Crossing Lines actor gives the scoop on season 2 of the hit show

Johannesburg  - The acclaimed global crime drama Crossing Lines is back for an action-paced second season which takes place across Europe and features several high-profile guest stars.

Crossing Lines follows a special police unit of the International Criminal Court that investigates serial criminals that cross over European borders.

Back are Crossing Lines regulars William Fichtner, Donald Sutherland, Marc Lavoine, Tom Wlaschiha, Gabriella Pession and Richard Flood alongside actress Lara Rossi, who was introduced near the end of season one as a new member of the investigative team.

Guest stars include The Matrix and Vegas actress Carrie-Anne Moss and Irish actor Ray Stevenson from Dexter and Thor.

In this exclusive online interview William Fichtner tells us more about his character, Carl Hickman.



Q: The audience empathises with Carl Hickman – honourable, respected, best at his craft. Yet his fall from an injury is a big one. What is the emotional state of mind that takes him from that space to coming back as the hero in season 2?
 
A: Where the show begins this season is where we find Carl Hickman at a pretty much low point in his life. It’s a great place to begin. In season 1 as it unfolds you get to understand why he’s there, and some of the issues that brought him to that place…The reasons why he lives his life in that way. And the problem he has is that, he’s a bit of a fractured guy… that clearly comes together. In season one; there clearly were some things to take care of because there were a lot of cliff hangers. That happens right off the back of season 2.
 
Q: Do you think he’s a hero?

A: Yes he is… antihero in way. Anyone that puts bad people away is a hero to me
 
Q: Crossing Lines is about friendship and loyalty and about trust within the most difficult and dangerous scenarios? More that this, what would you say is what lures the Crossing Lines audience to this series and keeps them on the edge of their seats?

A: Audience don’t tune in to watch the crime of the week. They tune in to see what the characters are going to do about the crime of the week. It’s about the character and the story telling I think we have that. It’s about character; you wanna know what‘s happening with Hickman or Luiz Daniell … I think that’s what the show is committed to do and continues to do. Every time I read a new script I want it to be a better crime drama than the week before. What’s more important to me is the character‘s journey; what’s going on with these people. That for me is where a show lives or dies. I feel the second season explores more of who these people are. There are some tense and exciting situations.
 
Q: You have been in shows such as Prison Break, The Big Bang to The Lone Ranger and even Entourage – what a wonderful diversity of roles? What is next for William Fichtner?

A: Right now I’m in theatres for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which I worked on this last summer.

That’s been extremely successful around the States. And I worked on Tommy Lee Jones films which he wrote and directed. It comes out in the states in November which is called The Homesman. As far at the next project going on, I don’t know what it is. Sometimes it’s the perfect place to be.


 
Q: Crossing Lines was filmed across Europe? Would a show like this ever be filmed in South Africa? A wide variety of movies have been made here? And have you ever been to our country?

A: We make a commitment every year to travel somewhere else. I think it would be amazing to go to SA. But because we’re based in Europe it probably wouldn’t be cost effective… to travel that far for a couple of weeks. But it’s exciting times ahead and the team, always find a new place to go.
 
Q:  You have also played in a number of theatre roles? Tell us more about that and when next we can fly over to see you on stage?

A: It’s been a long time since the beginning of my career. I lived in NYC and did work on the stage. And in my 30s things shifted and I started to work in film. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on stage. I have to tell you, sometimes I see a play and I’ll miss it... and I think, wow it would be exciting to do something like that again. But, I love working in front of the camera and on a movie set. I probably love it more than anything! I know the day will come again when the right thing will come along and I will go back on stage. But right now, I love what I’m doing… But, we’ll see.