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With the advent of the pandemic, the action thriller “Blacklist”, one of the most watched series in the US, had to resort to comics to complete what was the last episode of the seventh season, but now has managed to overcome the long list of obstacles imposed by the coronavirus to continue to have fun with its dramatic twists.
LOOK: The “blacklist” beats the coronavirus, turning actors into comic cartoons
“It was a challenge”, Actor James Spader, winner of three Emmy Awards, who since 2013 has played the lead role of the program, Raymond Reddington, confesses in a telephone press conference.
“Our show is very big in terms of size. We’re 300 people during the filming, so it’s pretty difficult. “, explained the performer, who points out that, in addition to the complications that the virus imposes on any recording studio, it is also a limitation for the outside.
“We also depend on where they give us permission to register and the restrictions on the number of people who can be in a certain place and so on.”added Spader, who noted, however, that “surprisingly” and despite the circumstances, there were “quite predictable disasters” during filming.
The series, which premiered in the open air in 2013 in the US and can now be seen in several countries, tells of the collaboration of former criminal Raymond Reddington (Spader) with the FBI to clean up the city of crime, although his intentions are not what they seem .
The show airs this Friday the fourth episode of the eighth season in the US, and in Spain (on Movistar +) it will do so a day later, this Saturday and, despite the fact that it was recorded in the middle a pandemic, the creators of the “Black List” decided not to reflect that historical moment in their scripts.
“For starters, the most important reason is that the show has always existed in a parallel universe, we never wanted it to be about our real life,” he said. Spader pointed out, who also noted that the comics that were to be used to end the last episode of the seventh season “speak very eloquently” about the nature of the series.
He also added that the creative team felt that the “Black List” offered “an escape route for the public” with which to distance themselves from everyday reality.
In the middle of filming the ninth episode of the eighth season, Spader, who is also one of the show’s executive producers, acknowledged that there is currently huge competition from television programs, but stressed that this leads to a increase in the quality of what is produced for the small screen.
“Like many things in life, the competition is good. Competition brings excellence and we aspire to that. I’m very happy with where we are now. “, stressed the.
The 60-year-old performer, known for his roles in films such as “Crash” and series such as “The Practice”, also confessed that he believes that the secret to the long-term success of the series is not to reveal too much initially.
“(The concept) is quite simple, but it is very, very difficult to execute. (…) It was part of our orders from the beginning, that whenever an answer is given, another question arises. If you continue with that balance, allow the mystery, curiosity and surprise (…) to stay very much alive ”Spader opined.