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5 Reasons to Love People's Choice Winner Nathan Fillion

GeekSugar — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:13:52 PST

Nathan Fillion may have risen to science fiction fame and glory in the gone-before-its-time show Firefly, it's his role as a crime solving novelist that found him award glory last night at the People's Choice Awards. The prolific Twitterer was selected as Favorite TV Drama Actor by the voting fans.

If you aren't already a devoted Castle, Firefly and Nathan fan in general, here's why you should catch up on our favorite geek.

Upping the nerd appeal, Nathan has voiced characters in Justice League Unlimited, King of the Hill, and the Halo video games.
He's a Game of Thrones fan!
He isn't afraid to show his emotions for science fiction films. In a recent interview, Nathan admitted to crying when watching A.I.
He's a believer in renewable energy. He used his star power to bring awareness to the Arcimoto car, an electric car prototype.
He's Canadian. Nathan exhibits our neighbor to the north's enduring friendliness, love of poutine, and allegiance to family. Aww.

What do you love about this sci-fi turned crime drama hero and People's Choice winner?

Movie Preview: Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page Fight Bad Guys in Super

Lauren Bradshaw — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:24:02 PST

The Office's Rainn Wilson is leaving his desk job to take on a masked alter ego in Super. Wilson stars as Frank, a married man whose wife (Liv Tyler) leaves him for a drug dealer (Kevin Bacon). Upset over the split, Frank decides to win her back by taking on the persona of Crimson Bolt, a violent hero who wields a wrench as his weapon. To help him in his endeavors, a girl from a comic book store (Ellen Page) offers herself up to be his sidekick, Boltie.

Sound familiar? It should, because by all appearances, Super plays out like a ripoff of Kick-Ass. It's impossible not to see the similarities between the films' concepts or how Boltie resembles Hit Girl. That said, Super looks more quirky-indie and, unfortunately, not as good. My other complaint: could we please see more Nathan Fillion? The actor only pops up once in the trailer. Take a look, and share your assessment after the jump.

Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page, and Liv Tyler Make Comic-Con Super

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:03:46 PDT

Another superhero took the stage at Comic-Con, but you've probably never heard of him before. He's Crimson Bolt, a middle-aged guy in a red spandex suit played by Rainn Wilson. Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler, and Nathan Fillion joined director James Gunn to debut the masked man during the panel for Super, a project which Wilson has supposedly referred to as an "F'ed up, low-rent Watchmen." Personally, I think it's more like Kick Ass for an older audience, but if I've got you curious, keep reading.

The discussion started with a very early trailer and scene from the film, which takes us through the days leading up to Wilson's transformation into Crimson Bolt. At first, he's just a regular Joe who gets married to the lovely Liv Tyler - until Kevin Bacon swoops in and steals her from him. Ticked off, Wilson decides to adopt his own superhero persona to seek vengeance, wacking people's heads with his weapon of choice - a wrench. First impression: This is a one dark, twisted, bloody comedy.
Ellen Page plays Libby, the Hit Girl to Wilson's Kick Ass, if you will. She's a punky teen with anger issues who Page describes as a "lunatic." But she didn't go the route of most actresses and get fight training; according to Page, her moves are all improv. She also hinted at an intimate scene between her and Wilson in the film, though I can't imagine what that's about.
As for Fillion's character, he's a superhero on TV named the Holy Avenger who becomes Crimson Bolt's mentor of sorts. Fillion said, "He has the power of charisma. It's that 'I really want him' power, but kind of mixed in with the church. Chur-isma." He also wears super-tight pants.

For more on the film straight from the mouths of its stars,

One person who deserves cred for the film is Jenna Fischer. The Office star was married to Gunn during the project's development and convinced him to take it on; she's also the reason behind Wilson becoming the lead. Wilson remarked that he actually got the emailed script while using Dwight Schrute's computer on The Office set, teasing, "I had some peon PA print it out for me and carry it to my trailer on a pillow."
Even though Kevin Bacon couldn't attend (he was at a concert in Philadelphia), he was still mentioned several times. Wilson called him "very Bacon-esque," while Fillion added, "I think it's a universal truth that if you take anything good and add bacon, it gets better exponentially."
Other hot topics from the cast: Twitter (Fillion even tweeted from his seat), foot models (Liv Tyler refuses to use them), and curse words. "I feel terrible, because I dropped the F-bomb earlier, and my 5-year-old son is in the audience," admitted Rainn.
Fans of The Sarah Silverman Program, Page feels your pain. The actress remarked that she's "heartbroken" that her beloved show won't be coming back for another season, saying, "We should start a letter writing program. I didn't say that."
In perhaps the most entertaining part of the panel, Fillion and Wilson started fighting on stage! Well, it was only stage combat, but Rainn put some WWE moves on Fillion, throwing him under the table. Someone get those two on pay-per-view.

Be sure to check out all of my Comic-Con coverage and follow me on Twitter for live updates!

