Clark Gregg and Nathan Fillion at the Seattle International Film FestivalBack in May, as the Seattle International Film Festival launched with the opening night gala screening of Joss Whedon’s modern-dress Shakespeare take Much Ado About Nothing, I had the pleasure of talking with two of the film’s stars, Nathan Fillion and Clark Gregg.
Fillion, of course, is best known as Richard Castle on Castle and as Captain Mal on Whedon’s short-lived but much-loved Firefly, while Whedon decided to spin Gregg’s supporting role in the Marvel Universe movies into a leading part in the new TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Which meant the conversation was ready to go in all directions, and did, thanks to their playful sense of fun. They met on the set of Much Ado and you could still see that they were getting to know each other, but it was also apparent that they were fast friends the way they bounced off one another, tossing quips back and forth, lobbing tongue-in-cheek insults and self-effacing rejoinders, and diving into pop-culture trivia like boys on the first day of school. Boys will be boys indeed.
Sean Axmaker: Let me begin by asking you: what have you been watching?
Nathan Fillion: I just saw Iron Man 3. I had a great time. (to Clark) You haven’t seen it yet?
Clark Gregg: (laughs) I haven’t seen it yet. I’ve been promoting the new S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show. I have to watch it.
NF: For your thing that you do? You’re killing that whole thing.
CG: Until they bring me back to life, I’m not going to watch any of the movies.
NF: You can’t watch it!
CG: I’m gonna watch it. I actually tried to get back to New York last night but I had one last appearance to do.
NF: You should read the file on it. Then your character will be right on track with that.