Prepare for the newly elected Mayor Renard (played by Sasha Roiz) to go full out in taking on #TeamGrimm in season six of NBC’s popular dramatic series, Grimm. During our interview at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con, Roiz described what fans of the series can expect from season six and his excitement at being able to take Renard as dark as possible.
Grimm season six will air on NBC on Fridays at 9pm ET/PT this fall.
Sasha Roiz Interview:
What can you say about your evil turn and how far it’s going to go in season 6? Is he always going to be on the outs with the group?
Sasha Roiz: “Well, if I have anything to do with it I would like to take it as dark as possible and as confrontational as we can. I think it’s more interesting. I think we’ve seen him be a participant in the whole gang, and I don’t want it to be predictable. It’s really great that this is a character who’s kept the audiences guessing. People are always suspicious of him, as they should be. I don’t think even Nick or the group ever really trusted him, and now they really have reason to distrust him. Yeah, it’s a full-out war at this point, and that’s really enjoyable for me.”
Will Renard be the major baddie this season?
Sasha Roiz: “It looks like it. It looks like it, which is really great because I like it when the stories and the mythology stay in-house and it’s all about the main characters and their dynamics and inter-relationships. And I think it’s fun for the fans to watch them really be the focus rather than having to bring in a big baddie. We’ve done that.”
How do you want things to end for Renard?
Sasha Roiz: (Laughing) “In a blaze of glory – and it just might. You never know. You live by the sword… So, we’ll see. But they’re definitely full-blown enemies at this point.”
What’s it like with a cast this close to be able to play a full-blown enemy?
Sasha Roiz: (Laughing) “Oh, it’s just fine. I mean, we are very, very close; it’s quite special after this many years. But, no, it’s great. I never felt comfortable as Renard being part of the gang. It always felt very much like an outfit that didn’t fit quite right on him. So, this feels a lot more appropriate. It really is like two camps, divided, and so there’s some great stuff coming up. Some really great stuff coming up, but it’s full-blown war.”
So there is no redemption for Renard?
Sasha Roiz: “You never know. I haven’t read past three episodes, but I can certainly see this season remaining very antagonistic.”
How do you feel about season six being a shorter season?
Sasha Roiz: “I feel okay about it, to be honest. I don’t know what they have planned for us, to be honest here. I don’t know if they want to pick up a back-end or what they want to do. I really don’t know. But 13 is okay. 22 is long, it’s really long. And, it also gives us a chance to work on other things so I’m kind of excited to have the opportunity to work on some other projects. But, yeah, it’s going to be a really great package. I think it’s really hard to write 22 episodes. 13, you can really focus in and write some great stuff, and have a true arc to it. I’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with. So far I haven’t seen past three episodes and they’re all really intense.”
Have you gotten any negative reactions from fans from the direction that Renard’s been taken?
Sasha Roiz: “Not really. I mean, the typical kind of, ‘Oh, I’m so upset with you!’ They’re not. They’re not because let’s be honest, it’s so much more fun to have bad guys. And I think he’s better as a bad guy. It just fits him better, you know? And let’s be honest, if you’ve been watching the show you know that it was a matter of time. You know what I mean? It’s like watching a lion tamer. You’re like, ‘Yeah, it’s only a matter of time before his head’s bitten off.’ It was fun while it lasted. It’s what it is. Renard’s like this caged animal that’s eventually going to strike.”
Do you think he views himself as the caged animal, as the bad guy?
Sasha Roiz: “No. I think as actors you never judge your character. I mean, I’m talking to you guys on an objective level, but as actors, no. You just find the reason for any of his actions and everything is justified. And in my own world when I think about him or I embody him, everything he does is fully justifiable to me based on his backstory, based on the things he’s undergone. Based on the circumstances of the world, you know? I don’t think there’s a single bad person out there who really thinks of themselves as a bad person, i.e. Donald Trump. But anyway, so, no. I’m not kidding. Sorry, not sorry. But, anyway, so we just kind of like when you have a mission and you have a purpose and it’s utterly justifiable in your universe. That’s all that matters.”
Watch the full Sasha Roiz interview:
