Omar Epps says "Resurrection" finale will make you rethink entire season
Think you know the ABC show "Resurrection"? You may want to think again.
Series star Omar Epps says Sunday's season finale may leave some viewers scratching their heads and hitting the rewind button.
"I can't give away much, but we've got a hell of a cliffhanger that I think is going to make the audience go back and watch the whole season again," he said. "It's going to make them go back and question everything about the whole first season even after seeing it."
The new fantasy drama, set in Arcadia, Mo., follows a group of people whose lives are forever changed when their deceased loved ones suddenly start to reappear. Based on Jason Mott's book, "The Returned," "Resurrection" also stars Frances Fisher, Landon Gimenez, Kurtwood Smith, Matt Craven and Devin Kelley.
"It's a great challenge," Epps said. "My cast mates and I, the crew, we all get along very well. We all formed a bond. And you need that when you're in the trenches and when the going gets rough."
The 40-year-old actor says he read the book (and loved it), noting that it's "very broad." "We sort of use the book as a launching point for the content. The show is in its own thing in a sense," he said.
On the show, Epps portrays immigration agent J. Martin Bellamy. "What was refreshing creatively -- the character is dealing with a phenomenon that's never happened. As an actor there's only so much preparation you could do for something that's never happened. What I found myself doing was just truly living in the moment and allowing the character to experience things as they happened versus traditional ways I build out a character. And that was refreshing."
Epps knows a thing or two about being part of a series having starred in "House M.D." from 2004-2012, alongside Hugh Laurie, Olivia Wilde and Robert Sean Leonard.
"It was an incredible run we had and personally I think we exited stage left at the right time so to speak. I think it was the right time for the show to go," he said. "I think we accomplished more than what we set out to accomplish. I mean to build a show that has legs is next to impossible. To build a hit show is really next to impossible and to build something as dynamic as 'House' is a once-every-20-years type of thing. I was just fortunate to have been a part of that."
Next up for Epps? Aside from looking towards possible season 2 for "Resurrection," he's also in talks for a few other projects, but won't divulge which ones.
"I have some things in the works, but I'm not gonna jinx them as I've learned not do," he said.
One project, though, he can talk about is his recent partnership with Gillette. Epps was on hand last week to help introduce the Gillette Fusion ProGlide with FlexBall Technology. "I was one of the first men in the world to actually use it," said Epps, who noted how he's always clean-shaven on the set of "Resurrection."
"As Bellamy on 'Resurrection,' I'm shaving basically every other day," he said. "When we finish the season I'll go the opposite way with a full-on beard and moustache."
Epps may be sporting that look soon enough -- at least until he returns to work.
"Resurrection" has yet to be renewed for a second season; the cast members will learn their fates this month at the networks' upfront presentations.
"I have a good feeling about it. I think we're going to come back," said Epps who had his breakout role in the 1992 film "Juice." "Hopefully next we should know something."
No matter what the case, Epps appears to have the right attitude about things: "I'm just fortunate to do what I love to do and make a living doing what I love to do. So every moment of this has been amazing and is still amazing for me."
