CW’s “The Originals” has switched gears from witches to werewolves in Season 2, but in some ways star Charles Michael Davis says the show is just picking up where it left off.
See video: ‘The Originals’ Get Back in the Fight in New Season 2 Trailer
During interview for a new episode of TheWrap‘s “Drinking With the Stars,” the actor revealed his character Marcel would be the focus of a flashback episode that does more to explain how he became the bloodsucking Bourbon Street bad boy he is today.
“Season One was its own chapter and it dealt with the witches, mostly. Now Season Two starts where we left off, with the werewolves and also a lot of inner family drama,” he told TheWrap. “I also just heard a little bit more today about flashbacks, with Marcel — something that doesn’t involve the Mikaelsons. It’s nice to get actually a chapter of Marcel and his development.”
“The Originals” is, of course, a spin-off of the CW’s “Vampire Diaries,” and Davis revealed the two shows would crossover at least once this season.
Also read: ‘Vampire Diaries’ Star Nina Dobrev to Cross Over to ‘The Originals’
“I can guarantee during Season 2 that there is going to be a crossover or two,” he said. “Last year [the show crossed both ways], especially with the 100th episode, but I can tell you this year it’s definitely going in one direction so far.”
Davis also spoke about how diverse the CW’s offerings are becoming this year, with the addition of “The Flash,” which has “multiple black leads,” and the primarily Latino show “Jane The Virgin.” He also spoke about what it means to him to be a half-black, half-Filipino actor on television.
“When I first got the job, I sat down with [co-stars Joseph Morgan and Daniel Gillies] and they said ‘Oh hey, by the way, congratulations on being the first black vampire that doesn’t get killed off right away,’” Davis said. “It’s nice to see the CW is really conscious of [diversity] and makes a push for it, so you have a show like ‘Jane the Virgin,’ with a mostly Latin cast.”
Also read: CW Diversity Scorecard: Better But Still Whiter, Less Gay Than Its Target Audience
Davis thinks the landscape of television looked quite different when he first moved to Los Angeles, but he’s pleased with how it has grown increasingly more diverse.
“I didn’t have too many people to look up to [then], definitely no one who was half-black and half-Filipino,” Davis continued. “So, I love the CW for that.
“It really helps to see the reflection of yourself,” he added. “It takes one to show the rest of the world that they can. I hope to see more programming, more shows, more actors of mixed ethnicity, more young kids of mixed ethnicity choosing to be in the entertainment industry.”
Watch Davis talk diversity in the video above, plot points in the video below and discussion on Morgan Freeman‘s firm handshake in the video at the very bottom.
“The Originals” returns for Season 2 Monday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.