Link Time - Cynthia Nixon Returns to TV For The Big C

BuzzSugar — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:30:33 PDT

Cynthia Nixon joins the cast of Showtime's The Big C - Vulture
Nathan Fillion and Eva Longoria are thisclose to roles in The Avengers - Cinematical
Hanson covers Aldous Snow (yes, as in Get Him to the Greek) - MTV Movies Blog
Jamie Foxx plans to shop a TV mob drama to cable networks - Collider
Create a Scott Pilgrim avatar! - First Showing
Jason Reitman options Simon Rich's novel Elliot Allagash - Cinema Blend
A rant about NBC's Outsourced - TV.com
Passion Pit covers the Smashing Pumpkins hit "Tonight Tonight" - Spinner
Mos Def joins HBO's Enlightened - Deadline
Which movie features a hotter Tom Cruise? - TresSugar

Do Celeb Voices in Video Games Make You Want to Buy?

GeekSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:14:09 PDT

Sometimes, you know in advance that celebs will be lending their voices to video games. Take Afro Samurai for example. Taken from a TV show, it was only natural that Samuel L. Jackson would narrate the action. But imagine my surprise when I cracked open Halo 3: ODST to hear one of my favorite geeks, and one hot cylon voicing two characters in the game. Nathan Fillion (or as I still call him, Captain Mal) and Tricia Helfer of Battlestar Galactica not only speak throughout the game, but their likeness is also used, making this an enjoyable game for more than just the action.

It made me start to wonder if I would have rushed right out and bought the game on release day if I had known that two of my favorite personalities were included (answer - yes, if I was able to that is). But how do you feel: do celeb cameos in video games make you want to rush out and buy?

Link Time!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:45:07 PDT

It's Jim and Pam's wedding website! - Halpert Beesly
Get a load of new Edward, Bella, and Jacob stills from New Moon - PopSugar
Glee has been picked up for a full season! - Fox
Sacha Baron Cohen will lend his voice to an episode of The Simpsons - Entertainment Weekly
The NPH Effect: Emmy ratings were way up this year, improving on 2008's low viewership - The Wrap
Listen to new tracks from Built to Spill's upcoming album, There Is No Enemy - Stereogum
Can Michael Cera break out of his hipster-nerd pigeonhole? - PopWatch
The dreamy Nathan Fillion talks Castle, Dr. Horrible, and Joss Whedon - Pop Candy
Johnny Depp may be losing interest in doing Pirates of the Caribbean 4 - Vulture
There might be a Big Lebowski spinoff about John Turturro's the Jesus character - MTV Movies Blog
Patrick Swayze was supposed to have a cameo in upcoming horror comedy Zombieland - Coming Soon

Movie Preview: Michelle Monaghan, Nathan Fillion in Trucker

BuzzSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:30:00 PDT

When I saw Trucker at the Tribeca Film Festival back in 2008, I acknowledged that it's not the world's finest movie, but it was definitely one of my favorites of all the festival movies I saw. It's a relatively quiet indie drama starring Michelle Monaghan as Diane Ford, a tough truck driver who enjoys her carefree life of trucking, bars and one-night stands - until her 11-year-old son shows up one day. Their relationship is rocky, and Diane is none too pleased to suddenly shoulder so much responsibility, but as long as her ex-husband (Benjamin Bratt) is hospitalized, mother and son are stuck with each other. Nathan Fillion plays her sweet, handsome neighbor and friend who is married but clearly has feelings for Diane.

The film will open Oct. 9. If you like these actors and feel like a sometimes slow and harsh but ultimately warm-hearted drama, you'll likely find Trucker worthwhile. To check out the trailer,

TV Tonight: The Castle Finale

BuzzSugar — Mon, 11 May 2009 05:30:10 PDT

Sometimes I don't understand the people who become mega-fans of something that has only barely begun. I've often wondered: How can you possibly be that attached to something already? Well, I'm eating those words now because I'm a little broken up about the fact that tonight's episode of Castle is the finale. I've grown absurdly attached to Castle's punny little witticisms (like "Look who's stalking"), the growing camaraderie between Beckett's fellow detectives and Castle, and the banter between Castle and Beckett that's always a mixture of annoyance and flirtation. I also think the cases they work on are really intriguing. I just love this show!

On tonight's finale (booooooo!), "Castle and Beckett investigate the murder of a missing plastic surgeon who is found dead in the front seat of his car after a week of being parked curbside. As they delve into the twisted world of surgery obsessed patients and secret operations, Castle experiences a fatherly rite of passage as Alexis attends her first prom. And while looking into Beckett's past, he unearths information that could end his relationship with her forever." To check out some preview clips (in one, Castle does a Christopher Walken impression!),

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

"What is it with men and boobs?"

Nathan Fillion: Actor, Gamer, Geek

GeekSugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:00:47 PDT

Maybe it's just my uber crush on Captain Malcolm Reynolds from Firefly, or the fact that he starred in the biggest online sensation of last year, but I just can't get over Nathan Fillion. And while he graces the cover in this month's Geek Monthly, he explains why he's been the most requested cover boy in the magazine's history: "I'm big with women, and I'm big with geeks." Duh.

