Why Peter Serafinowicz Signed On For The Tick

Screen Rant

By Sean K. Cureton

Published Aug 3, 2017

The Tick star Peter Serafinowicz discusses why he was attracted to the iconic superhero character and franchise created by Ben Edlund.

English character actor Peter Serafinowicz reveals what attracted him to the lead role in the Amazon original series The Tick. Fans of the eponymous satirical superhero franchise have a lot to be excited about leading up to the premiere of the new live-action show. During its recent marketing campaign at SDCC 2017 last month, and following the debut of the latest official trailer, things are definitely looking up for the titular blue bug.

Created initially by Ben Edlund in 1986, The Tick has thus far been adapted into an animated and live-action series on FOX - from 1994 and 2001, respectively - in addition to the original series of comic books from the late 1980s. Enter the 2017 Amazon production, and Edlund's satirical creation is receiving the small screen treatment yet again with Serafinowicz in the lead role - in addition to supporting turns from Griffin Newman, Valorie Curry, and Jackie Earle Haley.

During SDCC 2017, we had a chance to catch up with Serafinowicz about the new show, and asked him what aspects of the character and property drew him to working with The Tick creator and executive producer Edlund, to which Serafinowicz responded:

"I didn’t really know about The Tick before I got the script and then it was reading the script and realizing that, wow, this is really special. Then talking to Ben [Edlund] about this character. We first met over script, so I was trying out the voice because I do a lot of voice work, that’s how I often get into a character is figure out the voice. Ben said to me in terms of voice, I think his original direction to me was like an original 1960s announcer. So I was thinking of Roger Ramjet kind of cartoons. I think that was the area of ‘60s/70s, I love that voice. That was the voice that I grew up loving. I guess for me it grew out of that a bit. And Ben’s writing is such a pleasure to read whether reading it just reading it or saying it out loud, both of it, they are just beautiful lines to say. And I feel very lucky. To have said these lines, yeah, but poetic. I think without wanting to sound pretentious, but I think Jon Jeanee once said...No, I don’t know who that is. [laughs]"

By the sound of things, Serafinowicz had a great time working on The Tick under Edlund's creative guidance, and with any luck his past efforts in voice acting work will payoff in his attempted recreation of the overall aesthetic of the Roger Ramjet cartoons of the mid-1960s. And following his work in the action franchise John Wick, Serafinowicz should fill out the dashing figure cut by the lead role in spades.

On that note, here's to hoping for the very best from The Tick live-action series as it makes its way to Amazon later this month.