Marvel's Inhumans: Anson Mount Signed On To Play Black Bolt Because He's Mute

07/12/2017 06:43 pm EDT

The lead actor in Marvel's The Inhumans series took the role for an interesting reason, and it wasn't the costume.

The former Hell on Wheels star Anson Mount decided he wanted to portray the Inhuman king Black Bolt because the character is mute. The character will debut alongside other Marvel characters such as Medusa, Gorgon, and Maximus the Mad, however, he won't be able to speak with them audibly due to his unique powers. He can destroy an entire city just be opening his mouth!

For Mount, this factor is what drew him into the role, immediately.

"Well, that was really my primary interest in the role; was the challenge of playing a leading role not only unable to speak, but I can't use American sign language because he's not from here," Mount said. "[Marvel TV boss] Jeph Loeb knew me well enough to know what would be my interest, so he came in on that leg. You know, 'We'll help you find a linguist. We'll help you anyway.' But he knew what was going to give me juice to get in that role. So yeah, I think I am lucky that I had already met Jeph. I knew Jeph. Jeph knew my work. We have a lot of mutual business acquaintances in common. And it's the kind of role that you can't; the role would have been under-serviced if they had held auditions. How do you audition this role? You know, I'm just fortunate enough that he and [creator] Scott [Buck] trusted me enough to say let's just have a conversation because it's certainly a role I probably would have gone after anyways, but yeah…"

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In Marvel's Inhumans, after the Royal Family of Inhumans is splintered by a military coup, they barely escape to Hawaii where their surprising interactions with the lush world and humanity around them may prove to not only save them,but Earth itself.

The Inhumans, a race of superhumans with diverse and singularly unique powers, were first introduced in Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965. Since that time, they have grown in prominence and become some of the most popular and iconic characters in the Marvel Universe. Marvel's The Inhumans will explore the never-before-told epic adventure of Black Bolt and the royal family.

Marvel's Inhumans stars Anson Mount as Black Bolt, Serinda Swan as Medusa, Iwan Rheon as Maximus, Ken Leung as Karnak, Eme Ikwuakor as Gorgon, Isabelle Cornish as Crystal, Mike Moh as Triton, Sonya Balmores as Auran, and Ellen Woglom.

Marvel's Inhumans is executive produced by Scott Buck (Dexter, Marvel's Iron Fist) with Jeph Loeb (Marvel's Daredevil, Marvel's Jessica Jones, Marvel's Luke Cage) and Jim Chory (Marvel's Daredevil, Marvel's Jessica Jones, Marvel's Luke Cage). Buck is serving as showrunner. Roel Reine (Admiral, Black Sails) will direct the first two episodes, which will debut in IMAX theaters. Marvel's Inhumans is co-produced by Marvel Television and ABC Studios.

The first two episodes of Marvel's Inhumans will premiere in IMAX theaters on Friday, Sept. 1. The full eight-episode series will air on ABC on Fridays as part of the network's fall television lineup.