ESCLUSIVA - Donal Logue intervistato da "Telefilm Cult" per la ripresa di "Gotham" su Premium Action stasera: "Io, da 'Sons of Anarchy' a Batman, duro per forza..."
In occasione della trasmissione degli episodi inediti di "Gotham", dal 11 maggio su Premium Action (ogni lunedì in prima serata), Telefilm Cult ha intervistato in esclusiva Donal Logue, interprete del detective Harvey Bullock. 

How does it feel to be part of the DC Universe?

For me, it’s massive. To get a thumbprint on a world that’s very important to a lot of people is huge. Prior to Gotham, my only experience of Harvey Bullock was in Batman: The Animated Series. My kids would watch that show as we drove up to our house in Oregon, so I was familiar with that version of the character – but I wanted to make it my own. It’s exciting to take your place on the shelf among all the other people who have had a play in this world. It’s really exciting.

What’s the atmosphere like on the set of Gotham?

It’s fantastic. Right now, we’re in the middle of production, so we’re finding the rhythms and strides of the show. Every episode has been a blast. So far, I feel like it’s a really, really strong series.

Has the show been strong since the very first episode?

It’s interesting because if you watch the pilot for a series – for example, The Sopranos – it takes a while to find a rhythm for a show. I think we found a rhythm pretty quickly. To be honest, we always thought the pilot was strong.

Most people know about Batman and Gotham City, but how difficult is it to describe the show without giving away any spoilers?

I’ve never been on a show before where you didn’t have to pitch the idea to the audience. When you work on something like [Donal’s previous television show] Terriers, where the title isn’t really implicit of what the show is about, you have to generate all of that information and you pitch it in interviews. You don’t have to pitch Gotham. It’s in the nomenclature.

What attracted you to the show?

For me, I was always drawn by it – but not because I’m necessarily into fantasy and the super hero aspect of the show; I’ve always liked it because it has a Raymond Chandler and James Ellroy quality to it. I always like the noir-ish part of American society, the American urban underbelly. It feels like Gotham can be used as a descriptive term for the seedier side of any big metropolitan centre. That’s what drew me to the show, and that’s what we’re playing up with the show. It feels a bit like the movie Chinatown. It feels like my character is Jake Gittes in that movie. Jim Gordon comes along and he’s really idealistic, but he’s partnered with Harvey Bullock, a guy who’s been through it all. Maybe he’s got one bit of goodness left in him, though. It takes a guy like Jim Gordon to bring that back out in Harvey Bullock.

You’ve played a lot of tough characters on a variety of shows including Vikings and Sons Of Anarchy. Are you looking forward to being the tough guy again in Gotham?

Yes, I am. Lee Toric in Sons Of Anarchy was probably a little tougher than Harvey Bullock in Gotham – but it’s great. It’s interesting because a television critic explained that our new show is really violent and not for young fans. I replied, “Violent? Compared to what? Vikings and Sons Of Anarchy? Come on!” To be honest, my kids watched The Lord Of The Rings when they were two years old and they loved it.

How would you describe Harvey Bullock?

Harvey is an old school detective who’s been around the block a lot. He’s a legend. I think he’s well liked among the police department because he’ll defend the blue line. I wouldn’t say that he’s unethical; I just say that he’s the willow and not the oak. He’s pragmatic. Just like with police work in general, sometimes you have to cut a scumbag a break to be a confidential informant to get bigger bad people. He’s actually crossed that line a bit. He actually has relationships with people in the criminal underworld, but he’s trying to survive – and maybe he’s trying to get to his pension. When a guy like Jim Gordon shows up and starts saying, “No, there’s a right and there’s a wrong.” Harvey thinks, ‘Good luck!’ However, Jim Gordon wakes something up inside of Harvey Bullock. I think it maybe makes Harvey want to be the cop that he once was.

Will the show delve into the back-story of Harvey Bullock?

Absolutely. In fact, I just found out some little tidbits about his back-story. We’re getting to that pretty soon in the show, which is exciting.

How much did you know about the back-story of Harvey when you signed up for the role?

