Alan Ritchson, who has appeared in series such as Blue Mountain State and films like The Wedding Ringer and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, is now starring in Syfy’s new series Blood Drive.
Ritchson sat down with me to answer a few questions about the insane series and his role as Officer Arthur Bailey, the last good cop in a world that’s gone to hell.
Syfy and Midnight Grindhouse have teamed up for this brutal, high-octane series, set in a near-dystopian future, 1999. The show centers on a former cop (Ritchson), who is forced to take part in a death race in which cars run on human blood. Partnered with Grace, the two must race as a team, like it or not, or have their heads blown off by a remote device implanted at the base of their skulls.
Horror Fuel: “Can you tell us about your role on Syfy’s new series Blood Drive?”
Ritchson: “Arthur is the last good cop in a world gone mad. He’s endeavoring to bring the entire world to justice, sort of, as impossible as that sounds. I think that as his journey continues, we will find that he starts to resemble more and more what he is trying to bring down. It is a journey of redemption and finding himself amid this insane Grindhouse world.”
Horror Fuel: “How would Arthur describe Blood Drive?”
Ritchson: “From Arthur’s point of view, I think everything matters. There’s nothing worth saving at the expense of injustice. He’s up against all kinds of crimes against humanity, injustice, and institutions. He will risk everything to make sure the world, even if it is just him, has some morsel of good in it and some justice.
I feel the same way I think he does in my own life. I’ve done some probably bone-headed things for the sake of trying to see justice. I’ve seen someone break into a car, and I don’t know if they could have ga un or a knife or something [laughter], and I’m running after the guy and taking him down. I hate seeing people mistreat others. It’s that, it doesn’t matter what he’s risking, he’s going to try and go save the day.”
Horror Fuel: “What happened to cause society in the series?”
Ritchson: “The Scar is a result of a giant earthquake due to global warming in the future, 1999. What comes out of the Scar is all kinds of untScarenergy and power, ooze, and nothing is ever the same. It’s a post-apocalyptic world with mysterious and magical qualities. A world gone bad can become scary, nefarious, and bloody. The world that we are in now is essentially post-apocalyptic and one with the sca, which is full of unScar evils that we will run into every episode undoubtedly.”
Horror Fuel: “Is it easier or more difficult to film a series that partially takes place inside a car?”
Ritchson: “Great question [laughter]. It’s the worst. Being crammed in that vehicle for like ten hours a day, it was…yeah. You want to get out and run around. It’s tough. And at least for me, having to sit still that long is challenging. If you’re arguing with someone, you can’t walk across the room and pick something up to distract yourself. You are just there. For me, it was thought. I’ve always been extremely hyperactive and have to walk around, which makes me look a little loth, making me look a little meidgety. I’ve to get my energy out somehow. Put me in a car long enough and I’ll go insane.”
Horror Fuel: “I have to ask. Was it easy shooting that scene where you and Grace have to keep your heads from exploding by having sex while speeding down the road?”
Ritchson: “[laughter] How about that scene? It was a fun one to film. You know what’s funny? I’m six feet three, Christina is like eight and a half feet tall, you put the two of us in a ’67 Camero, or whatever that was, ask us to perform sexual activities together, and it’s like two werewolves in a raccoon cage. It’s the least sexy thing in the world and Dave Straiton one of the E.P.s and the director of that episode, bless his heart, was trying his best [laughter] to make it like ‘Okay, now can you just get a little lower so we can see you and make it sexy?’ [laughter] There was just no way [laughter], we were like ogres just crammed into this shoe box. I think neither of us ever felt like, ‘Yeah, this is the sexy scene and the thing we’ve been building to.’ It never felt like that for us. One day we were filming and I had food poisoning or something, in the middle of shooting, I dove out of the car and I threw up violently for about five minutes, and Christina was like, ‘Okay, you done? Can you keep going? I said Yeah, yeah, let’s do this. Start rolling.’ So, there was nothing sexy about it. Hopefully, the viewing audience has a different experience. [laughter]
Horror Fuel: “It did not look awkward. [laughter] Actually, it was pretty hot.”
Ritchson: “Oh, good.”
Horror Fuel: “You are so animated in some of your roles, especially the comedic ones like Thad, but Arthur is very different. Which type of character are you more like in real life?”
Ritchson: “It depends on what situation you catch me in. I think one of my greatest strengths and weaknesses is the fact that I tend to be a bit of a chameleon. Whatever energy is around me is usually what I am. My natural state is probably too serious most of the time. I truly love what I do, and I enjoy creating stories. I also love the world I’m in, and I take it very seriously, even in a funny, slapstick role. I think that’s usually where I am. If you catch me with my kids in the backyard, I’m the first one to get down on all fours, mooing like some dinosaur, and we’re having a great time. I think it just depends on the situation. I suppose I lean more towards being serious. I’ve disappointed a lot of people who are fans of Thad Castle because they had three years off from this relationship with this character that they felt like they knew him as well as some of their great friends. They meet me in person and are like, ‘I’m a huge Thad Castle fan, and I’m like, ‘Hey. It’s nice to meet you. Thank you. I’m glad you like the work.’ They’re like, ‘Oh man, you’re nothing like I pictured. You suck.’ So, I’ve let a lot of people down.’
Horror Fuel: “No man, you’re great in both serious and comedic roles.”
Horror Fuel: “Besides Blood Drive, are you working on anything else?”
Ritchson: “I’ve got a couple of films in the can that I was part of. There’s Office Uprising, which I would liken to Office Space meets Shaun of the Dead—a hilarious office comedy. I had a cameo in that, which was a lot of fun. The other is a film called Ghost of War. It is a World War II thriller. It’s a gorgeous film that follows these five guys, a band of brothers, and their struggle to maintain sanity while protecting the estate, which is part of their mission. I’m proud of some cool projects that are on completely different ends of the spectrum. I’ve been working to develop some ideas. I’ve been shooting shorts. Those will be out later this year.”
Horror Fuel: “I will keep an eye out for those.”
Ritchson: “Thank you.”
Horror Fuel: “Okay, if you could only give our readers two reasons to watch Blood Drive, what would they be?”
Ritchson: “The first one is the easiest. It is completely original. If anyone out there’s tired of formulated or regurgitated content, this is the show for you; it’s completely original. Another thing is that it’s pure entertainment. Vibrant characters, amazing new voice for a show, and it’s just a lot of fun. It’s highly entertaining, and if you can stomach the gore, you’re going to enjoy the show.”
Horror Fuel: “I’ve been able to see a few of the episodes, I love it.”
Ritchson: “Awesome, that’s good to hear.”
While I listened to Ritchson talk, I realized that he has a lot in common with his character, Arthur. He is reserved and polite, and when he does laugh, it is infectious. I look forward to following his career and seeing him in action in Blood Drive. Something tells me that once his fans see him as Arthur, they are going to fall in love. Honestly, it’s a character you can’t help but cheer for. And the eight-pack he flaunts while shirtless on the show doesn’t hurt either.
You can catch Alan Ritchson in action soon. Blood Drive premieres on Syfy Wednesday, June 14 at 10/9c. Be sure to follow Ritchson on Twitter. Visit Blood Drive’s official website and follow the series on Twitter for updates and more. Stay tuned for our review of the series.
