What follows is an excerpt from the interview.
Patriot revolves around Arthur and Mera joining forces with Clark to save Oliver. Can you talk about the relationship between Oliver and Arthur? What does this "friendship" with Clark and Oliver mean to Arthur? Does the camaraderie of the "Super Friends" drive the emotion in this episode?
Alan Ritchson: I think AC has always had a fondness for his counterparts, in that they share similar ambitions. But they all have their own paths. There are many paths to the same solution, and I think that he recognizes that, and can appreciate that. But he will do whatever it takes to accomplish his own goals. That is synonymous with their friendship. They will support each other if need be. They also don't want to see the demise of the other person. They will help each other when they need to. It's interesting when they get in a fix, they will pull together. They really seem to get the job done well together. We are starting to see the camaraderie of the Super Friends build. All of those elements are really coming together. I think that is where this is going. I hope to see a lot more of it.
On that note, is there talk of turning the Super Friends into a live action series once Smallville is all over and done with? Is that where this could all possibly lead to?
Alan Ritchson: That has definitely come up. It has been coming up for years. I think, as with anything these days, it really comes down to money. How much would it cost to produce a show like that? There isn't an Aquaman series on TV right now, though they had been planning on it. Again, it's an extremely expensive story to tell. Anytime you have superheroes and special effects, and big action sequences, that stuff costs a lot of money. If you could do the Super Friends for the same cost as a sitcom, there is no question. You would see it on TV already. But I think that is the hold up. As far as I can tell. They realize that there is a huge audience asking for it. If they can find a way to deliver it, they will.
Tom Welling directed this upcoming episode. What was it like to see him on the other side?
Alan Ritchson: It was fantastic. He has always been a very giving actor. That translates really well into his directing. He is a super nice guy. Very laid back. He is not pretentious at all. He is just a great guy. Coming from the acting world, he knows how to talk to an actor. He knows how to get what he wants. He knows how to get the best product, and the best performances, for the screen. This was a lot of fun.
Will you be appearing in any more episodes before the end of the series? Or is this episode a sweet goodbye for Arthur?
Alan Ritchson: I can't say for sure. I haven't received an official offer to come back, or anything. But I have heard the murmurs that the JLA will come together. I believe that he would be a part of that. I would love to come back. I can't say for sure just yet.
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