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Chuck star Zachary Levi reveals a few season-three hints
Zachary Levi, star of NBC's spy action comedy Chuck, told SCI FI Wire that he hopes to literally get in on the action when the show returns for a third season next year. "I just want to do more action, man," Levi said in an exclusive interview Thursday in Santa Monica, Calif.
"I want Chuck to kick some more ass, shoot some more guns," he said. "I've been sitting on the sidelines for two years watching Adam and Yvonne have all of the fun. Literally all I ever wanted to do since I was a kid was be in war movies. ... You run around in the backyard and go, 'Bang, you're dead!' And throwing dirt clods as hand grenades. So to really get to participate in the action more, as opposed to just running away or falling off a building or whatever, would be really awesome."
Levi spoke exclusively to SCI FI Wire at a Subway restaurant in Santa Monica, which was outfitted as a promotional event for Universal's Land of the Lost. The following is an edited version of that interview. Land of the Lost is being released in theaters June 5. Chuck returns to television in March.
Before it was renewed, was there a sense of anxiety, or were you zenlike about the future of Chuck?
Levi: I was pretty zenlike. This business is far too crazy to try and make sense of it, not that you can't on some level, but so much of it is just outside of your control. I mean, clearly I would have mourned a lot about not coming back, mostly just not being able to work with my crew, because they're so wonderful. So that's the biggest plus about coming back, is getting to work with those guys some more.
But it's a little frustrating, [because] when we got renewed our budget got slashed pretty significantly, so I'm just hoping that doesn't cripple us. I want to be able to continue to make the product that we're making, if not better; you're hoping that you can always make a better product, but the way television is working it's like in reverse now. It's like more and more they're cutting budgets, and not that I don't understand why—TiVo does not help us, even though I love TiVo—but hopefully a salve is going to come soon, because I don't know what's going to happen. That being said, I was at a place where if we're going to come back, then rock and roll, and if we're not going to come back, then rock and roll. But you have to; otherwise,you'll drive yourself crazy.
Had they talked to you about what might happen to your character in season three before the budget cuts, or talked to you about what changes might have to be made?
Levi: A little bit, and they are the same. They don't let me know too much, because I have a big mouth and I'll blow it, but I'm excited for it. The finale left us in a place where Chuck knows kung fu—or does he know kung fu? Or did he just know kung fu for a little while? And will he learn other things? What we're setting up with this new Intersect 2.0 is that it not only gives him informational flashes but physical flashes as well. But there's catches to it, and we'll find out about those in the third season. But it's going to lead to so many fun things, I think, in the missions and how we accomplish them.
And there will continue to be a lot of tension between Chuck and Sarah, which people love to hate to love, but that's TV, and it's good TV. There will be more love interests that kind of pop in and maybe even at the Buy More, stuff like that. But the great thing about Chuck is it's so multi-genred there are so many places to go with it. The thing that is hindering that is obviously the budgetary concerns. But [executive producer] Josh Schwartz tells me that they're on it, and they're going to do everything they can to make sure we're not sacrificing whatever quality we're at right now.
How much of season three have they mapped out, or how much do they typically map out ahead of time?
Levi: Right now we've only got a 13-episode pickup, so they're going to have that pretty much arced, I think, with ideas if we do get a back nine, where they would go with that. Because it's very frustrating from a writing standpoint, obviously, when you think you have a finale, and they go, "Oh, no, you've got a back nine." So you kind of have to pop up and go around again, but I know that by the time we start shooting they will have half of that order written already, or nearly done.
When do you start shooting?
Levi: The end of July, beginning of August. It affords time to hit the gym. But I know that they have a good idea where they want to go; it's just a matter of getting there.
By Zacfan at 12:13 PM ON 06/01/09
Great interview. I hope they don't try and keep Chuck and sarah apart though. I know there's this supposed"Moonlighting curse", where to put a couple together will kill a series. But to keep inventing obstacles to prevent a normal relationship progression will definitely kill it.
By Chuck Me at 1:10 PM ON 06/01/09
Hey Zach Buddy,
If you keep playing the Chuck and Sarah need to stay apart card you will be out of a job really fast. We all feel manipulated in the ring and if you play that card in season 3 well good luck. I don't love to hate that aspect, I literally hate it. It is not good TV. I will rewatch every epsiode except the Jill trilogy and beefcake. Hmm what do those have in common yeah that is right triangles. What happened to I am going to live the life I want with the woman I love. Well I guess it must be some other hottie that is not Sarah. Seriously buddy don't piss off the loyal fans who got you a season 3.
