When Rouths Ray Palmer was introduced duringArrowseason 3, there was almost immediately talk of a spinoff.
We had a chance to sit down with Mr. Routh to discuss Ray Palmer, and more.
Did Rays absence onArrowcoincide with shooting the beginning ofLegends of Tomorrow?
In mostly challenging ways.
A challenge to schedule all of that and shoot both shows concurrently, but we did it.
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Did going back and forth like that also make the tonal differences more jarring?
Theyre not really jarring because Ray is pretty much Ray wherever he goes.
So you really feel Ray is the same even if the show around him has a different tone?
I would say the same level of humor that I would be able to do onFlashI can do onLegends.
Are the mechanics ofLegendsdifferent, because as many characters as there were onArrow, theres even more here?
Its a different way of shooting.
Its a different energy of scenes.
From just a technical perspective, it takes a lot longer to shoot eight people in a scene.
Even if its a one page scene it takes a lot longer than two people in a scene.
Everybody chimes in and has a couple lines and we go on.
The demands are different but its good.
It makes our show unique.
Is there a nobility Ray has?
I think thats a core of who he is, is being noble.
Upholding the rules for the most part, the humanity and giving everyone respect.
Hes at the top looking down as far as being able to change the world in a positive way.
The Sword of The Atomseries was fun.
Is Palmer Technologies left in good hands?
Well, we see inArrowits kind of not great as far as its treasury is concerned.
But thats her problem onArrow?
Yeah, hes left.
That world is all left behind.
Whats an example of a scene where Snart or Rory teach Ray the value of the darker side?
I think its evident in the episode [potential spoiler redacted].
I dont know if they convince, but there are definitely opportunities where that comes up.
That exact scenario is challenged.
Ray may trust somebody too much and theyre saying, No, no, you cant trust this person.
Ill leave it up to the episode to see whos right or wrong.
Maybe Ray learns something from that or maybe he doesnt.
Hes a little bit stubborn sometimes.
Did all of that opening Atom flight run smoothly technically?
Did you have to redo anything?
My face is not CGI.
Its pretty impressive CG.
Have you by any chance spoken to Paul Rudd about the technology for shrinking scenes?
No, Ive never met Paul Rudd.
Im a big fan but we havent discuss Ant-Man vs. Atom.
I dont mean versus, but maybe similar techniques.
No, no, but technologies or attributes.
Was there one thing you got from the comic books that really clued you into Ray?
I think just his enthusiasm for science and for learning is a big part of who he was.
He kept trying to shrink inanimate objects for a long time.
Also just his heroic nature of putting himself first.
He thinks saving these people is more important than his life and he goes and does that.
I think thats part of who Ray is today.
Thats the heroic nature of who he is.
Is this the longest time youve ever spent with a single character?
I spent a long time thinking about Superman.
Were kind of getting to that time now of living with Ray, certainly putting more Ray on camera.
What have been your favorite time periods to visit onLegends?
We havent done a ton yet.
Is Ray at home in some periods more than others?
Legends of Tomorrowpremieres on January 21st on the CW.
