Yeah, I'm kinda sad about no British accent or blond hair as well! But it does sound rather interesting....James as a college professor, and evil at that. I'm picturing silky and seductive!

SweetMarilyn | July 25, 23:32 CET

Thanks for posting the article. The character is sounding more interesting. I can't wait to see James flesh out the role.

ASassyKat | July 25, 23:34 CET

As Brainiac is neither British nor blond, I must risk the wrath of the Acolytes of William and say: whew...

zeitgeist | July 25, 23:35 CET

"He's a wonderful actor beyond being Spike ..."

So nice to see someone in the industry saying that about James - its not said enough. Also like that he was their first choice!

killinj | July 25, 23:35 CET

Nice to see James get some work, though I still think he's an odd choice for Brainiac. None of his previous work makes me think "cerebral," so I guess WB must be getting really desperate with the stunt casting.

And a big WTF on the Aquaman thing...are the producers on drugs? Kansas is a landlocked state, and IIRC Aquaman needs SALT water every hour to survive.

Yay for James, but none of this news makes me keen to tune in SV again.

Saturn Girl | July 25, 23:41 CET

What's the point in putting SPOILER in if the actual spoiler is part of the title?

Grounded | July 25, 23:52 CET

Because there's news about his character in the article. Mr Marsters going onto Smallville is pretty much common knowledge now.

Simon | July 25, 23:54 CET

Actually, Saturn Girl, I’m relieved that casting directors HAVEN’T type cast James - ie, ‘None of his previous work makes me think "cerebral," so I guess WB must be getting really desperate with the stunt casting.’ - and are, instead, able to see past the characters he’s played and recognize the high quality of his acting. Bravo to everyone involved with this opportunity. And please, for the sake of my James addiction, may there be many, many more!

showgirl | July 25, 23:55 CET

Well his stage work was pretty cerebral

but I suppose casting directors aren't too interested in that.

Nice article .

I'm looking forward to seeing this show and seeing what James does with the role.

debw | July 26, 00:08 CET

I hope that this character is recongnizable as brainiac and not like all their other attempts are chracters from his comics. With the exception of Lois, Perry, and Bart, they have destroyed mangled or just used used the name on a body that is nothing like the character he/she was supposed to play. Cases in point, Aquaman, Krypto, Supergirl, and worse Jor-EL wantng Clark to rule and being well not the good father we all grew up with in the mythos.

I think while Jm playing this character will be intresting, especailly when the cold, emotionless Brainiac takes over the arrogant,emotional professor, it will be more intresting how it turns those final nails on Lex and Clark. Brianic is not seductive, he is very purposeful in his intentions. He will not try and seduce as it is only logical you join is cause. He is responsible for Doomsday, the monster that unltimatly killed Supes. Brianiac is one bad %^$##, so if he is not, I think no matter who is playing him , the Superman world will be very disappointed. I also hope the family secret and why Krypton died, does not continue to destroy the mythos, as that is the real reason people are walking from Smallville. Even JM won't be able to help, if the writitng is so bad and the explanations to outlandish.

Can I also say, I hope he is not like Maggie Walsh from season 4 of Buffy. I hope this story does not mirror her trying to corrupt Buffy. They so love to steal things from Buffy.

[ edited by FalenAnjl on 2005-07-25 22:29 ]

FalenAnjl | July 26, 00:20 CET

You haven't seen Aquaman yet. How are you sure he's nothing like the character? Yeah they made him into a 19 year old eco guy who's dating Lois Lane but they may get his characterization right if not his history. They basically morphed all the Flash's together to get Bart and speaking of..And Bart was their best at bringing in comic characters. Steve Deknight did that episode :) I hope he gets to write one of JM's episodes.

eddy | July 26, 00:44 CET

I would expect he will get one. I would make a guess Brainiac's plot and whatever he does is all set up for the big reveal in the 100th ep. So from there on you see Lex and Clark taking very differnet paths. And the Brinaic leaves or will watch from the background until maybe the finale or next year.

