Actors Justin Hires and Lucas Till say that their series MacGyver is popular because it is about family, something that everyone is related closely with. By Team Viva

What do you like the most about your character? And what are the things that the audience might not know about it?

Justin Hires: What I Iove the most about Bozer is that he’s funny and smart. So I resemble him in my real life because I am pretty much the same. The only difference is that Bozer is more of a book worm. He is sincerely smart and I am smart in terms of common sense. However, I graduated from college with Honours. Something that the audience may not know about Bozer is that in every episode he wears the same two bracelets on his left wrist.

Lucas Till: My favourite part is Mac’s ability to macgyver. He always tries to improvise his way out of difficult situations.  I love him for this quality.

How was your experience shooting for the series? What were some of your most interesting scenes?

Justin: My experience with the series has been exceptional. I worked with an amazing cast and crew in every episode. Also, while working on it I realised that I have grown as an actor. An episode of season 3, where Bozer is trapped inside a SUV with a bomb underneath it was very fascinating.

 I went from telling jokes in a scene to literally crying in the next. It’s really been a terrific challenge for me artistically as it has allowed me to hone my craft as an actor.

Lucas:  It was challenging at some point as the sequences were not easy. They demanded a lot of preparation, not only physically but mentally too. But it was also rewarding as I have evolved so much as an actor throughout.

If we talk about the interesting scenes of the show they are never-ending. I’ve used a flamethrower, I get to do comedy and drama, the opportunities with this character and show are endless.

What kind of research did you do for your role as the master mask maker?

Justin: I watched the Mission Impossible films. They gave me a deeper insight about my role. I learnt the nuances of my role from it.

What do you think are the reasons behind the show’s popularity?

Justin: The show is about family. And family is something that everyone connects and relates closely. So the show provides a universal connection for everyone.

Lucas: There’s something for everyone. The whole family can watch the show — grandparents, parents, and the kids.

How has your character developed throughout the seasons?

Justin: It has developed a lot. I went from just being a cook at a fast food restaurant to a secret government agent. Even the audience has been able to see Bozer endure several obstacles throughout the series and come out on top as an unsuspecting hero.

Lucas:  Mac started off beautifully naive in certain things initially. But as the seasons unfold you will see him discovering herself. Even with this latest season, he figures out that the world is just not black and white, it has various shades of grey too.

Are you a fan of detective shows? What makes a great detective show according to you?

Justin: I love detective shows. And the best sequences are the ones where the detective is tracking down a great villain. That’s why I love David Dastmalchian’s character, Murdoc, on the show so much.

Lucas: According to me, a great detective show should make you look things differently. It should leave the scenes to be interpreted by the audience in the way they want to. Also it should allow the viewer to think like a detective.

What are your current and future projects?

Justin: I have just released my hip hop music under the name, J Hires. My first song Fire Flame has got over five million views and streams online so far. I’ll be putting out my first full mixtape soon entitled — Chapter 1: I Do This Too.

Lucas: I recently completed a film based on the life of Robert Zellner called Son of the South directed by academy award winner Barry Brown and executively produced by Spike Lee.

Where is Mac’s relationship with his father headed in Season 3?

Lucas: It is like an arc which swings back and forth. Sometimes it is good and sometimes it’s not. The relationship heads slowly taking baby steps.

Why does the Phoenix Foundation need Mac back?

Lucas: They need him back because Jack is in trouble. Jack has been spotted with a former dictator who’s been deposed and trying to get his throne back. It looks like he’s doing bad stuff and I’ve got to figure out whether he’s gone rogue and bad, or he just needs my help. So I had to rescue him from a situation which I thought he was getting into.

And Mac’s dad thought that he’s gone rogue and he is doing wrong things. But I was like, ‘no that’s not the case.’

Tell us more on Mac returning to the Phoenix Foundation?

Lucas: He goes along with his dad to save Jack, out of respect for him. But it’s funny because Mac and his dad still don’t get along.

(MacGyver Season 3 premieres  every Friday at 10 pm on AXN.)