Jason Stackhouse and Eric Northman are about to get some competition when it comes to making the Fangbangers swoon. Three pivotal (and pec-blessed) characters are blowing into “True Blood’s” fictional town of Bon Temps – two out for blood – one sent to stop the spilling of it.
AccessHollywood.com recently caught up with three new faces from the show – Joe Manganiello, Denis O’Hare and Theo Alexander – who said the fan frenzy is already starting.
(SPOILER ALERT!)
“I’ve been really overwhelmed by the response to my character,” Joe, who plays werewolf Alcide Herveaux, told Access. “The werewolf fans are calling themselves Furbangers. [My character] is basically Sookie’s bodyguard. He’s brought in to escort Sookie into the underground society of werewolves.”
Joe also revealed that the love triangle between, Sooki (Anna Paquin), Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Eric (Alexander Skarsgard), could take on a whole new shape.
“The love square will definitely be in effect this season,” Joe told Access.
The “Blood” love doesn’t stop there – there’s a new couple coming to Bon Temps. Vampire king of Mississippi, Russell Edgington (Denis O’Hare), and his partner, Talbot (Theo Alexander), who have been together for 700 years, are the show’s newest vampire power couple.
“It’s complicated because not only is he my lover, my boyfriend, but he’s also my son meaning I made him a vampire,” Denis told Access when asked about their relationship.
Theo explained that their love still has heat after all these years, despite the fact that both of them are undead.
“Talbot is a pretty sensual character and he loves being a vampire. He has no regret or remorse about being a vampire and I truly love it,” Theo told Access. “He loves his husband and they have a great relationship, very passionate.”
The actor, who originally hails from Greece, said it’s not all undead roses for the show’s new couple.
“There’s some bumps on the road,” he revealed. “But, it’s always interesting.”
According to Denis, one of those “bumps” could be an upcoming episode where he ends up “in bed with a hustler.”
The racy visuals don’t end with vampires and hustlers in bed together. According to Joe, expect plenty of werewolf nudity – something that started on day one for him.
“The first day that I had to be naked on set, it was me and my wolf actual, the wolf counterpart that plays me when I’m in the wolf form,” Joe recalled. “It’s almost as big as me, they take the chain off of him, he’s sitting about 10 feet away from me, staring at me with those yellow eyes and there I am standing in broad daylight with nothing but a sock on.”
Joe also said that his character has a certain way with the women on “True Blood.”
“I’m constantly running around grabbing all of the women on the show…there’s only a few women on the show I haven’t run after and grabbed. It’s just kind of how werewolves say ‘hello,’” he told Access.
His co-stars explained that due to his character’s feral ways, he’s naked a lot more than they are.
“Joe is far better looking than I am so they make him be more naked,” Theo joked. “And they’re werewolves…they can’t keep their clothes on!”
To get camera ready enough to bare it all, Joe said he looked to the trainer who helped turn Hugh Jackman into Wolverine.
“I worked with Hugh Jackman’s trainer from ‘X-Men’ I thought if he got Hugh Jackman into that kind of animal shape, I want to train with that guy!’ Joe said, explaining that he trained six days a week and went on a high protein diet that had him eating throughout the day.
Joe said he’s well aware of the comparisons between him and the “Twilight Saga’s” Taylor Lautner.
“I really think [Taylor has] helped me out a lot,” Joe told Access. “He also kind of set that benchmark that you really can’t be a werewolf in this modern day and age and not be in great shape… abs are definitely a requirement.”
Adding, “I just glad that werewolves are finally getting some respect in Hollywood.”
Looking back at the filming of Season 3 – Denis said it feels like a once in a lifetime experience — and something he’s sad to see end.
“I will never be able to have a job as great as this again in my life,” he told Access. “It’s a great bunch of people. It really is phenomenal.”
“True Blood’s” third season premiers on HBO this Sunday.
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