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Superman & Lois: Director Elizabeth Henstridge Previews “Anti-Hero”

Interview with Elizabeth Henstridge about directing the Superman & Lois episode “Anti-Hero” and her past experience on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

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Elizabeth Henstridge, who spent seven years in the Marvel Universe as an actor on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., comes to the director’s chair of Superman & Lois for this week’s episode which is called “Anti-Hero.” The episode airs at 8PM Tuesday, March 7 and features some big moments for several characters.

Elizabeth’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. directorial debut for the episode “As I Have Always Been” was critically acclaimed and she will probably get similar accolades for her DC/Superman & Lois episode. We were able to speak with her in anticipation of Tuesday’s episode, and of course, we did ask the obligatory “would you come back” question. Enjoy!

KRYPTONSITE’S CRAIG BYRNE: How did it come about for you to be directing an episode of Superman & Lois?

ELIZABETH HENSTRIDGE: I’m a massive fan of the show, and that was exactly the kind of thing that I wanted to direct, coming from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and having that episode available for people to watch, so my managers could pitch me for meetings with shows that were in the vein that I wanted to direct.

I love the superhero genre. I love the fight scenes, and also the lovely relationship parts of that, so I kind of focused my efforts on Greg Berlanti and his kind of “mecca” of shows. Superman & Lois was one that I absolutely loved. It just felt out of reach, but it was just the pinnacle… I still can’t believe that this was my first foray into the DC Universe.

[I had] meetings with a bunch of people at Warner Brothers and I eventually got to meet with Todd Helbing [Superman & Lois showrunner]. He was just so gracious because it was basically a meet and greet with a fan. I just knew everything about the show, I knew everything about every line… I was just quoting at him. I just got a front row seat to the creator of one of my favorite TV shows. Thankfully, he wasn’t freaked out, and they so graciously offered me an episode to do, and I just had the best experience.

I guess it was fueled by a genuine passion and love of the show, and then kind of backed up by my Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode and a couple of short films that I’d done. I think my incessant fandom helped too.

I know you’ve met and worked with several Marvel icons – you worked with Clark Gregg for seven years, after all – but what was it like to direct Superman?

Oh, my gosh. It was so crazy. It was amazing. Every generation has a different Superman, and a different Lois, and we get to see them in different phases of their lives. This really feels like “Elizabeth’s version.” I am so interested in where we get to see Superman and Lois at this stage of their life and them having teenagers. I get quite emotional talking about it, because it really speaks to me. The show really triggers me in so many brilliant ways and challenges me. I want to emulate who Lois is, in my life. I want to have that fire, and also that compassion and the drive to do the right thing. With Superman, he’s Superman. He’s trying his best to live this dual life and have a family and try make that work and dealing with very human things.

Honestly, it was an out of body experience when I first met Bitsie [Tulloch]. I first met Tyler [Hoechlin] in his Bizarro suit. I think he was shooting Amy Jo Johnson’s episode. I met him very briefly, and was suitably starstruck, but it was okay because it was just like a “Hi! Hi! Bye! Bye!”

Then I worked with him as Clark Kent… I was like “okay, I can deal with this. It’s fine!” But then when he walked on set as Superman, it was probably day three or four of my shoot, and I absolutely lost it. We had to do a literal meet-andfGreet for a while, like I’d have to have pictures before we did anything! Then I’d just about get back in my body and could actually get to work. It was surreal, and the thing is, they just look so much like they do on TV. Then when you’re meeting them, you’re like, “whoa, this is Lois in the Gazette! This is so crazy!” [laughs]

Speaking of challenges, when you directed Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., it was with a group of people that you had worked with for many years at that point. How did you feel different to direct people that you didn’t know as well or have that shorthand with?

