John Barrowman Discusses ‘Housewives’ & Possible New U.S. Version Of ‘Torchwood’

“Torchwood” star John Barrowman is the newest troublemaker to knock down the doors of the “Desperate Housewives” domestic divas. In an exclusive on-set interview, the Scottish actor gave Access Hollywood the scoop on how he scored the role as Patrick Logan, as well as an update regarding the possible return of his sci-fi hero, Captain Jack Harkness, to the UK airwaves. Also, he shared what he knows about a new version of the cult show possibly coming to the U.S.

BBC America recently brought the sci-fi Brit hit “Torchwood” (a spin-off of “Dr. Who”) across the pond and introduced audiences here to Barrowman’s immortal intergalactic swashbuckler, Captain Jack Harkness. It was “Torchwood” that caught the eye of “Desperate Housewives” creator Marc Cherry, and led to Barrowman’s current guest stint on his hit ABC show.

“This all started because of ‘Torchwood’ (which is a show that I’m on in the UK), and I play a super hero, an omni-sexual super hero,” Barrowman told Access. “It was on BBC America here and it did really really well. Marc (Cherry) was a fan and he contacted me and that’s how it all came about.”

Although Barrowman made a surprise cameo as Harkness at the end of “Dr. Who’s” farewell episode to star David Tennant and executive producer Russell T. Davies, the entire “Torchwood” team of extraterrestrial investigators was last seen in 2009’s critically acclaimed five-part mini series “Children of Earth.” However, Barrowman remains uncertain of the series’ return to the BBC.

“I know scripts are written. That’s all I know,” he admitted. “But I don’t know when. I don’t have an answer for you. I’m waiting to hear, just like Access Hollywood.”

In January, there was talk of an American version of “Torchwood” being developed by series creator Davies and his creative team for the FOX network, for which Barrowman seemed more than willing to participate.

“If it was going to happen, there would be hopefully Russell writing it. There would be no change to Captain Jack. He would still be the same sexually charged character that he is, and it would pick up from where it left off,” he hoped.

“I know that there’s discussions happening right now with some American networks. That’s all I know. Julie Gardner and Russell T. Davies (the executive producers), have said there will be no ‘Torchwood’ without John Barrowman, without Captain Jack. So I’ll be there and I’m just waiting to hear like everybody else,” he added.

Though once talk began of bringing the show to the U.S., there were immediate concerns from fans that Captain Jack’s openly free spirited nature would be toned down for the wider network audience.

“Captain Jack is not gay, he’s omni-sexual and he will sleep with anything with a zip code. If any network were to do that, it would be silly because the reason Jack works is because he connects with so many and very different people out there. But you know if Russell’s writing it, he won’t do that,” Barrowman assured “Torchwood” fans.

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