As for Aurther, what mannerisms can he have?I mean that are like and assocaited to Aquaman? Though I would not put it past them to have him swim in kryptonite infected water and then BECOME aquaman(like Go Fish)with powers and such.

[ edited by FalenAnjl on 2005-07-25 22:55 ]

FalenAnjl | July 26, 00:50 CET

"Nice to see James get some work, though I still think he's an odd choice for Brainiac. None of his previous work makes me think "cerebral," so I guess WB must be getting really desperate with the stunt casting."

Separate the actor from the character. James is an intelligent man and accomplished actor who is capable of playing cerebral and beyond. He played Spike. He is not Spike.

Nebula1400 | July 26, 02:53 CET

Being an intelligent man and actor does not make you perfect for any role. I also think it is an odd choice. But It will matter on this show, more with the writting then the acting. If the writting or charatcer is unbelievable or silly, then even the most accomplished actor will have time selling it to a crowd.

FalenAnjl | July 26, 03:48 CET

Well I don't watch Smallville, and I'm not James Marsters' biggest fan, but having seen and heard comments he's made at conventions and elsewhere, I have no difficulty with the thought of him playing a cerebral character. He strikes me as a very intelligent and sensitive actor.

SoddingNancyTribe | July 26, 04:03 CET

Separate the actor from the character. James is an intelligent man and accomplished actor who is capable of playing cerebral and beyond. He played Spike. He is not Spike.

I did not denigrate James Marsters or his intelligence, and I believe he is a good actor. But being a good actor does not mean you'll be appropriate for every role. I could see James play many other DC villains (or heroes) but Brainiac? No.

Saturn Girl | July 26, 04:18 CET

Possible Spoiler:

http://www.kryptonsite.com/

Okay, those of us who speculated that Brainiac is in the ship and somehow that is how he emerges and takes over the professor may have just been proven to be correct by the newest spoiler for ep three:

Lex Tries To Get Into The Ship
- Lex meets with a technician who is using different types of lasers to try and break into the black ship from the season finale. "For every question in the universe, there is an answer," Lex tells him. "If you find that task too challenging, I'll find someone who doesn't."



[ edited by FalenAnjl on 2005-07-26 02:53 ]

FalenAnjl | July 26, 04:35 CET

Noone has used the term "perfect actor" in connection with JM's casting other than you, FalenAnjil. And, please, you don't have to post repeatedly to make the same point.

SoddingNancyTribe | July 26, 04:49 CET

I think James looks smart. And, he has a really big head (I know it's not where the eyes naturally wander, but take a good look at the size of that skull sometime). So hey - he's tailor made for the role of a guy named Brainiac!

This doesn't seem to be popular opinion, but Spike always seemed smart to me - very smart. Listen to him confront Buffy about her death wish in Fool For Love, for one example among many. So - I have no trouble seeing this casting as workable.

Sounds like the role was conceived with James in mind - and the WB knows his work. Maybe it is wishful thinking but I am thinking this will be fun.

sari | July 26, 05:08 CET

Interesting point. Spike was never a 'brainy' character, and he was too rash and impulsive to really be considered very smart, but I disagree when people say Spike was dumb or stupid. (Not here so much but I've seen it on the net) As your exapmple points out, if there was one thing Spike had great insight in, it was people. Even when he was still the enemy of Buffy and the Scoobies it happened on numerous occasions that his insight in their lives and personalities was better and more correct than they themselves or their loved ones. The Yoko Factor being the most perfect example of that of course. (I never got why Xander was dubbed 'the boy who sees everything' in S7 since apart from a very few occasions, Xander was pretty much in the dark about everything and everyone.)

As an actor, I think James definitely had a wider range than many of his coworkers on Buffy. I have no predictions about this, since the Brainiac character has had several guises in the comics and none of them will probably even resemble what they do with him on SM. (If how they handle pretty much every other aspect of the Superman mythos is anyhting to go by...)

I doubt it's going to be a great role but I'm somewhat curious since it's very different from what we've seen James do so far.

EdDantes | July 26, 08:04 CET