I had a good long talk with [Gotham creator] Bruno Heller about the character when we first met. Bruno is brilliant. I can’t articulate the show the way that he can, but he made it so plain and clear to me. Sometimes you don’t have to try that hard to work out a character. When you have to work really hard to try and figure out a character, it’s not always necessarily the best thing. Harvey Bullock was a much easier cloak to put on than Donovan in Copper or King Horik in Vikings. It felt pretty easy and it felt like it made sense.

Vikings, Copper and Gotham are three very specific and different time periods. Are you suffering from whiplash from all these different characters and ideas?

No. As an actor, you get used to change. When you’re doing summer repertoire theatre and you have a Joe Orton comedy in rep but you’re also rehearsing a Sam Sheppard play during the day, you have to get used to it. It was much more intense when I was doing Copper and Sons Of Anarchy at the same time, which is where I was literally travelling between two cities for work. I’d spend one day on Copper, and the next day on Sons Of Anarchy. That was tough. During the shooting of the Gotham pilot, I was doing two massive episodes of Law & Order. That was a challenge, too. However, I think that if you need something done, give it to a busy man. You’re more on point when it’s challenging. I seem to thrive in that environment more than one where there isn’t much pressure at all.

What’s the strength of doing a prequel series as opposed to diving right into the middle of the mythology of Batman?

I’ll mention the work of Don DeLillo to answer this question. Don DeLillo’s fiction was always strongest when he took an event where we know what happened, but he invents possible scenarios that lead up to the event. Take the Kennedy assassination as an example. We all know what happened there. We know the events of that day, but Don DeLillo’s novel brings up new ideas. You already have tent pole moments to hang from, which is what we have on the show. We know that at some point Batman is Batman. The Penguin doesn’t fight the moniker of The Penguin. He learns to embrace it and become it. We know we’re going to get to that point in the show, but how do you build any suspense when you know the outcomes? You create moments where the audience thinks, ‘If only for that, we wouldn’t have had all of this. What if?’ If Hitler had been accepted to art school in Vienna, what if? That’s part of the fun of it.

What do you think of Oswald Cobblepot [aka The Penguin] in Gotham?

We have to start strong, and the critical piece of the puzzle was who was going to play Oswald Cobblepot. That’s the actor Robin Lord Taylor, who I’ve known for a long time, since he was very young. He’s perfect. If he wasn’t fantastic, I think maybe the whole show wouldn’t work, but we got the right man for the job. He’s amazing. It seems like we’re very Oswald Cobblepot heavy right now, which is a good thing.

There’s been a recent explosion of DC adaptations on television in 2014. Do you think that’s helpful to Gotham?

Absolutely. I think high tide floats all boats. I think comics in general have always been the most natural fit for television because they are constantly evolving storylines. They are literally storyboarded the way a Director Of Photography would storyboard them; they are all drawn out with bits of dialogue attached to them. It’s harder to adapt novels because there’s so much internal dialogue, but comics are really cinematic. I think there’s room for everybody.

ESCLUSIVA - Telefilm Cult intervista in esclusiva Robin Lord Taylor, il "Pinguino" (futuro) di "Gotham" (Premium Action ogni lunedì)!

You play an incredibly iconic character in Gotham. How much pressure do you feel to honour previous incarnations of The Penguin, or are you able to create your own version of the character?

It’s a little bit of both. When you follow in the footsteps of Burgess Meredith and Danny DeVito – amazing actors and incredible performances that are part of all of our lives – it’s hard not to be influenced. I’m sure they inspire my performance in a certain way, but at the same time we’re showing a different part of the character that no one’s ever seen before. In that sense, I feel like I have a lot of freedom. In Gotham, Oswald is younger. This show is an origin story, so it’s before these villains have been incarnated. In that sense, I feel like I have freedom to create and stretch the character, which is exciting.

Do you feel any added pressure because The Penguin’s origin story is the tale that kicks off Gotham? In the pilot episode, we see a glimpse of The Riddler, Catwoman and Poison Ivy – but The Penguin is front and centre in the plot…

I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel any pressure, but I’m at the point where I’m just going along for the ride. I’m having the best time ever on Gotham, so I’m just trying to show up at work and get my head around what we’re doing each day. I’m having a blast.

