Shayan Sobhian tees up Legends of Tomorrow’s long-awaited exploration of Behrad’s “origin story.”
Pop culture is important toDC’s Legends of Tomorrow.
In the episode, the Legends travel to 2024 in pursuit of an alien pod.
Shayan Sobhian as Behrad Tarazi on ‘Legends of Tomorrow.'.The CW
Thus, the mission becomes about not only catching Gus but also saving Behrad’s life.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did the writers pitch this episode to you?
This is where we’re finally going to do a deep dive on him."
Shayan Sobhian as Behrad on ‘DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.'.The CW
So there was no logical reason to do any kind of deep dive.
What was the most fascinating aspect of Behrad’s origin story?
Well, that his life was literally changed by a sitcom.
Nick Zano as Nate Heywood/Steel on ‘DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.'.Bettina Strauss/The CW
I mean, I think that’s like whenLegendsgets wonderfully meta.
What was your formative TV show or movie, or yourBud-Study?
SeeingJack Blackin that movie changed my life.
It completely set me on a path; It turned me into the biggest Led Zeppelin fan I know.
It ignited the flame of artistic expression.
I don’t think I’d be here today [without it].
What would have happened?"
I didn’t grow up wanting to be an actor.
By high school age I was coming around to it.
There’s no way I could be an actor.
I think that’s like getting into a conversation around representation.
But I saw me when I saw you."
So we’re in this mirror and you literally look like each other."
That remains one of my favorite scenes to date that I’ve done.
Behrad’s personality starts changing after the alien joins for the show.
How did it feel to play a different version of Behrad?
So I wanted to get the extremes first.
Then the middle one, 1.5 is like, he’s in and out of that.
There’s flashes of it.
I think [episode writer Tyrone B. Carter] did such a brilliant job with this.
That’s how I felt with this journey.
But it was really fun too, to be different physically as well.
Behrad 1.0 has a little slouch, he’s got a little laid back swagger.
But then 2.0, he’s in a Ted Baker suit.
Nick asked me one time before we were shooting scenes, “Do you have a neck injury?”
One of my favorite things to do as an actor is transform physically.
So getting to do that within a role is a special treat.
Co-showrunner Phil Klemmer previously told Comicbook.com thatGus was inspired by Baby Yoda.
What was it like working with a puppet like Gus?
It felt like I was on the set ofStar Wars.
It was the closest I feel like I’ve ever come to real movie magic.
I mean, it was amazing.
There were four operators, four puppeteers.
A couple actually manual and then a couple remote control.
So, yeah, it was really cool.
I think we were all obsessed with him immediately.
I mean, it’s meta, like he became the star for us.
Then in the sitcom he also becomes a star.
So I think they nailed it.
What can you say about that?
Oh man, I ship Bestra.
I think there’s great chemistry there and there’s great possibility.
We’ve had some fun with some very, I would say, just sub-textural moments.
There hasn’t been anything overt yet, but it’s still up in the air.
DC’s Legends of Tomorrowairs Sundays at 8 p.m. on the CW.