It was easier in some ways, and harder in others. I knew the crew so well on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and we had been through so much together, but I was also known as an actor on that show. I think sometimes, stepping into a different role with people that know you as something else holds its own challenges. Everybody was so gracious on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but it was definitely a factor in directing it of [thinking] “how do I find my groove as a director when I’m still acting in it and I know in a couple of weeks, I’m going to be solely an actor again?” That aspect was taken away, obviously, on Superman & Lois, and it just allowed me to fully be a director.

I was kind of curious because you strive to do something for ages… I was having meetings for 18 months, and this was my kind of first go at doing a show that I hadn’t been on, and I was like “wow, I’ve put the work in. I hope I like this! People are taking a chance on me right now”… and I loved it! I love actors. I love being around them. I am so impressed by everybody on this show. They’re just masters at what they do and it was a total joy to be able to kind of guide the episode. I thought I’d find it more difficult than I did. Not wasn’t that it wasn’t challenging, but I felt at home straightaway. Everybody made me feel very welcome, and maybe some of that ease came from always being seen as the director possibly. The other thing is before you step on set, you’ve had two weeks of pretty intense prep work where you know that episode inside out and upside down. There’s a confidence I think that comes with walking on set, knowing you obviously have to be flexible in the moment because nothing quite goes to plan, but you at least have a plan. You’re never walking on set having no idea of what you’re going to do… hopefully, at least.

Do you think your experience on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. prepared you for working with so many visual effects?

Definitely! I have great friends now such as Mark Kolpack, who was our visual effects guy on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. who I could call. He’s the best! I think that prepared me massively; just kind of understanding that process, and also having the confidence that the effects people are just incredible. Their vision is amazing and I just knew I would be in good hands. I think as long as you ask enough questions, you’ll be okay.

Did filming Superman and his brother inside a cell remind you at all of some of the more confined spaces of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s later seasons?

Yeah! [laughs] Definitely. I feel like we were so lucky on S.H.I.E.L.D. to do it for so long. We had kind of done everything, so nothing really fazed me on this episode of Superman & Lois, in the way that I knew everything’s possible.

Shooting in that confined space was a challenge, but it also forces you to be creative because we were in there for quite a few scenes. That’s something I love about the world of television, you have to be creative to get it done. The crew on Superman & Lois is just amazing! We moved so quickly through those scenes… the speed at which they go is incredible. There were hard days, because it was a lot of handheld. There was a lot of moving everything, and moving everything out, and trying to keep our heads around all the different props, and angles, and stunts, and more stunts. The mastership of Stephen Maier who’s the DP on the episode of how to really use the windows, and the reflection of it all, all whilst there is this red light on…. how we all didn’t go mad, I don’t know. [laughs]

We’ve talked about all the superhero aspects of the show, but this episode also has a lot of human and emotional beats as well. Can you talk about those?

Yeah, they’re some of my favorite parts. I feel so lucky in that I got to do both. There’s a Lois and Lana scene where two mothers are talking about trying to do the right thing, and it being very complicated. They were just an absolute joy to direct and honestly, I did very little. The actors are amazing. Bitsie is incredible, as is Emmanuelle. Every actor in the show shows up extremely prepared, not just with their lines, but also with what they are doing and where the characters are emotionally. We’re also very open about discussing it and trying things. The actors made my job very easy, as did the writers. They wrote such beautiful things.

When you read the script, were you anxious and in anticipation, wondering what is coming in the episode after yours?

Yes, of course! I couldn’t believe I got such an inside scoop on the show! I got to read all the scripts up until my episode, and see the dailies and cuts that hadn’t aired yet. Honestly, as a super fan of the show, it was a delight!

For those who love to see you in front of the camera, you have a show airing right now called Suspicion. Where can people see that?

It’s an 8-part thriller series on Apple TV+, so you can watch it on your Apple TV device or you can also just download the app on your phone or computer. It’s very fun. It was very different from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. or Superman & Lois. It’s not sci-fi, although there are more movie effects in it then I thought that there would be. It’s a thriller, kind of a “whodunnit?” suspenseful series and I think we’re at episode 6 now, and we have two more.