Are you involved with many stunts in the show?

Not at this point, but who knows what’s coming down the road? At the moment we have some tussling and stuff for my character, but nothing too crazy.

Are you looking forward to the more physical side of the role?

That’s the thing about The Penguin; he isn’t a physically strong, imposing person. He plays people off each other to do his bidding. But it will certainly be interesting to see if I end up on crane somewhere doing something physical.

Does this mean you’re eager to do your own stunts?

To a certain extent, I’m eager to do them. Yes, definitely – because I feel like authenticity is really what we’re going for in the show. Anything that helps the authenticity is great with me.

The Penguin is a very fierce villain at times. How do you get into the mindset of such a violent character?

To be honest, the script is written so well that it’s all right there on the page. It doesn’t take a lot to get into character. In fact, it’s so fun and it’s written so well that it’s a dream for me. The way we shoot the show also helps. We move so fast with filming that’s it’s almost as though you get swept up into it and the energy just carries you through.

How evil is Oswald Cobblepot when we first meet him in Gotham?

As far as evilness goes, he’s finding his footing. He starts the show at a very low place in the totem pole – and at the end of the pilot, he ends up even lower, so he’s basically crawling his way back to Gotham City. In a way, the evilness is his tool that he uses to gain power. His drive for power is his only motivation.

What is his ultimate goal?

His end game is to run the show. He absolutely refuses to be powerless. He refuses to be stepped on and used because that’s how he’s been treated his whole life. He wants to make a change.

Do you see The Penguin as a character that is dealing with a lot of failures, as well as this quest for power?

Absolutely. I think that’s what fuels his homicidal tendencies. His failures are what push him towards those really dark, violent, sadistic places.

How many Batman comics did you read in preparation for the role?

I read loads! I found a couple of origin story comics, which were great. There’s a secret origin special where it talks about The Penguin’s childhood and how he was a bullied kid in prep school. That part of his childhood informed a lot of where he’s coming from in terms of his drive for power. Then someone gave me a Penguin: Pain And Prejudice comic book, which helped me get into his head even more. It’s an awesome read. How rare is it to play a character when there’s 75 years of resource material to look through? It’s like the research is all there for me; it’s fantastic.

Looking back through the past 75 years of DC villains, what is it about them that resonates the most with you?

The thing that resonates with me most is the fact that these are all mortal people. There are no real supernatural abilities going on here, so that’s what I relate to and that’s what speaks to me the most. All of the villains are coming from an actual, real place; like from being a bullied kid. That’s something we can all relate to. It’s fascinating that it was written in the late 40s and early 50s, but it still resonates today.

How would you describe The Penguin’s relationship with Bruce Wayne?

The great thing about The Penguin is that ultimately as Bruce Wayne/Batman grows up, he realises that he needs my character. They both play off each other in a really fascinating way. They almost have a partnership and they are always connected, which I think is great. It’s like two sides of the good and the evil, and then the fact that they have to interact together and work together; it’s a great, great thing to play.

How would you describe The Penguin’s relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith’s character in Gotham, the villainous Fish Mooney?

When we start the show, Fish is my boss. She’s the one who teaches him everything about the world, the fine underbelly of Gotham City. In a way, she’s very much like a mother figure. However, The Penguin’s desire for power is relentless, and he will use absolutely anyone to get what he wants. He will do whatever it takes. With Fish, the two of them begin so connected – but ultimately there’s not room for two of them in Gotham City.

Don’t miss the Italy premiere of @GOTHAM on Sunday 12thOctober at 9.15PM on #ITALIA1 @Premium_Action @QuiMediaset_it
— Camren Bicondova (@camrenbicondova) 11 Ottobre 2014

ITALIA! Premiere of GOTHAM happening Sunday 12th October at 9.15PM on #ITALIA1 @Premium_Action @QuiMediaset_it - hope you enjoy! #Gotham
— Erin Richards (@ErinRRichards) 11 Ottobre 2014

Italian friends! #Gotham premieres Sunday October 12th at 9.15pm on #ITALIA1. Don't miss it! @Premium_Action @QuiMediaset_it
— Robin Lord Taylor (@robinlordtaylor) 12 Ottobre 2014

Dear Italian friends and Gothamites ! #Gotham premieres Sunday October 12th at 9.15pm on #ITALIA1. We hope you enjoy the show

— Sean Pertwee (@seanpertwee) 12 Ottobre 2014

NEWS - Quando Batman portava i pantaloni corti...Al via da domenica l'atteso "Gotham", in volo cross-casting da Italia 1 a Premium Action con una Bat-fune!