I mean we dealt with a whole season 2 of angst and now we have to deal with more tension. I hope you are reading this because seriously more of the same BS is making me go from fan to saying forget this show. Tell me this, if Sarah is only there for Chuck and he finds a new love interest or she does why not just get her reassigned.
I am not buying it and I might not even watch now. Thanks for making it easy for me to wait for season 3 now.
By Michael at 4:57 PM ON 06/01/09
I have to agree that the Cheers/Moonlighting "keep them apart" story thing is so hackneyed and overdone its disgusting.
Try something new please.
By Spinster at 5:21 PM ON 06/01/09
Good to see I am not the only one tired of the Chuck/Sarah stupidity. I would love to see a strong couple. Sure they can have disagreements, different points of view and so forth but still be a good COUPLE. Zoe and Wash from Firefly were my favorites partly because they were married.
By Philippa at 4:07 AM ON 06/02/09
Well, the Sarah/Chuck relationship is up to the writers. I'd love to see Casey in a snarky/romantic relationship with a new woman [rather like the Dr Cox/Jordan dynamic]. Bring in a MI6 hot female spy or bring back Alex Forrest!
By katrina at 10:54 AM ON 06/03/09
I agree. They really need to just stop trying to not get chuck and sarah together. Its annoying. They should just let them be a couple!
By farscape29 at 3:09 PM ON 06/03/09
I'm just glad that Chuck is back. But as far as the Chuck and Sarah goes, please pick one thing or the other. Either have them get together, or never get together. All this back and forth is annoying as hell. Either hook them up and write it well. And don't cheap out and have them hook up for 1-2 episodes, then something tramatic happens and then they realize they can't be together.
I don't care..together, not together...just pick one and stick with it.
By LoneWolf at 1:15 AM ON 06/06/09
Yeah, Zach. You do all the writing, right? And you have total control over your character and Sarah's to boot. So get it together, man.
In all honesty, I'm sure you all understand that Zach has little control over that aspect. I hope Chuck and Sarah get together as much as the next person, but let's trust the writers to put on a quality show. They've always delivered before.
By nerds4thewin at 10:27 AM ON 06/12/09
I'm done with the Tension between Chuck and Sara, I don't love to hate to love it..... I HATE IT, enough is enough. I will support Chuck anyway I can if I have to eat Subway 6 days a week I will. I want to see Chuck get picked up for another 3 or 4 seasons and I will do everything within my meager means to make sure it happens. BUT enough with the Love triangles/Tension between Chuck and Sara.
By Chuckme2 at 9:22 PM ON 06/12/09
I agree with the others. Keeping Chuck and Sarah apart won't cut it next season. If that happens, there will be no back nine. You can't go one week with Chuck and Sarah making progress and then the next week is like it never happened. There's plenty of growth with them together either as a couple or married. They can continue to save each other, argue, have awkward moments but the back and forth won't work any longer. With the last 2 episodes, new love interests definitely will not sit well with me.
By Orion at 4:50 PM ON 06/15/09
I echo all of the above comments. On again off again is just going to turn off alot of fans. Every blog and every site I visit the sentiment is exactly the same. Hopefully the writers will read some of the comments and take note.
By ChuckMe at 5:38 AM ON 06/22/09
Easy for me. No more Chuck and Sarah, no more Chuck for me. I wanna THIS couple in Season 3....nothing else!
By buymore:becauseyoucan at 3:01 AM ON 07/08/09
I agree. To the PR person monitoring our chats: remind Josh Schwartz that Chuck and Sarah hook up in "Chuck versus the Colonel," so let them be in a real relationship already. I am a loyal Chuck fan, and it would be a violation of character development to put more tension in the scripts.
I agree with Philippa: if you want tension, bring back BSG's Six, Alex Forrest. She had a ton of tension with Sarah, and she's a good actress.
I was also sorry to see Bryce go, and what the heck is going to happen to Morgan?
Oh, and good job getting Tony Hale. I missed Buster Bluth, and it's nice to see him back on TV.
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I agree. To the PR person monitoring our chats: remind Josh Schwartz that Chuck and Sarah hook up in "Chuck versus...More »