I know you’re probably sick of getting this question but now that past Marvel TV folks are showing up in things like the new Spider-Man movie, do you think we’ll ever see Jemma Simmons again in something new?

Oh my gosh, I am never tired this question! I hope so, I’d play her again in a second. It was one of the greatest experiences ever getting to be an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Those people on that show are my family. They are extremely special to me. So yeah, anything where the duty of Jemma Simmons calls, I am there!

Would you ever like to appear on camera on Superman & Lois?

Of course! Who do you think I could be? The thing is, they would probably cast me as some massive Lois superfan. Maybe I’d apply for an assistant role and I might be the intern or something. I’d love it if they put me in a superhero suit,…can you imagine?!

Obviously we know why people should tune in on Tuesday, but why do you think people will enjoy watching the “Anti-Hero” episode of Superman & Lois?

I think it has a bit of everything that you love about the show. It has the heartfelt moments and the massive fight scenes. It’s kind of the gateway to completely change the course of these characters’ lives. Without revealing too much… it’s a very pivotal episode.

Our thanks to Elizabeth Henstridge for the interview. See a gallery of photos from “Anti-Hero” here!

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Interviews

Superman & Lois: Full Interview with Inde Navarrette (Sarah)

Full interview with Inde Navarrette who plays Sarah Cortez on Superman & Lois

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Last week, we ran some preview questions for “Collision Course” with actress Inde Navarrette who plays Sarah Cortez. As a new episode airs tonight (June 6), it felt right to share our full interview with Inde. We’re starting with relationship talk since that’s where the previous piece seemed to leave off. Be aware some minor spoilers may be discussed within.

KRYPTONSITE’S CRAIG BYRNE: Sarah’s preference for herself with Jordan would be for them to just be good friends, right? 

INDE NAVARRETTE: For me as a viewer, I would love to see that friendship. You know what I mean? It’s definitely something that was there in the beginning, and then they went straight into a relationship. I think it’s important to see them as friends and good friends and being there for each other.

Was it fun to film that scene at the party in Metropolis earlier that the season where the two of them were working together as friends? 

Absolutely. Are you kidding me? Throwing a beer and saying ‘here’s your beer, bitch,’ and then going back and forth… that was one of the best days to film. Me and Alex had the time of our lives. I’m definitely wanting to do that again.

Am I imagining things and seeing some chemistry between Jonathan and Sarah? 

You shut your mouth! You be quiet! What are you saying that for? What’s wrong with you? Sarah would never do that!

Yeah, it’s funny… me and Michael have definitely picked up on that. And we’re like, what is this? What is this? It’s definitely a question. I don’t know where it’s gonna go, but it’s definitely a question.

I love this Sarah and Jonathan combination. In Seasons 1 and 2, Jonathan and Sarah definitely had a relationship that was so chemistry-filled, I think, and it’s so specific to the characters. Michael [Bishop] did such a good job coming in, and picking up on that, and doing it in his own way. And it seems so beautiful, to where it still is there. You know what I mean? It’s something that’s been there since day one that we still carry. I think it’s definitely something, for sure. As Inde, I’m  screaming at them like “don’t do the brothers trope!” But then me as somebody who reads books, I’m like “maybe do the brother trope.”

Do you as a cast have theories on where Sophie disappears to when she’s not in an episode?

That is the biggest joke on set! We’re like “she’s in Guatemala!” We have this joke where she’s the villain and she’s secretly the mastermind behind everything, because she’s so angry at her family. We’ll joke around about the fact that it’s actually Bizarro Sophie. We don’t ever stop talking about it. And the fact that they even wrote it into the script… when we got that script [where Sophie was missing], I thought I was gonna die laughing, because it was a joke that we made on set, and the fact that it’s actually in the script…. you can only see so many comments before you go “yeah, we should definitely address that. Where is she?”

