Sorbo/Ryder talk Andromeda
Source: TrekToday
Kevin Sorbo (Dylan Hunt) and Lisa Ryder (Beka Valentine) were recently interviewed about how they got involved with Gene Rodenberry's Andromeda and the relationships between the two characters.
"I actually signed the contracts for the show before Hercules had even ended," Sorbo told TV Zone. "One day, along came Andromeda from Majel Roddenberry and company. I’m a big Star Trek fan, especially the original series, so I was definitely interested. Three months prior to the end of Hercules I began having extensive talks with all those involved [with Andromeda]. I was sent copies of the notes Gene Roddenberry had made when he first came up with the idea for the series in 1970. Finally, I said, 'OK, let’s do it!'"
The former Hercules star was encouraged by the amount of responsibility placed in him by the Andromeda producers. "I was guaranteed 44 episodes and made an executive producer," he said. "They were willing to trust me and listen to what I had to say, which meant a lot."
Lisa Ryder's experience was very different. While Sorbo had to lose 20 pounds of muscle and get a haircut to play Dylan Hunt, Ryder had to change her hair colour. Through her role as Kate Boone on Earth: Final Conflict she met Allan Eastman, now an executive producer on Andromeda.
"Allan introduced me to Robert Hewitt Wolfe prior to my audition in Toronto, which I actually thought I blew," said the Canadian actress. "Much to my surprise, I was called down to Los Angeles to read again. There were five of us up for the part of Beka and that's when we met Kevin Sorbo and some of the Tribune executives. Honestly, I had no clue who most of them were because I was so nervous. After that, I did one more audition, for which I had to dye my hair blonde, and then I finally got the job."
After the airing of 'Star-Crossed', in which Rommie fell for an android named Gabriel, many fans began speculating about a possible romantic relationship between Andromeda's captain and first officer. But the actors who play Dylan and Beka do not think such a relationship would work well.
"She’s a damn good pilot and is turning out to be a fine first officer for Dylan," said Sorbo. "They like each other, but I wouldn't want to see a romance develop between them. It would ruin things. Their relationship has to remain one of begrudging mutual admiration and respect."
Ryder agreed. "[Beka and Dylan have] developed a friendship but it's not without its problems and tensions. There are always these little flare-ups between them and I like that," she commented. "I want to keep some kind of edge there. In fact, I'd like to see Beka challenge Dylan a bit more. Yes, she believes that restoring the Commonwealth is a noble and worthwhile pursuit, but at the same time feels it's an absolutely ridiculous and unfounded one. How can Dylan think that the seven of them can go down to a planet, introduce themselves and say, 'Oh, by the way, we’re starting up the Commonwealth again, want to join?'"
Source: TrekToday
Kevin Sorbo (Dylan Hunt) and Lisa Ryder (Beka Valentine) were recently interviewed about how they got involved with Gene Rodenberry's Andromeda and the relationships between the two characters.
"I actually signed the contracts for the show before Hercules had even ended," Sorbo told TV Zone. "One day, along came Andromeda from Majel Roddenberry and company. I’m a big Star Trek fan, especially the original series, so I was definitely interested. Three months prior to the end of Hercules I began having extensive talks with all those involved [with Andromeda]. I was sent copies of the notes Gene Roddenberry had made when he first came up with the idea for the series in 1970. Finally, I said, 'OK, let’s do it!'"
The former Hercules star was encouraged by the amount of responsibility placed in him by the Andromeda producers. "I was guaranteed 44 episodes and made an executive producer," he said. "They were willing to trust me and listen to what I had to say, which meant a lot."
Lisa Ryder's experience was very different. While Sorbo had to lose 20 pounds of muscle and get a haircut to play Dylan Hunt, Ryder had to change her hair colour. Through her role as Kate Boone on Earth: Final Conflict she met Allan Eastman, now an executive producer on Andromeda.
"Allan introduced me to Robert Hewitt Wolfe prior to my audition in Toronto, which I actually thought I blew," said the Canadian actress. "Much to my surprise, I was called down to Los Angeles to read again. There were five of us up for the part of Beka and that's when we met Kevin Sorbo and some of the Tribune executives. Honestly, I had no clue who most of them were because I was so nervous. After that, I did one more audition, for which I had to dye my hair blonde, and then I finally got the job."
After the airing of 'Star-Crossed', in which Rommie fell for an android named Gabriel, many fans began speculating about a possible romantic relationship between Andromeda's captain and first officer. But the actors who play Dylan and Beka do not think such a relationship would work well.
"She’s a damn good pilot and is turning out to be a fine first officer for Dylan," said Sorbo. "They like each other, but I wouldn't want to see a romance develop between them. It would ruin things. Their relationship has to remain one of begrudging mutual admiration and respect."
Ryder agreed. "[Beka and Dylan have] developed a friendship but it's not without its problems and tensions. There are always these little flare-ups between them and I like that," she commented. "I want to keep some kind of edge there. In fact, I'd like to see Beka challenge Dylan a bit more. Yes, she believes that restoring the Commonwealth is a noble and worthwhile pursuit, but at the same time feels it's an absolutely ridiculous and unfounded one. How can Dylan think that the seven of them can go down to a planet, introduce themselves and say, 'Oh, by the way, we’re starting up the Commonwealth again, want to join?'"
