Shadowhunters coming to an end has broken the hearts of fans all around the world, with many upset that the incredibly unique and progressive show was cancelled by Netflix before it’s time was really up.
The reaction was unlike anything us, and many actors have seen before, with fans organising petitions, billboards and even planes flying over Netflix to stop this cancellation. Unfortunately, to no avail.
Thankfully, the actors are just as passionate about the show, with actor Luke Baines (Jonathan Morgenstern) coming home to Australia for Oz Comic-Con to represent the show!
Lucky for us, we got to chat exclusively with the Aussie born villain.
WATCH: Shadowhunters series finale trailer
Luke hasn’t been home to Australia in over two years before he started filming Shadowhunters… So he’s pretty excited to see his friends and family, with his mum, dad, and three sisters all still living here.
While he is here he will be attending Oz Comic-Con in Brisbane (September 21 and 22) and Sydney (September 28 and 29) to talk all things Shadowhunters, which is still a pretty raw topic for the actor who doesn’t feel like he got to show his characters full potential.
“It was devastating,” Baines, 29, said of the cancellation. “I signed up to the show knowing that I would have a set limit. In terms of my story arc, we were only just getting started.
“There was so much more to explore so that was really upsetting. But I mean, on top of that, witnessing people who… this show obviously means so much more than just being a TV show… and I can empathise with that.
“I grew up watching Buffy and it was an escape. I can completely understand what it’s like to throw yourself into something. I really empathise with them [the fans] and it’s really hard because I found out about the cancellation of the show with everyone else. I read about it on Twitter.”
When the cancellation was announced on Twitter, the internet BLEW up with frustration. With how popular the show was, why then was it cancelled?
“I obviously was privy to a little bit more of information than some people in terms of what was actually going on so it was really hard because I wanted to support them [the fans] and I wanted to support the campaigns to save the show… but I also knew that unfortunately, I was completely out of our hands.
“It wasn’t anything to do with the popularity of the show, it was the top 3 most talked-about show on social media in 2018. It was the top 5 most talked-about show in the first 6 months of 2019. It still is a really popular show.”
In fact, it really had nothing to do with the show itself and how popular it was…
“It all came down to very, very, very silly politics,” Luke revealed.
“For me as obviously someone who is an actor and a creative, that is just the worst possible reason to cancel.
“I feel really sorry for the people who loved the show so much. We have spent the past 2 months traveling around the world going to different conventions in Europe, and meeting the fans.
“Just having conversations with them and knowing that it was so much more than them just watching something. It was representation in the LGBTQ communities and done in a really nice way. It integrated so well. It wasn’t just something that was done for show, and it is really heartbreaking that they don’t have that anymore.”
But it’s not the last we will see of Luke! However, will he always play that ‘villainous’ role?
“I would love to try and do something different just because I don’t want to get pigeonholed for the rest of my career.
“At the same time, I love just working. I get to play dress-ups for a living and I’m so lucky to be able to do that so if another role comes along and it’s right, and it’s a villain then I’ll totally take it.
“It would have to obviously be a little bit different because then I’d get bored but you know, you have to as an actor work with what you’ve got, and my face is creepy.”
Oz Comic-Con will begin in Brisbane at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on September 21 and. 22 The convention will move to Sydney at the Sydney Showground on September 28 and 29.
Tickets to the events are available at https://ozcomiccon.com/tickets/.
Oz Comic-Con is Australia’s premium pop culture event that takes place across Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney as a celebration of fandom in all forms – TV, movies, comic books, cosplay, anime, manga, and gaming.
The events feature multi-genre content from across the spectrum with appearances by film and television stars, comic book artists and voice actors, gaming demonstrations and Cosplay competitions; creative workshops and master classes; and hard-to-find collectibles. Oz Comic-Con proudly supports local Australian talent and businesses in many areas, providing a platform to showcase Australian creativity and endeavours.
Luke Baines is set to participate in panels each day at the event. Fans will also have the chance to meet him for photographs and autographs.
Luke will join fellow guests:
– KJ Apa, known famously as the redhead heartthrob “Archie Andrews” on the hit Netflix series Riverdale (Sydney only).
– Hayley Atwell, known for her hugely popular and career-defining role as “Peggy Carter” in Captain America and Agent Carter.
– Australian actor and singer Keiynan Lonsdale best known for his role in The Flash and popular coming of age film Love, Simon.
– Dominique Provost-Chalkley and Katherine Barrell who play popular on-screen couple “Waverley Earp” and “Nicole Haught” in the cult phenomenon Syfy series Wynonna Earp.
– Anime voice actor Caitlin Glass, who has voice characters in My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball Super and Street Fighter V (Video Game); and
– Voice actor Aaron Dismuke best known for his role as “Alphonse Elric” in the English dub for Fullmetal Alchemist.
TV star Aisha Tyler known for her roles on Friends, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, 24, Ghost Whisperer, Criminal Minds and Whose Line Is it Anyway?, as well as guest-starring roles in Modern Family, Reno 911!, Supergirl and BoJack Horseman.
– Michael Eklund best known for his roles in Wynonna Earp and Altered Carbon
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