Might we see anyone from Leverage on The Player?
You know what? I think that’s kind of up to what I can slide in when they’re not looking…
[Regarding crossovers] I’d like to think that the fans create their own space. I’m a big fan of fan fiction, actually. I think fan fiction is a sign of a healthy show. I love when fans co-opt the show… it means that it’s part of a conversation; it means it’s emotionally relevant to them. So, I’m sure I will be seeing Player/Leverage mashups online soon.
There’s actually a couple of things on my other show on TNT, The Librarians… there might be one or two references throughout this season where you go “Wait, was that—?” So, we’ll see if people catch it or not.
So you’re still running The Librarians, then?
I am still running Season 2. It’s a great show, a great season… we’re now comfortable in the show. We’ve established that magic is back in the world. A lot of shows will just say “Okay. Now there’s a secret little level of magic in the world, and that’s what we’ll deal with.” We’re saying “no, it’s getting stronger.” So, each season on The Librarians, magic becomes bigger, the risks become bigger, it gets harder to hide it… our team has to change and evolve; they’re just not hiding secrets now. Now they’re having to figure out a changing world.
The first season, you’re introducing both the characters and the audience to this fantasy world. Second season, they now get to see how this world pushes back; how it changes them… and each of the characters this year has a very fundamentally changing episode that really makes them re-evaluate “I’m not the person I used to be. I have to be true to myself. I have to be a new person, for this new and changing world.” And what I really love is that we’ve got a really great set of recurring villains this year. We’ve embraced the idea where other shows are more science fiction oriented or more artifact-oriented; we’re The Librarians. We tell stories. And I don’t know if we’ve said this yet, but essentially one of the little things we’re doing this year is some fictional characters come to life, so we’ve had the fun of casting famous fictional characters that go up against our guys.
Will there be more involvement of Noah Wyle in Season 2?
Noah’s in the same number of episodes — maybe one more, actually, this year. He loves this show with a white-hot intensity.
Are you still in touch with the cast of Leverage?
Aldis Hodge is honestly like a son of me. He’s one of the finest gentlemen I’ve ever known. Every moment of Leverage with him was a pleasure. Everyone who works with him sings his praises. He’s going to be the guy I’m bragging I have his phone number, like, five years from now. Like “No! Honest I can get him!”
I just had dinner with Beth Riesgraf a little while ago. Christian Kane, of course, is on [The Librarians]… I talked to Tim [Hutton] the other day, Gina’s in London… Leverage was a very special show with a very special cast who all loved each other very much, and it came across… and the fans… the fans gave us a People’s Choice after we were canceled! That doesn’t happen on a lot of shows. So I am fully aware that we got lightning in a bottle on that, and we count ourselves very blessed that there’s still a big fan base for it.
The Player premieres tonight (September 24) at 10PM on NBC, and The Librarians returns November 1. See some photos from the first episode of The Player below!
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