Didn’t you do an interview at one point where you just went “Who’s Sophie?” or did I imagine that? 

Yeah, that definitely happened. We talked about siblings, [and I was] like “I have a sister?”

Is there anything about Sarah that you wish the show had handled differently?

I think Season 1 a very big tell of who Sarah is. In Season 1, she’s extremely reserved, and really wanting to understand where everyone’s coming from. She’s still an angry child because of everything that she’s going through with her family and friends and everything, so there’s this understanding and connection between her and Jordan, because they have that understanding of feeling lost in a family and not knowing what to do, or having mental health issues. I think over the years, she’s kind of projected onto Jordan instead of taking care of her own things. I definitely love her arc this season, because she’s coming back to herself in the manner of who she was before, rather than solely focusing on on Jordan. I would say that we’re definitely getting there, for sure.

My personal head-canon is that Sarah is the coolest teenager in all of Smallville… so how did she not know who The Cure are?

I brought that up so many times! That is not a me question. That is a writer question. Call them, because I don’t know. Also, whenever they were talking about Alanis Morissette…. Are you kidding me? She doesn’t know who that is? Anyway…

Is there a particular storyline that you would like to see in the future for Sarah?

I would love to see her with the boys and Nat, and helping out…. maybe be the getaway driver.

She’s done a lot with her family. She’s done a lot with her parents. I would love to see her with the kids more, not being the emotional teenager or a kid.

There’s a scene, I think it’s in episode five, when they go to get Jon’s truck back… I remember watching the stunts and I remember watching it being performed and I just sat there like, “I so badly wish that Sarah was a part of this, because I think that she would be able to heighten that.” I think maybe that’s why her and Jonathan have such chemistry, because they’re the two in their families where they know that they’re capable of doing everything that they can, but the people around them kind of have a one up. Nat has her suit, and Jordan has his powers, but me and Jonathan can throw a punch. We can throw beer in people’s faces and can take care of something. I can be the getaway driver!

Do you think anybody’s going to let her be the getaway driver after last week’s episode, though?

That’s a good question. I would say her driving was phenomenal. It just was extracurricular activities that caused issues!

Earlier this season, you had a very charged scene with Emmanuelle [Chriqui] as Lana… you know which one I’m talking about. Was that hard to prepare for, working with somebody who’s your friend and getting in her face, and then her character slaps you?

That day was definitely something. Emmanuelle and I have such a good relationship. I just remember that time being so at peace with myself, and then we have to go film this scene. There’s a moment where I, as Inde, a 22 year old actress, have to really remove myself from Sarah because the things that Sarah says, as a teenager… my heart breaks. I hate those words, I hate them coming out of my mouth, and I hate saying them to Emmanuelle. That is, I would say, the most difficult part about being Sarah, saying those things. I, as an actor, have to make it to where I understand why she’s saying those things, so I could play it honestly, and during that day where I say stuff like “that’s why Dad cheated on you” I think the only way that could be is because she’s frustrated with everything that’s going on, and she’s trying to say everything that comes out. It doesn’t mean she’s saying it with anger, but sometimes you’ll say things when you genuinely don’t mean it, you’re just saying it, but it causes a reaction in the other person.

So to play it that way, and then to have Emmanuelle’s reaction, it was really tough. I let her actually slap me five or six times. Greg, the director was like, “okay, we’re not gonna do it on this one… we’re gonna do on this one…” There’s one time where Emmanuelle did it, and I was like “you’ve got to slap me harder. I love you, but you’ve got to slap me harder.” Then another time she fully clapped my ear, and as I was walking away, I was like, “I hear a symphony. There are bells ringing in my brain!” I didn’t say anything, because they would have been like “you’re done” and I was like, “no, we’ve got to get this.” Watch now me talking about it, they’re going to be like “you don’t do your own stuff anymore.”

We will see more friendship between Sarah and Nat?

I think so.

How good do you feel about the possibility of still getting a fourth season?

