Marvel’s Inhumans makes its IMAX debut on September 1, 2017. It officially premieres on September 29, 2017 on ABC at 8 PM.
We were invited to the Premiere by ABC/Marvel. Opinions are our own.
Playing superheroes is just a part of the growing up process. As kids we would dream of fighting the good fight and saving the day. And now that Marvel has made superheroes even more popular thanks to their Marvel Cinematic Universe and Marvel Television, we are seeing our heroes go from the pages of a comic book right into our TV screens. So the comic book empire is expanding their television universe with Inhumans.
In Inhumans, Black Bolt (Anson Mount), head of the Inhuman Royal Family and King of Attilan, whose voice can cause destruction with the slightest whisper, rules over a peaceful kingdom called Attilan that is hidden away on a crater of the moon, shielded by a cloaking device that protects them from human prying eyes. The people of Attilan gain their superpowers through the process of terrigensis, a ceremony in which the person breathes in an ancient mist that may or may not give them abilities. Those who do not receive powers are then sent to work in the mines.
Together with the Royal Family, Medusa (Serinda Swan), the wife of Black Bolt and Queen of Attilan, who has the ability to move and control her hair; Gorgon (Eme Ikwuakor), Black Bolt’s cousin and leader of Attilan’s military, who can generate seismic waves with his cattle-like hooves; Crystal, Medusa’s sister and the youngest member of the Royal Family, who has the ability to control the elements; and Lockjaw, a large bulldog with teleportation and other abilities, Black Bolt rules over a peaceful kingdom. But it is anything but peaceful amongst the family as Black Bolt’s younger non-superpowered brother, Maximus (Iwan Rheon), despite his fierce loyality to his brother and the people, is planning a coup d’état because he believes that Attilan’s outdated caste system makes his brother unfit to rule.
Serinda Swan
So the Royal Family escape to Hawaii to search for their lost friend, Triton (Mike Moh), and plan the take back Attilan.
Aside from the fact that these Inhumans share a connection to some other superpowered humans in the MCU, the series will distinguish themselves from the rest of the Marvel shows by releasing the first two episodes on IMAX, which premieres on September 1. And believe me, while there is a bit of cheesiness to it, the show has potential, which could lead up to a very satisfying run if they are able to maintain it for the entire length of the season.
We were invited to speak to some of the cast about their superpowered characters this week. For Mike Moh, who plays Triton, an Inhuman who has the ability to breathe underwater, it’s a dream come true to be a part of the Marvel Television universe. “I’m super excited to see fan reception to the show,” said Moh. “I have a good feeling that they will like it.” But it isn’t easy for Moh to get into character. The actor has to spend about three to five hours in the makeup chair so that he can become Triton. This includes painting his skin green and putting on a fin.
Eme Ikwuakr said being a part of this was a blessing. “Doing this job and working with these amazing people, I’m literally checking off every single box as an actor. So it’s a dream come true,” said Ikwuakr. The actor plays Gorgon, Black Bolt’s cousin and the leader of Attilan military. What makes this character so special is that he looks human, but “through the process of the terragensis he gain these hooves,” said Ikwuakr. “When he stomps down on the ground he creates an earthquake.” But he doesn’t have to watch where he steps. “It’s the other area around him that has to watch out,” says the actor.
I like the fact that we are leaning towards a time where it is acceptable. Imagine five years ago, you wouldn’t see multiracial couples on TV or on commercials. Now it’s happening without people trying to comment on it, because that’s just how it is. At the end of the day, I am so blessed to play this character Gorgon. At the end of the day, what I think is so powerful about this show is that we never mention race, because we are just a family. That’s what it is in regards to making families nowadays, because we all look like different types of people.
For Sonya Balmores, she’s excited to play Auran, a character she didn’t know had a huge fan base until she went to the San Diego Comic-Con. As to what to expect in the coming season, well, Balmores could not get into secrets, but she gets excited about where the show is going every time she gets a new script. “Every time I get a script it’s like “Oh my gosh, that’s where we are going next!” said Balmores. “A lot of the time it’s also doing your own homework, reading the comic books to help you get into your character and the mindspace of where they are coming from. They’re not Americans, they are not earth humans, they are from a different world. So it’s kinda just using your imagination.”
MARVEL’S INHUMANS – ABC’s “Marvel’s Inhumans stars Sonya Balmores as Auran. (Marvel/Geoffrey Colo)
Isabelle Cornish, who plays Crystal, the youngest member of the Royal Family, says this role is so different for her, but “getting to work for Marvel” and on sets that are “so grand” was amazing. “Being able to play a superhero has always been a dream of mine,” said Cornish. As for what kind of powers she would have, the actress thought about it and she said she would control the elements. “I think it’s so special. Having the relationship with the environment and controlling the elements, being able to work with anything anywhere. Because anywhere I am in the natural environment, I can use that to my advantage. Which I think is really cool.”
For Ken Leung, he believes that audiences will be drawn to the show because circumstances will reveal something underneath and there is the opposite of what someone might expect.
Marvel’s Inhumans makes its IMAX debut on September 1, 2017. It officially premieres on September 29, 2017 on ABC at 8 PM.
