“Almost Human” is a buddy cop show, but instead of a Lethal Weapon/Rush Hour type mismatch, the partners are a human and a robot.
In the future, all cops are paired with robots, but rogue detective John Kennex (Karl Urban) goes with an older, less predictable model, Dorian (Michael Ealy). At a Television Critics Association party, I found Ealy by himself so I could get an exclusive interview with him. “Almost Human” airs Monday nights on Fox, and we got Ealy’s thoughts on where Dorian is going, and if he can “do it.”
CraveOnline: Was the idea of the colloquial programming a good way to get around robot speak?
Michael Ealy: It was never written. Actually, that colloquialism routine line was the fifth draft that I read. From the moment I read the script, it was never written like he sounded like a robot.
I imagine they were never going to go that way, but now they have an explanation so you never have to worry about it.
I don’t know, I didn’t feel that way. I felt like what it set up was Dorian’s earnestness to try and be human. I felt like that’s really what it was about. It’s about trying to set up this guy who really – this guy… – this droid who really wants to be human to the point where speaking in the vernacular is a program. It’s something that he really likes to stay in.
Who are some of your favorite robots of science fiction?
R2-D2. Ian Holm, Lance Henriksen. I love what they did. Fassbender’s performance in Prometheus was very good. Very good.
How physical is this role going to be for you?
That remains to be seen. So far, I haven’t had to do anything I haven’t already done. I tend to not fear much so I think that’s going to put Dorian in a lot of scenarios that humans can’t really do. We’ll see.
What gave you the confidence with the pilot that you knew there was a whole series here?
The pedigree of the producer. Joel [Wyman] and J.J. [Abrams], they’ve driven this ship before. You kind of know that they’re going to get it right. You kind of know that people are going to respond. Their interest is going to be piqued simply off of the names. All of that helps you read the script with a lot more confidence that okay, if I love this, it’s going to be in good hands.
Since it’s Joel and J.J., how much is mapped out for Dorian already?
Beyond the first season?
Is it already a whole season?
It’s the first season. All I know about is the first season, but when I met with Joel for the first time, he has five years.
Who do you think “Almost Human” refers to, Dorian or Kennex?
I genuinely believe that’s up to the audience. You could make a case for both sides, for both characters.
There are different robots in the show, do you have sort of an instruction manual for your model?
Funny you say that. We were talking about that the other day. We were talking about having to come up with something, some sort of bible that made sure that Dorian couldn’t go father than this. We haven’t yet, but we’ll figure it out.
Are you having fun on this show?
Absolutely. Absolutely. It’s nice to go to work with people who know what they’re doing and our crew, the best crew in the business. They are so good at what they do that you might read something in the script and be like, “I don’t see how this is going to work.” Come in the next day and the department will explain to you what they’re building, how it’s it’s going to work and how you’re going to be able to use it.
What are some of the cool props and weapons?
Dorian can pick up anything and shoot it, but right now he has a specific Glock, but he can pick up a hand cannon if he needs to and handle his business. There’s a couple hand cannons that I want to get a hold of at some point.
Have you shot in Vancouver before?
I did, I did Underworld there.
Is it different doing a television series in Vancouver?
Absolutely. With Underworld, like any feature, you know where your character starts. You know where he goes, you know where he ends up. With this, you don’t know. You know where he starts.
As far as being in Vancouver for a year as opposed to three or four months, is it different?
You need time. I’ve been to Vancouver in the winter and this is my first time being in Vancouver in the summer. From what I hear, what I’ve seen in the winter will be happening again. I’ve seen Vancouver in its best time and its worst time, so I don’t think there will be any real surprises.
Has any other role you’ve played prepared you for Dorian?
Good question. Not really. When I really think about that, no because every character I play has ultimately been human and I could rely on that. Every character I play, like “Sleeper Cell,” an FBI agent and a muslim. Well, I can go talk to a muslim, I can go talk to an FBI agent. I cannot talk to a droid. I can talk to Joel. I can talk to J.J. They are my reference.
You did a lot of romantic comedies as well.
Exactly, which is why I think is why everybody wants to know is Dorian going to get it on? He kind of can’t we feel like.
We’ve seen things like Gigolo Joe in A.I..
I don’t know. I want to know what do people want to see? How it would happen? What does it look like?
I think it means we already identify with him as human and we want him to have all the things that we have.
But I think it’d be more interesting to see him have a connection with someone than see him actually physically have sex.
Yes, it’s network television so it’s going to fade out at some point. You’re not on Showtime anymore.
Right, maybe you want to see Dorian post-coital, under the sheets and you have to figure out how did that happen? How did that work?
James Woods is hosting a documentary about the future fight for robot equality, so people are already thinking about it.
I mean, I don’t think this show is that far fetched in terms of human-like droid. Whether it’ll be 40 years or 60 years from now, I think sometime in our lifetime, we will see it. I really do. If we live long enough, we will see it. The stuff that they’re coming up with right now, think about 40 years ago.
10 years ago we didn’t have these phones.
20 years ago, the internet meant nothing. It meant nothing. Having a cell phone meant nothing. Now, can you imagine life without it? No. You don’t know people’s phone numbers anymore. It’s inconceivable. You couldn’t talk to a screen to the other person, that was inconceivable 40 years ago. Well, it wasn’t inconceivable. It was in sci-fi film and “The Jetsons.” Now we’re actually living a part of that so I think some of the stuff that we’re putting out there can easily happen.