We’re really looking forward to it. We haven’t heard anything back. If I get to work with them again, I’m happy. We all keep in touch, and it was such a beautiful set to be on. So hopefully, hopefully, hopefully. If not, I had a phenomenal time.

How excited were you when you heard the show was going to be getting Michael Cudlitz as Lex Luthor?

It’s been a lifelong joke between me and Todd Helbing, the showrunner, about shaving my head. I’ll joke like “Sarah’s gonna shave her head in this episode!”

It’s a lifelong dream of mine to shave my head, and not only to do that, but to do it for something that I love, like my job. So I get on set, and I [met him], and I said, “what did you do today?” And he was like, “Well, you know, we did the scene where we shaved his head.” And… I couldn’t stop it from coming out of my mouth… I was like, “you m$#%$^$&#$%@$.” It was the first time I ever met him, so I think we got off to a really good start of getting to really know each other. It was amazing.

Do you think she could be his bald minion?

I hope so! Sarah needs to just be taken under his wing, and fully become his protege.

Regardless of if there’s a fourth season or not, are there certain friendships and relationships that you will take with you?

Everybody. This entire set… it’s one of those things where it’s so specific. We went through something like COVID together. We became a family. We got to know each other, snd it’s such a beautiful thing to be able to experience. I’m really close with Erik who plays my dad, and I’m close with his family. I’m really close to Emmanuelle and Wolé and Sofia and Tayler and Michael and Alex… it was such a beautiful experience, and I’ll hold it very near and dear to my heart.

Superman & Lois has a new episode titled “Complications” airing TONIGHT at 8PM ET/PT on The CW.

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Superman & Lois: Inde Navarrette on Tonight’s “Collision Course”

Inde Navarrette offers some previews of the May 30 episode of Superman & Lois titled “Collision Course”

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Sarah Cortez gets herself into some trouble in tonight’s episode of Superman & Lois… and when we asked the actress who plays her, Inde Navarrette, about this when we spoke to her this afternoon, she asked us “When does Sarah not get in trouble?”

Without going into specifics as to what happens in the May 30 episode, Inde tells us that it’s an “important learning lesson” for Sarah to realize that “everything is fun, until it’s not.”

“Even if you don’t think that something is as serious as it is, it is serious. Growing up, you learn that your actions have consequences. That’s really important for people to learn, especially Sarah,” she says.

And going into tonight’s episode, we also asked how much, on a scale of 1 to 10, Jordan (Alex Garfin) has been on Sarah’s nerves.

“I would say that it’s a solid 7, maybe 8 and a half,” Inde says about the lovesick teen character. “She’s really trying to work with him, and I think that tonight you’re going to see them come at a crossroads, and either figure out how it works, or go completely the opposite direction. But we definitely see a new dynamic of their relationship,” she teases.

Superman & Lois “Collision Course” airs tonight (May 30) on The CW.

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Superman & Lois Interview: Talking to Wolé Parks Before “The Dress”

Interview with actor Wolé Parks about Season 3 of The CW television series Superman & Lois

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Tonight’s (May 23) episode of Superman & Lois is called “The Dress” and it is an emotion-filled hour with great moments for many of the show’s characters. One of those characters is John Henry Irons as played by Wolé Parks. We spoke with the actor earlier today in anticipation of tonight’s big episode, especially about issues involving John Henry and the father of his daughter Nat’s new boyfriend Matteo. You can read the interview below, and you can look forward to more from Wolé on KryptonSite in the near future!

KRYPTONSITE’S CRAIG BYRNE: Considering John Henry himself has lost his wife, does he have any sympathy at all for Bruno Mannheim, especially knowing Pia’s situation?

