When Drew Powell approached reporters on the set of Gotham season 2 last week in Brooklyn, NY, he barely had time to take a swig of water and check his phone, before going back for another take. But after cracking a light joke and flashing a smile, he said, “Hey, check this out!” and opened a small case in his hand, revealing an eyeball.
That’s perfectly indicative of the kind of guy Powell seems to be on set. And he’ll be on-set a lot more often, as his character Butch Gilzean will become a series regular after a recurring supporting role last year. Powell sits and talks to you like you’re old friends upon your very first meeting. He draws you in for a big joke or surprise, using a sly yet genuine grin and a calm, soothing voice. His punchlines hit hard, his bellowing laugh opens up the room, and his sincerity could endear just about anyone in the world.
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We sat on a bench in the Gotham PD set, which was set-up as temporary “video village” while shooting presided elsewhere, to chat about Butch’s future now that one boss is out of the picture, who Powell’s working with this season, and whether or not he has any plans of his own this time around.
Drew, you’re a series regular this season. What does that promotion mean to you as far as what you can do with the character of Butch?
Drew Powell: Well, look, there’s a creative component and a life component. (laughs) The life component means I have a steady gig for at least another season, which I think anybody can appreciate! Creatively, it’s a nice vote of confidence from [showrunner] Bruno [Heller] and the writers, that they have more in store for Butch. Boy, I can tell you, we starting shooting episode 6 today, and it’s been a heck of a ride already.
I’ve said this to all the writers and a lot of the actors this year, but every episode we’ve gotten this year has been pedal to the metal. It’s really amazing what they’re doing this year. They’re just honing in on this storyline and every episode is better than the last. It’s going to be a lot of fun for fans to see this.
So you feel like they found their comfort level in Season One, and now they’re able to surpass that a bit?
DP: Yeah, and I feel like that happens with every show. The first season is more, “What works, what doesn’t?” The question is, in season 2–and this is why season 2 is the make or break year for people–can they take what works and hone it and make it great?
I’m biased, of course, but I really think that they’re doing it. They’ve got it this year.
Butch was always under someone’s wing in Season One. Now that you’re a series regular and everything, will we start to see Butch break out on his own and follow his agenda?
DP: Well, when we left Butch, he was a quivering mess on the rooftop, with really nobody left but Penguin. When we open season two, he’ll be with Penguin, Victor Zsazz’s conditioning still intact. The interesting stuff is what happens from there, which I can’t tell you much about. But I can tell you, some interesting stuff is going down. You know, they’re calling this season the “rise of the villains,” and it sure is! It’s really neat how they’ve pushed the meter even further in terms of the darkness and villainy that’s happening.
You walked in here and showed us an eyeball in a case; what can you tell us about that?
DP: (laughs) Nothing! I probably will get in trouble just for showing you that. (laughs) But I think it’s safe to say, and I said to the guest stars today, “there’s a lot of eyeball play on this show! It’s a recurring theme!” So that’s something to look out for.
Oh, the puns. What’s something that’s surprised you about working on Gotham?
DP: You know, I didn’t know what to think coming into it, to be honest with you. I heard about this job when I was working on The Mentalist, Bruno’s last show, and everybody was buzzing about it. It was definitely the most talked about pilot of that pilot season. I remember thinking, “Wow, what a cool opportunity to delve into Gotham City!” We’ve seen a lot of Batman movies, but this is a whole different ballgame.
I think what surprised me the most was from a standpoint of how they’ve really been able to craft a storyline without Batman, a storyline that’s really exactly what they said it would be! It’s about what Gotham City devolved into that created Batman, that needed a Batman. I think that’s really hard; I don’t think people realize how hard that is to do. First of all, you have a huge spotlight on you because everyone loves Batman. Second, you have the history of the movies and other things for people to compare it to. It’s not the same thing, but it’s not like just coming up with an entirely new show. There’s a lot of excess pressure.
I think Bruno and the writers do a really good job of crafting their own story. Especially this season, they’re just doing a great job; some of the things I can’t tell you, some of the things that happen to Butch this year, are so fascinating and so cool. Things this year walk the line of the reality with Batman – it’s not Superman, it’s not Avengers where it’s superpowers, but it walks that hazy line between reality and fantasy. I think people are going to dig it. If they liked Gotham at all last year, they’re going to love it this year. That’s what I’m most excited about.
I’m also surprised that in an hour long drama, how much fun we can all have! (laughs). We just laugh, and laugh. I’ve been working a lot with Camren [Bicondova] the last couple of days, and Robin [Lord Taylor] a lot this season, and we just really enjoy ourselves.
Yeah, I saw you razzing Camren a bit on set a few minutes ago.
DP: Exactly! I’m like the big brother, so you gotta do that sort of thing.
So obviously, you’re working with Camren now. But what other characters and actors are you having fun or looking forward to working with directly this season, that you didn’t get to much last year?
DP: Well, some of the new folks, that are coming in and weren’t around last year! I was working yesterday with James Frain and Jessica Lucas [who play new villains the Galavan siblings], and they’re really great. I’ve met some of the other new guys; Chris Chalk [Lucius Fox] is a great guy, and Nick D’Agosto [Harvey Dent]. But you know, Butch was lucky, toward the end there. I got to work with a lot of people! At the end of the season, I was working with Ben [McKenzie], and Donal [Logue], so yeah. I’m trying to think of who I haven’t really worked with yet! I got to work with Alfred [played by Sean Pertwee] at one point.
Oh! It would be nice to work with David [Mazouz]. We get along really well and we have a lot of fun together around the set. I’d love a situation where – we were joking that it would be funny to have Butch and Bruce on some sort of road trip. (laughs) I don’t know why, or what would happen, but it would just be funny!
What is your favorite Gotham pun with all the villains?
DP: (laughs), Oh yeah. That’s a good question. Penguin has a line in the last – I don’t want to give it away, but in the episode we shot last night, episode 5, there’s just a great line. Watch for that one!
Gotham Season 2 premieres September 21, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. on Fox.
