Eric Johnson as Flash Gordon on FLASH GORDON (2007).
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Johnson Talks GORDON

Entertainment Weekly caught up with actor Eric Johnson to talk with him about the upcoming series FLASH GORDON for the Sci Fi Channel.

Johnson tells EW in the interview, "What I really like about Flash is he's such a unique comic hero in that he has no superpowers. He's a guy caught in extraordinary circumstances. That's what I really responded to in this. He doesn't have a trump card he can fall back on. Through sheer willpower and determination, he has to try and succeed. He becomes like the sports hero — the quarterback on the football field. You want that guy out there."

In terms of how the show is different from the comics he noted, "There's definitely certain changes. It's not like we're portraying Flash (Gordon) in the 1930s. When Flash first came out, he was an internationally renowned polo player, which probably wouldn't be appropriate now. He's been football players, and NBA stars, and swimmers I think, so now he's a marathon winner and just much more of a regular guy. "

In terms of the scope of the show, the actor added "We have a BIG show. I mean, it's awesome. Action, and visual effects — that's something I'm used to from my days on Smallville. We're having a lot of fun. We're trying to do a big show in not a lot of time. Gina Holden [who plays Flash's companion/love interest Dale], who's amazing, is a godsend to this show. We really lucked out with our cast. Everyone's so enthusiastic.... Because we don't have the budget of a bigger show like Heroes, we have to have more ingenuity, because we don't have the money to fix it. I think that's what's been fantastic about the show, is the brilliance and creativity that everyone has shown...I mean, the set design! It looks incredible! And I know they did it on a shoestring budget. "

Click here to read the full interview.  The show premieres on August 10th.