WOLÉ PARKS: I think he would have more sympathy if we didn’t have Bruno try to kill him at the end of episode 8. [Laughs] That’s the whole thing! That’s the interesting thing, to me, about this season and the way it’s going. I think the writers have done a brilliant job of making Bruno and Pia sympathetic in some ways, so people understand them. But with John, he’s like, “hey, guys, you remember this guy? You know what he did? He killed me in this world. And remember how he strapped a bomb to my sister? Yeah, that’s still him.” I understand he’s going through a rough time. Clark and Lois are going through rough time, but we don’t see them killing people. That’s the interesting thing about what’s going on with John, and how he perceives everything.

Did John know Bruno at all in his own world?

That’s a great question. I think not. It’s never answered, but I don’t think so, because I think he dealt with Lex Luthor, and in that world, Lex Luthor was still in power. Therefore, that means Bruno Mannheim didn’t take him out, so, I don’t think they interacted.

Speaking of that other world, how is John Henry process processing Lois’ cancer knowing that she could die, just like her counterpart had?

I think that was really hard for him. That was the whole idea of the episode with the watch and seeing John Henry dealing with it with Natalie. I think John as a person, maybe because he’s a former soldier, he’s one of those people who “acts now, feels later.” I don’t think he’s the best at processing emotions, and with Lois, it’s interesting, because this is not something you can fight. It’s interesting because you also see Clark deal with this, as well. This is not something that Superman can save her from.

So, the people in Lois’ life have to figure out how they can process, and realize they’re kind of powerless to help in this situation, and for someone like John Henry… he’s a selfless person, he always wants to be able to help, and he can’t. I think it’s taken him a while to learn and to come to accept that.

Cn you talk about having a scene partner as great as Tayler Buck?

Oh, I love me some Tayler. Tayler can do no wrong. She’s so fun. She’s cast so perfectly. I love that she brings such a strength to that character, and self-awareness that I 100% believe that [John and Nat] are related. It’s great, because she doesn’t cower to him. I love that she’s so strong in her point of view. It’s great.

Now that he knows who Matteo’s father is, is John going to be even more protective?

100%. Anything that Bruno touches is radioactive, so therefore, that includes his kids. For John, it’s like “I get you’re in love. I get you feel like you’re happy. You’re 16. You’ll grow out of it. I’m trying to keep you alive.

Can you talk about what it’s like to work with Chad Coleman as Bruno?

Chad’s the man. Chad and I play around all day long. Chad’s crazy, but in a good away. I’m crazy too, so that’s the fun of it.

I love an actor who’s willing to take risks. You know, you come up with an idea, but then you play ping pong with each other, and a scene goes in a completely different way. I only wish that people could see the multiple different versions that we have of the scenes we take together. It’s really all over the place because we get to play. I love that kind of acting. It was so much fun. And for me, that flip of seeing the version of Bruno in the restaurant, and everything’s happy, then is like “is this John Henry? I’ve gotta kill you!” He turns that quickly, and I love it.

Can you talk about working with Emmanuelle Chriqui so much recently?

It’s so cool. I just love Em. She’s so sweet, and I think that comes out through the character. Em’s just a joy; one of the most pleasant and also emotionally available people I’ve ever met. She’s just a genuinely good and kind, giving person, and it’s fun to see that, because I feel like Lana is bringing out a little bit of that lighter side of John. It just that he has to juggle that with the whole “oh, this guy’s trying to kill me” thing. It’s an interesting juggle.

Would you say that John and Clark are on very opposite sides of the Mannheim issue?

100%. I think they both personalize it, but in different ways. I think Clark has personalized it because he’s seen the cancer struggle up close. He’s seen Lois’ bond with Pia, which has clouded Clark’s judgment. But for John, he’s on the other end, where he’s like, “guys, this guy’s a killer. He strapped a bomb to my sister! He beat me up and was about to shoot me in his restaurant!” I’ll say this: I think they’re both doing the best they can; they just have different experiences with Bruno that are clouding their judgment.

Come back soon for more of our interview with Wolé Parks! Keep up with @SupermanLoisTV on Twitter for updates on when we will be posting more. “The Dress” airs May 23 on The CW.

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