Harry Potter‘s Tom Felton joins the cast of The CW’s The Flash for the show’s third season in the role of CSI Julian Dorn. Felton gets to keep his accent for the role of the CSI investigator who works with Detective Joe West (Jesse L. Martin) and Barry Allen (Grant Gustin), but at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con he kept any over potentially spoiler-ish details to himself. What he did reveal during our interview is that Julian and Joe have a “pleasant relationship,” however his description of Julian’s relationship with Barry did not involve the word ‘pleasant’. “There seems to be more of an instant clash there,” revealed Felton. “Sort of ruffling each other’s feathers. I think because they do a lot of the same sort of work that one of them is trying to outdo the other one. My character has a slight air of superiority, shall we say.”
The CW’s The Flash will kick off season three on October 4, 2016.
Tom Felton Interview:
What can you tell us about joining The Flash?
Tom Felton: “A few weeks ago I was (asked) if I wanted to join the cast, really. I marathoned my way through about 35 episodes, fell in love with the show, just felt like something very different, something very new, something completely that I didn’t expect it to be type of show. It has a wonderful feel good factor, kind of comfort level. I said a metaphor last night and it’s a terrible one so excuse me. ‘It’s like the comfort of watching Friends but with the excitement of watching Spider-Man or Batman. It was very surreal.
So, after watching 35 episodes I found myself at a crime scene looking at human remains, speaking all of this stuff that I quite recently fell in love with. It was quite surreal and a lot of fun. I’d only been on the set two hours but they were two enjoyable ones.”
Was your first scene a darker one or was it more of a lighthearted Friends one?
Tom Felton: “Well, I’m not sure if the show really separates itself into such clear distinctions. The nature of Barry’s character seems to lend itself to humor at some dark times. Even on a crime scene where we’re essentially looking at someone’s body, it was a very funny scene. It felt funny to me! It felt very funny to me. Grant’s got such a great way of making you love this character so much, Barry, you can’t help fall for him. So, yeah, it’s a lot of fun.”
Do Julian and Barry have a history or is this the first time they’ve met?
Tom Felton: “I feel like that was probably a question to pry into storylines. If so, I don’t know, honestly. I’m sure you get that answer relentlessly at these things, but I don’t know anything. They asked me to play a character I really want to sink my teeth into, and that was it. That was really enough for me to go, ‘Yeah. Sounds fun.’ I tried to get the writers a bit tipsy last night to no avail. Also, really, I don’t have any interest in knowing. As long as I have the next two episodes…it’s a lot more fun doing it that way. I have complete faith and trust in the writers that they know what they’re doing. They don’t need my two cents or my opinion. I’m just excited to get it as they come.”
It sounds like you’re coming out it from a fan perspective, in a way.
Tom Felton: “A fan perspective? It’s odd, I won’t lie. Especially since I found out after the first scene for me that Grant and Jesse are both Potter fans. So they were sort of secretly doing this fanboy moment I think while I was neck deep in it myself. It was fun but also surreal. I have to sort of keep (cool). Like, ‘Oh my god, you’re here! You’re talking to Barry Allen!'”
How do the DC Comics fans compare to Harry Potter fans?
Tom Felton: “So far, remarkably similar. Passionate, enthusiastic, and endlessly excited. Before I had even stepped on set so many people had messaged me about just being excited to see what’s going to happen with the character and the show. It’s nice to see those two fandoms collide, really. If there is such a thing.”
Have you had a chance to see the Harry Potter show on Broadway?
Tom Felton: “No. I’m endlessly excited to do so. I’ve heard from various cast members that have gone who raved about it. If I can get a ticket…”
Don’t you have connections?
Tom Felton: (Laughing) “Believe me, even they’ve come up dry at this point.”
Watch the full Tom Felton interview:
(Interview by Fred Topel. Article by Rebecca Murray.)
