avid Chokachi and his co-star, Yancy Butler, continue their fight for justice in the new TNT series Witchblade which premieres on Tuesday, June 12, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). Chokachi resumes his role from the original two-hour movie as Jake McCartey, a homicide detective and the partner of Sara Pezzini (Butler), the woman who wields the Witchblade.
Witchblade is based on the Top Cow comic book of the same name, about an ancient gauntlet so powerful it can battle Earth's darkest evil forces, and the woman destined to wear it. The series picks up where the movie left off, as Sara and Jake deal with a police review board and take on a new murder case.
Chokachi is internationally known for his role as lifeguard Cody Madison on Baywatch. He has also starred in the Showtime film The Unspeakable, CBS's A Crime of Passion and ABC's Bad to the Bone. Feature film turns include 12 Bucks and Psycho Beach Party.
Chokachi spoke to Science Fiction Weekly about Witchblade, science fiction and keeping his shirt on.
Tell us about your new series.
Chokachi: Basically, we pick up right at the end of the two-hour movie and launch forward as if we're taking off from planet Earth. The series is amazing, considering everything I've seen so far with what we've shot, and script-wise. I think overall it's even another level higher than the movie. Everyone's character is up a level as far as what's going on. There's hardly a time in the series where you sit back and take a deep breath and just relax, because there's so much going on for everyone's character.
What about your character, Jake McCartey?
Chokachi: Jake has evolved. In the pilot, it took a while for my character to get going because of the story. In the series, which I was totally excited about, they just gave me a higher level of credibility as a detective and as her partner. Where he starts and where he ends up, people are going to be amazed regarding what's really going on with my character.
There's a great subplot, about corruption. He gets somewhat involved, and everything becomes very, very murky as far as what my character is doing. In the end it's all going to be somewhat revealed. It's great because they started me off as an all-American type.
What do you and your character have in common?
Chokachi: I think what we have in common actually is that ... sometimes [people respond to you] based on your looks. For some reason you're not considered educated or you're not smart or you're not streetwise. It's very true for myself and it's very true for Jake. There's just a lot more going on with both of us than meets the eye.
Jake doesn't know about the Witchblade. What does Jake think about his partner, Sara?
Chokachi: He's kind of in a tough position, because he really wants to be let in, and in order for him to be a better cop he needs her to fill him with a lot more information ... and she doesn't trust him yet. She's waiting for me to prove myself. She doesn't trust many people just because of what's gone down in her life. You don't walk into a room with her and earn her trust instantly. You have to prove it. It's going to take a little time for that to happen.
As far as the Witchblade, as the series progresses, he becomes more and more aware that something's going on with her. She has some sort of weird thing that you can't even explain, but I actually trust her [as my partner in the series].
That's what I'm wondering, if you'll find out about the Witchblade by the end of the 11th episode.
Chokachi: See, I don't know. Because there's this whole other B story with all these corrupt cops. I don't even know if they'll cross that bridge. We may have to wait till the second 11 [laughs]. I don't know how much they're going to let me in on the Witchblade.
What's it like working with Yancy Butler and the rest of the cast?
Chokachi: It's phenomenal. I mean, Yancy, I give her all the credit in the world, because she's got to work every day. It takes us eight days to shoot a show. She works every day. She's got the best attitude. She's doing a superb job with this character. It's inspirational to see. If I get bogged down with four full days of work, it's like ... she's fine. She nailed it. She's taking it like a pro. And everyone else is phenomenal. Anthony Cistaro, who plays Kenneth Irons, and Nottingham (Eric Etebari). And our ghost, Danny Woo (Will Yun Lee). It's a tight, tight group.
What happens when the cameras go off?
Chokachi: When the cameras go off, we all head toward the local tavern [laughs]. It's pretty funny, because we're all so different-looking but very eclectic in our own way. And if you see all of us out together ... it's a good-looking crew.
How is making a genre series like Witchblade different than your experience with Baywatch?
Chokachi: This is a more intelligent show, obviously. Baywatch was really fun to make, but there's only so far you could take those characters. For me, with this show, there's a lot more talent as far as the levels of where your character really exists. It's a lot more challenging, and it's fun to be challenged as an actor.
I'm assuming you use less sunscreen than you did on Baywatch.
Chokachi: Yeah, exactly [laughs]. I don't even think I've had my shirt off yet.
I'm sure that will change by the end of the series.
Chokachi: Oh, yeah [laughs]. I've already seen a couple shower scenes coming up.
Are you a fan of comic books or science fiction?
Chokachi: I'm definitely a big fan of science fiction, and I am of comic books now. I've really gotten into the Witchblade comic book. As far as comic books, I really wasn't because when we grew up we were involved in athletics 24 hours a day. But now with Witchblade, I have stacks of them. I get into them. They're great reading.
I love science fiction. You know, it opens your mind. No one really knows. No one can say for sure that none of this stuff could exist. I love that about science fiction. No one has the answer. There isn't a yes or no that's right or wrong as far as science fiction. The things that people come up with, it's amazing. It's great where it takes your mind. It sort of takes your mind on an absolute, amazing roller-coaster ride. Just strap your cranium in [laughs].
Do you have a favorite science-fiction television show?
Chokachi: I used to love Star Trek. The old one with Kirk. We used to watch reruns and skip class in college.
Now all your college professors know that.
Chokachi: They knew it anyway [laughs].
Many genre shows wouldn't exist if it wasn't for cable and syndication. How do you feel about being on cable rather than being on network television?
Chokachi: I think as far as being an actor and as far as a series, it's the best place we could possibly be, because a network like TNT is willing to give you a shot. They're going to take the time, and they believe in it, and they'll air the 11 [episodes]. They won't balk. On any major network, they are so quick, so quick. I just think it's wrong, because a lot of shows get dumped that shouldn't be dumped that don't pull in the numbers. I think you get a cable network like TNT and they give it a chance, and they put the publicity behind it. Especially for this one. They've gone gangbusters. Witchblade, I think, is a great match for TNT, as far as their audience and what they have going on. I just don't think our show could be in better hands.
What makes Witchblade unique, considering the different science-fiction and fantasy shows that are on television right now?
Chokachi: I just think it's intelligent the way these writers have come up with a lot of facts, a lot of history, as far as where the Witchblade has been. Like the thing with Joan of Arc and where it takes your mind. It just goes further. I think it has more elements. I'm not taking anything from other shows. They all have good things going. But there's just a little bit or maybe a lot more going on as far as where the show allows you to go.
It has a mystery about it.
Chokachi: Yeah, it really does. And wait 'til you see the episodes unfold. It just gets better and better.
Does the series have a story arc going all the way through it?
Chokachi: Absolutely. It's like 11 mini-movies. There's a continuum that's very strong, from the first episode all the way ... I haven't seen 11 yet, but through the first 10. And it's amazing how things seem like they're circling away, then they circle back and connect. And it relates to what Sara (Butler) says at the end of the two-hour movie, and she realizes that all things are connected.
Can you give us a little teaser about what's coming up?
Chokachi: There's some great ones. We've got Roger Daltrey, who plays the devil. He's phenomenal, too. He plays a priest who turns out to be somewhat suspect. He's an amazing actor. I was shocked. He's great on this. As far as the shows, I think each episode, each character, especially the main five of us ... everything goes up a level as far as what's going on in their world. So things become more high-stakes and it becomes really interesting to watch ... I'm still waiting to read our last one, our 11. They're going to spend some time on this one. It's going to be the knockout.
That's good, because you want people to keep watching so you can do 22.
Chokachi: Exactly. That's the goal, 22. I'd love to be here playing Jake for a couple years.
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