nathan Fillion: That he’s just an average guy who’s being forced into something that he doesn’t actually want to do, that he’s an everyman. I think that I’ve found my niche. I think that it’s just everyday, regular people. I love watching FBI shows. I don’t think that I’m the FBI guy. I love watching Star Trek. I don’t think that I’m the military type Star Trek captain. I’m the captain of the spaceship that he bought himself, and that’s why he’s the captain. He bought the boat.
HW: Are you a crazy driver, do you have any tickets?
NF: No, I’m not a ticket guy. I did actually accidentally run through a stop sign in my own neighborhood the other day, but I didn’t get caught. This is by no means a confession.
HW: What do you drive?
NF: I’m driving a Tahoe right now. I like to be nice and high off of the road in Los Angeles because people are so crazy driving here. If you ever get hit I’d rather get hit below my knees and not in my face, my beautiful face.
HW: Drive is a cross-country road race; do you have any real life road trip stories?
NF: Not too recently I took a New Years trip to Austin, Texas with some friends of mine and when it was my one friend’s turn to drive I woke up in the middle of the night from the backseat to look at the speedometer and saw that he was doing a 125. He goes, “We’re making great time!”
[IMG:R]HW: Was part of the appeal the ensemble cast, because doing a series can be such a grind?
NF: You know what, I don’t have like a whole list of jobs that come to me and I go, “You know what, I’m going to pick this one because it’s an ensemble and because it’s not a bad schedule.” No. Jobs come along and I say, “Ah, I get to do that? Let’s go.” I’m very, very fortunate that the job opportunities that come along for me are in some way extremely fulfilling, challenging, and we have lots of fun. I mean, it’s active and so it’s always going to be a lot of fun.
HW: Are you going to take a beating in this show?
NF: I take a beating in every show.
HW: Have you made your peace with your Firefly and Serenity character?
NF: I’ve always had peace with that guy, actually. Well, actually, since Serenity. That was my vindication. Saying goodbye to Malcolm Reynolds was premature when the series was cancelled, but being able to comeback with Serenity was a real treat, more than I could ask for.
HW: What shows do you watch or Tivo these days?
NF: Lost. The Office. I will not miss those. The Family Guy. I do watch that … I’ve been watching a lot of National Geographic. I watch a lot of Discovery and the History Channel. A lot of documentaries. I put in a search on my Tivo for the words shark, bear, attack and caught on tape – any of those I’ll take on.
–Reporting by Geri Miller
