Warner Brothers and the DC franchise have found their stride within the last few years. Movies like James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” and the Snyder Cut have recaptured the hearts of fans everywhere. Their success is not only on the big screen but with their streaming entertainment as well. Recent triumphs with their live-action comic adaptation shows, Titans and The Doom Patrol, have left fans like me counting down the days to new seasons and episodes. With season 3 of Doom Patrol around the corner, we had the chance to sit down with two-time Emmy nominated stunt coordinator Thom Williams. Here are all the behind-the-scene Doom Patrol questions we were dying to know.
Your most recent work is on the popular DC show Doom Patrol. Can you tell us what attracted you to this particular role?
Thom: I’m a comic nerd. I have been since I’ve been since I was a little kid. I’ve gotten to do many comic projects over the years, and I got this call out of the blue from the producer. When I got the call for Doom Patrol, I was very familiar with the property and the comics. I hoped that they wouldn’t screw it up, and they definitely weren’t screwing it up. I took the job, and it’s one of those jobs that’s so much you can believe you’re getting paid to do it.
The Doom Patrol is quite a motley crew with their own unique fighting style. How did you come up with these, and do you pull from real-life fighting styles for inspiration?
Thom: Absolutely, You have to do research and look at different styles. Cliff was a lot of fun because he’s basically a redneck brawler. He doesn’t know how to fight too well, but he thinks he can. Rita is a lot of fun, and April Bowlby is an absolute pleasure to work with. Rita is not a fighter per se, but she is the heart and soul of the Doom Patrol. On the other hand, Jane has 64 personalities which makes her a lot of fun as well. There’s so much you can do with all those personalities and eccentricities. Overall, these always involve a lot of discussion with actors because they are so good with their characters.
Can you tell me what was going through your head when you heard Cliff would be taking Jesus in Episode 9?
Thom: It was one of the moments when I had to put the script down because I was overcome by giggling. It’s so ridiculous, and it’s so Doom Patrol. I couldn’t wait to design and create it because it’s so outlandish. It was truly so much fun to design that fight.
Can you give any inside scoops on what we might see in the next season of Doom Patrol?
Thom: The official trailer just dropped, and it’s amazingly ridiculous. There’s a fight in season three that may rival the legendary Cliff versus Jesus fight. Also, no one is ready for Michelle Gomez. She is a force of nature and is going to blow the audience away. Doom Patrol season three is going to be incredible.
Thom, we are amped up for season 3 of Doom Patrol after speaking with you. Doom Patrol season 3 comes out on September 23rd.
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