Anche Batman è stato ragazzo. Ha vissuto un’adolescenza fortunata, racchiusa nelle pareti dorate della famiglia Wayne. Fino al giorno in cui i genitori sono stati uccisi e il suo destino è diventato quello di battersi per la giustizia nei panni del Cavaliere Oscuro. Arriva finalmente in Italia la serie più attesa dell’anno, capostipite di una “new wave” di serie tv ispirate ai fumetti che invaderanno il piccolo schermo nella nuova stagione. “Gotham”, il serial che racconta le origini dell’Uomo Pipistrello, parte su Italia 1 domenica 12 ottobre in prima serata con i primi due episodi in anteprima, per poi passare su Premium Action dal 20 ottobre, ogni lunedì sempre in prima serata. E’ la prima volta che una serie tv viene trasmessa in “cross-casting” da un canale free a uno pay. In coincidenza con i 75 anni di “Batman”, “Gotham” è la pù grande scommessa televisiva d’Oltreoceano degli ultimi anni. Per diversi motivi. 
Travalica il fumetto della DC Comics apparso per la prima volta nel 1939 squarciando le tenebre della metropoli del titolo - la più famosa dell’immaginario a strisce - che hanno avvolto le origini dei personaggi.
Manda in soffitta la storica serie tv del 1966 dove, come scrisse “Tv Guide”, “il super-eroe protagonista e i suoi antagonisti sfoggiano tutine talmente variopinte che le scorgeresti in una notte di nebbia fitta senza luna”. 
Prende il testimone dalla recente saga cinematografica di successo di Christopher Nolan, adottando effetti molto speciali e portando alla ribalta la figura secondaria, nei fumetti, del detective James Gordon, interpretato su grande schermo da Gary Oldman nella sua fase adulta. 
Non per niente è stata definita dalla prestigiosa Television Critics Association “the most promising new series of the upcoming season” e dal prestigioso “Hollywood Reporter” quale “the highly anticipated tv show of the season”. Tanto per dire, ancor prima di partire in America, il telefilm si è aggiudicato l’influente Critics Choice Television Award quale “most exciting new series”.  

A Gotham City il giovane detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie) viene incaricato dell’omicidio più sconvolgente avvenuto nella metropoli, ovvero l’assassinio di Thomas e Martha Wayne sotto gli occhi del figlio Bruce (David Mazouz). E’ con quest’ultimo che Gordon intreccia un legame che condurrà alla scoperta del killer, non prima di venire in contatto con il sottobosco in fermento della città dalle lunghe ombre: la boss Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith); Oswald Cobblepot, futuro “Pinguino” (Robin Lord Taylor); Selina Kyle, destinata a diventare “Catwoman” (Camren Bicondova); il giovane Enigmista, alias dottor Edward Nygma (Cory Michael Smith); la futura Poison Ivy ancora sotto le spoglie di Ivy Pepper (Clare Foley). Non mancheranno le prime malefatte di Joker (il personaggio più avvolto nel mistero dalla produzione con l’intento di creare l’attesa) e la presenza del maggiordomo Alfred (Sean Pertwee), colui alla quale viene affidata la tutela del giovane orfano Bruce Wayne, prossimo Cavaliere Oscuro. Completano il quadro, il capitano della polizia Sarah Essen (Zabryna Guevara) e il detective Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue), partner d’indagini di Gordon. 
La serie verrà trasmessa su Premium Action in accoppiata, dal 20 ottobre, con un altro titolo cult dei fumetti quale “Arrow”, giunto alla 3° stagione inedita e ad oggi il telefilm più visto in Italia negli ultimi anni (al suo passaggio su Italia 1 ha superato quota 3 milioni e mezzo di spettatori). Sempre Premium Action farà tris nel marzo 2015 con l’arrivo di “The Flash” (anch’esso tratto da un fumetto della DC Comics), atteso spin-off di “Arrow” con al centro il super-eroe più veloce dell’universo. 