If you follow Nathan on MySpace, then you'd know that he's got a thing for gadgets, but did you also know that he has read the whole Harry Potter series, is a gamer, and has an affinity for Apple products? He says:

"If it has batteries or a button it's probably in my house. Right now, I've got an Apple TV, I play with that a little bit; I'm all over the Xbox 360. I love the iPhone, it's a few updates away from being perfect. We need the horizontal keyboard for text messaging and we need templates - be there at five, can't talk right now - we need templates for that stuff."

Well, at least one of his iPhone wishes is coming true! A geek after my own heart - swoon.

Source

Nathan Fillion on Playing the Childlike Richard Castle

BuzzSugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:30:27 PDT

Castle, which premieres tonight on ABC, stars fan favorite Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle, a crime novelist who finds himself sucked into assisting the New York Police Department when a murderer starts carrying out crimes based on scenes from his books. There, he finds himself working (and flirting) alongside Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) while also navigating the relationships with his Broadway diva mother (Susan Sullivan) and wise-beyond-her-years teenage daughter (Molly Quinn). A few days ago, Fillion hopped on the phone to chat with me about the appeal of Castle, what it's like to be a leading man again, and whether there will ever be another Dr. Horrible. Read on for highlights:

When you first heard about Castle and read the pilot script, what appealed to you about the character?
I heard that Castle was a crime drama. I'd been reading a lot of police procedurals that ABC had for pilots - I have a deal with ABC, so I'm gonna do something with ABC. And I was reading a lot of dramas, a lot of heavy stuff, a lot of heavy, emotional dramas that they were putting out there. And then Castle, for some reason, was at the bottom of the list of all the pilots I was going through.

I was 15 pages into reading Castle, and I stopped, and I turned to my girlfriend and said, "I'm going to start at the beginning of this pilot and I'm going to read it out loud to you, and you tell me if you don't think this wouldn't be an amazingly fun job to do." Because here's a guy who enjoys every day of his life like he's on a field trip - he is thrilled to be there. He's thrilled to be around crime and murder and he's having a blast. He doesn't get emotionally involved. He's not without heart, he's just simply very lighthearted. He doesn't see crime and say, "I've got to find this murderer before he gets the chance to do it again. He just simply says, "Whoa! Did you see the way that fella was hangin' there?" He's crazed by these phenomenal endings to what he believes would be an incredible story, and he wants to find the beginning and the middle to the ending that is the murder.

Watching the pilot, I thought of him as kind of a playboy - but not just with women, with everything in his life.
I kind of started [filming] thinking, 'Well, here's a wild partier, drinker, womanizer . . . " but actually he's far more childlike than I even knew when we were shooting the pilot. He has a joy - he's playing all the time. He's playing grown-up games.

To find out the secret to Castle's lightheartedness, just

Is there something in his past that has made him be so lighthearted about everything? He's dealing with a lot of crime, both in his novels and, when he gets involved in the case, in his everyday life, and sometimes it's nasty. How does he stay so upbeat?
He's a writer of mystery novels, so the genre of what he's doing pleases him - he likes it, he writes it, he knows it, he's studied it. When he was a kid, his mother was an actress, and she did a lot of moving around and a lot of touring and just not a lot of parenting. He spent most of his days locked up in the New York Public Library reading. He taught himself to be a speed reader; he reads voraciously. But I think he almost missed out on his childhood, so when he began writing and began enjoying success and got a lot of money - I mean, he doesn't have a lot of responsibilities. He makes his own hours, he lives in a beautiful apartment, he can afford the nicest toys. It's kind of like my life.

One of the things I thought was interesting in the pilot was his relationship with his daughter. How would you describe Castle as a parent?
Castle is very much mothered by his 15-year-old daughter, and at the same time he turns around and mothers his own mother. So it's not a typical nuclear family. It's a very interesting relationship. His daughter does a great deal for him and makes him a better person.

Without giving too much away, how will Castle's relationship with Kate Beckett change over the course of the first few episodes we'll be seeing?
We're going to be able to solve a case every week - there's not going to be a murder that lasts three episodes. However, just like in real life, the more time you spend with a person, the more you learn about that person, the more you say, "Oh, well I did this when I was a kid, I know what this is about because I used to . . . " You learn more about people as you spend time with them, and he gleans more and more understanding of Kate Beckett as time goes on.

You said you were reading a lot of procedurals. What do you think makes Castle more than just a cop show?
I think Castle is a little bit more in tune with real life, in that we're not walking around heavy and brooding about murder. Life is simply life. We spoke to some homicide detectives when we were in New York City. These guys were not darkened souls, you know, meandering the earth looking for justice. They were very jovial, very funny guys who would tell you incredible stories . . . It's real life, and there's comedy in real life. So I would say that in the lighthearted part of Castle, the comedic part of Castle, is truer to real life.

Quickly changing subjects - do you think there could ever be another Dr. Horrible?
I'm crossing both my fingers.