Opposites intersect in Time After Time
ABC is going back to the future.
On Sunday, the U.S. network debuts Time After Time, its drama centred on a young H.G. Wells (Freddie Stroma) who visits different eras in the time machine he created in the late 1800s.
His destination becomes modern-day New York when Dr. John Stevenson (Josh Bowman), better known as Jack the Ripper, escapes from authorities near Wells’ London home.
Bowman spoke about the series, which is based on the like-named 1979 novel and movie, and also airs on CTV in Canada.
Q What are some of the key differences between the movie and this show?
A We did lift a couple of the scenes from the movie, but it definitely looks different. The other one was in San Francisco in the late 1970s, and this one is 2016 Manhattan. It’s a flashback to the old Amblin movies — that’s what the director was aiming for. It’s got that cinematic feel and you see New York and its vastness and rooftops.
Q How did you prepare to play Jack the Ripper?
A I don’t see him as a bad guy. I think it’s important to look at him as human and figure out why he ended up this way. And I think having the backstory is very important so I can justify why I’m doing this. The starting off point was his parents. I don’t want him to be this evil killer. He’s still human. He’s going to have humour and things that he’s drawn to.
Q How would you describe the relationship between H.G. Wells and Jack the Ripper?
A You have the hero in H.G. Wells and the bad guy in Jack the Ripper, and it’s these two opposites — the idealist and the realist. H.G. Wells thinks the world is this utopian society and he feels it will be a utopian future in the 21st century and it’s not like that at all, and he’s disheartened by that. And my character is in this world and absolutely loving it.