Justice Society: World War II arrives on streaming platforms on April 27th, 2021, and hits 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray on May 11th, 2021. This next entry in the DC Animated Universe sees The Flash thrust into the midst of an epic battle between Golden Age DC Super Heroes the Justice Society and Nazis for an adventure that definitely doesn't play out the way you might be expecting.
The movie features an all-star cast, including Omid Abtah (American Gods, The Mandalorian) as Hawkman. We'll have the full interview to share with you tomorrow, but wanted to highlight the actor's comments about the pressure that comes with now being part of two iconic franchises: DC and Star Wars (we were unable to talk about Dr. Pershing due to the secrecy surrounding season three).
Hawkman is a beloved character among comic book fans, while any new addition to a Galaxy Far, Far Away is often highly scrutinised. That's something Abtah is all too aware of as an actor.
Having been part of Star Wars with The Mandalorian and the DC Universe with this film, what is it like for you as an actor to be involved in such iconic franchises - does it come with a lot of responsibility?
You know, I had the same experience with my entry into the Star Wars franchise. I was asked a lot at the time, ‘Do you feel pressure?’ I had to stop and think because I hadn't even thought about it up to that point. There is a part of you...you just can’t let that stuff limit you as an actor. You want to do your research and do your homework so you can be respectful to the history of it, and then you have to throw that away and say, ‘This is my performance. This is my interpretation,’ and I just hope you like it. That’s the way I approach it. I have to forget that this is a big deal to a lot of people.
When you’re playing a character like Hawkman with a very passionate fanbase, I can imagine it must be quite intimidating to think about that and then put those expectations to one side?
Absolutely. That’s exactly what I did. I don’t think I can function any other way as an actor. If I’m doing anything for anybody else, it’s probably not a truthful performance. A lot of it is trusting the process and the people who wanted you to be part of this project. They know what they’re doing, they know your work, and, like you said, I just put it aside. With that being said, I do have a lot of respect for the history of this character, the history of this franchise, and I hope I can only add to it.
Keep checking back here, as we have plenty more to share about Justice Society: World War II!