La serie firmata da Bruno Heller, ideatore di “The Mentalist”, è stata lanciata con il claim ad effetto “The Good. The Evil. The Beginning”. Il protagonista di “Gotham”, è rimasto ferito sul set. Benjamin McKenzie, già front-man del cult generazionale “The OC”, si è ferito sulla fronte nel corso delle riprese durante le quali, lo stesso McKenzie, ha rifiutato la controfigura. Le immagini della ferita e del ricovero le ha postate lo stesso attore su Instagram. McKenzie ha commentato con la seguente didascalia le foto: “Una sequenza di combattimento andata male! Un cavolo di muro troppo vero, Batman!”. Il caso vuole che l’incidente sia avvenuto il giorno del compleanno dell’interprete messosi in evidenza anche nella serie poliziesca “Southland”.

NEWS -Bat-tete le mani, arriva "Gotham" sulle origini di Batman (e soprattutto di Joker, si spera)! Bat-Tage a tutto campo: Italia1+Premium Action+Lucca Comics
(ANSA) - MILANO - Com'era Gotham City prima che Batman, Catwoman e il Pinguino indossassero i loro costumi? Questo lo spunto che ispira 'Gotham', nuova serie in arrivo in prima serata su Italia 1 il 12 ottobre con i primi due episodi, prima di passare a Mediaset Premium Action dal 20 ottobre con una puntata ogni lunedi'. Creata da Bruno Heller ('The Mentalist'), 'Gotham' e' uno degli eventi piu' attesi della stagione tv americana e non solo: al centro del racconto e' Gotham stessa, vista con gli occhi di un giovane detective James Gordon (Ben McKenzie, gia' Ryan di 'The O.C.') che si scontra con gli ingranaggi di una citta' corrotta e in guerra con il crimine. Il primo episodio, mostrato ieri in anteprima alla stampa, parte senza preamboli dall'evento che mettera' in moto non solo le vicende della serie ma tutto l'universo immaginario di Gotham, l'omicidio dei coniugi Wayne di fronte al piccolo Bruce (David Mazouz). 'Gotham' e' una 'origins story' particolare, anche grazie all'inserimento di nuovi personaggi come la boss Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith): lo spettatore vedra' nascere non tanto Batman, ma il mito della citta' oscura di cui egli e' eroe. Mettendo al centro le indagini di Gordon, 'Gotham' e' piu' un poliziesco che non una serie supereroistica: un richiamo alle origini del fumetto, dove Batman era un detective in costume, ma anche al canone cinematografico di Christopher Nolan. Gotham e' infatti una citta' 'reale' simile alla New York degli anni '80, ma non per questo e' meno oscura: non a caso il debutto di 'Gotham' su Italia 1 sara' anticipato dalla trilogia 'Batman Begins', 'Il cavaliere oscuro' e 'Il cavaliere oscuro - Il ritorno'. Dentro questo universo prenderanno forma i personaggi della serie, dal Pinguino Oswald Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor) alla Catwoman Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova), e anche Joker, nemesi di Batman sulla cui identita' c'e' massimo riserbo. Con 'Gotham' Mediaset Premium Action si appresta a diventare la casa dell'universo DC: dal 20 ottobre con la terza stagione di 'Arrow' (versione originale in contemporanea con gli USA, poi anche su Italia 1), quindi da marzo con la nuova 'The Flash'. Frutto di un accordo fra Mediaset e Warner Bros Television, spiega il direttore contenuti di Premium Giovanni Modina: "la TV americana e' in piena ripresa, con budget mai visti prima: in questo senso 'Gotham' e' il nuovo prodotto di punta". E Geraldina Neri, channel manager di Mediaset Premium Action, annuncia la partecipazione del canale digitale pay a Lucca Comics (30/10-2/11) con una maratona dei primi 4 episodi e l'anteprima del quinto episodio di 'Gotham'.

NEWS - "Gotham" face to face!

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