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Backstage - Interviews - Michael Rosenbaum
Hello!
First off, to those who may not be familiar with your
work, care to give us a quick rundown of your resume,
perhaps highlighting some of your most prestigious work?
I've been around for a while. Most people know me
from Smallville, but I actually have great hair
and I'm not that mean. I wouldn't call all my work
prestigious, but some of it hasn't been too shabby. I'm
certainly proud of some the movies I've done like
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and
Poolhall Junkies. Working with a legend like Clint
Eastwood in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,
makes you step up a little as an actor. I love being
challenged. I really enjoy the funny roles I've done in
movies such as Sorority Boys and Bringing
Down the House. I have a lot of fun doing comedies.
I'd rather make people laugh any day of the week.
Now, we’re here to discuss your turn as
Deadman in the upcoming Batman: The Brave and The
Bold episode “Dawn of the Deadman” (awesome name, by
the way). It’s quite a different character for you to
play in a DC-Animated tune (save for Ghoul from Batman
Beyond). How d you get in the mindset to play,
essentially, a body-jumping ghost?
Well,
I really just jumped into it. All joking aside, I always
imagine the character a certain way when I read it and
then the director will add or subtract from that. It was
certainly an interesting character to lend my voice to.
Playing a character that has a bit of an arc is always a
treat. Moreover, I love changing my voice a little.
Due to the nature of the character, will we
get to see you do a host of different impressions in
this episode? Is there anything you can reveal about
what we can expect from you, and the Deadman character
you’ll be playing, in this upcoming Batman: The Brave
and The Bold episode?
Aside from
doing a little Japanese at the end of the episode, I
just stuck with one impression for the most part. I used
a bit of a New York dialect and kept it simple. There's
definitely a softer side to this character. A sad soul
who wants to do good and find his way.
Batman:
The Brave and The Bold is a more light-hearted
approach to Batman. Do you take that into consideration
when playing the role of Deadman? How does the tone of a
series - whether it’s Batman: The Brave and The
Bold, Justice League, Smallville, even
Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane - affect how you play a
role?
I love that you throw in Zoe,
Duncan, Jack and Jane into the equation. In a
nutshell, I read something and I automatically have an
idea in my head of what the character should be. If I
stick with what first comes to mind, I'm usually better
off then when I think too much.
Now,
hopefully you won’t mind if we swing off-topic for a
second. You have a massive voice-acting resume. What
attracts you to voice-acting?
It's easy
and fun. It's as simple as that. I don't have to shave
to talk into a microphone. I can just drink my
ginger-ale and relax. As long as I don't sip too loudly.
I've been very lucky by the way. Andrea Romano, who
directs a lot of the animation in town, has given me
quite a bit of work. She believes in me and I just adore
her. Did I mention she's won tons of awards? Big time
awards. I once won a Saturn Award. My friends asked me
when I was going to receive the Uranus award. I didn't
answer them.
Animation fans likely
recognize you from your role as Flash from Justice
League and its sequel series Justice League
Unlimited. Any comments, looking back, about your
role in the series, both as an actor and the character
you portrayed? Would you be interested in returning to
the character in the future?
I would
love if they brought me back to do The Flash. I didn't
even know about Justice League Unlimited until
it was already cast. That's just the way it goes though.
They like to mix it up a bit and I don't blame them. I'm
surprised by how many people really like The Flash. I
was at an autograph signing and I couldn't believe the
amount of fans out there who wanted to meet the voice
behind the Flash. Very cool.
As
semi-follow-up to the previous question, do you have any
favorite particular episode or moment from Justice
League that stands out?
"The Great
Brain Robbery" episode was a lot of fun. Plus, it was
one of the few where The Flash had a lot to do. Like
every actor... I always want more.
So,
you’re taking a break from Smallville at the
moment. Do you miss the series? Are you interested in
returning or seeing Luthor return to said series (or, as
many fans have theorized, is your character already
back)? A break?
I don't think anyone has
really let the idea that I'm not coming back actually
sink in. I find it flattering. Do I miss the series? I
miss the people. I will always cherish the fun times I
had on the set of Smallville.
Now, many fans consider you the definitive Lex Luthor,
and the definitive voice of Flash. How do you feel about
that?
I'll take that compliment all day
long. Are you kidding me? I have the best fans. I don't
know how many I have, but they're certainly the most
loyal and sincere fans out there. The fact that they are
putting me in the same category as Gene Hackman...
baffles me. But I'll take it.
You’ve
worked in TV, movies, and animation. How do you avoid
stretching yourself thin? At one point, you were working
on Smallville, Justice League, and
assorted movies at the same time. How do you juggle all
of that?
I try not to pass up good work
or work that interests me. I just have to keep moving. I
know where I want to go and if I stop, I'll never get
there.
So, as we begin to wrap this up,
do you have any projects you’d like to let us know
about? A new movie coming? Television appearance? Let us
know!
I'm writing two movies. They're
both pretty amazing projects. I'm also filming a movie
this summer in Toronto that I'm extremely excited about.
Finally, any final thoughts on your upcoming
Batman: The Brave and The Bold appearance? Any
last words?
It's truly a wonderful
episode and it airs this Friday, January 16th at 8:00 PM
on Cartoon Network. I urge you to watch it - because I'm
in it. All joking aside, it's very clever and I know the
fans will really enjoy seeing this character fight side
by side with Batman.
[ Back to Backstage ]
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