I'd like to say farewell to you, the loyal fans ofHeroes. You guys have been the best, most invested fans I've ever seen. I'm not just blowing smoke - it's too late for that. The show's not coming back and I have a hard time seeing how the movie event would come together.
I believe the intention to make the movie is there, but there are so many moving parts. Once there is an approved script, they will have to wrangle the cast from far-flung corners of the globe, make deals with everyone and free up those who are under contract to other shows, movies or plays. No one is under contract to Heroes anymore, so no one is obligated. This seems to be a recipe for disintegration. But I would be happy to be wrong.
I just want to say what an amazing adventure it has been. If someone had told me on the day I went to the audition for the Man in the Horn-Rimmed Glasses, with one page of dialogue for a guest spot on the pilot, that in four years time I would receive a phone call (actually a text from Wendi) telling me that Heroes, my series, was being cancelled, I would have done cartwheels across the Universal back lot.
Four years later, prepared for the news, it still comes as a shock.
And now, I say so long to my comrades. So many memories...
Speaking Japanese, burned in a house, drowned in a car, shot in the eye.
Meeting Hayden on the pilot. "Hello, Daddy," she says.
Coffee with Sendhil downtown while shooting the pilot. "Your show is going to be a hit," I told him. I didn't know I was talking about my show, too.
Greg Beeman, first day back, telling me, "When in doubt, you know everything."
Allan Arkush, second episode, telling me, "As soon as Claire leaves the room, let's see the curtain drop and the hardened operative come back."
Zach, in his trailer on his first day. Slight and smart with a real presence. He's going to be good, I thought.
Hayden and Jimmy on the bridge, with the whipping wind and the squibs and Hayden's heartbreaking sobs.
Ashley, staring at Hayden with tears and wonder in her eyes, whispering, "I can't pretend it's the same world it was yesterday."
Grunny, Matt Armstrong and I on our cross-country drive, wrapped in coats and scarves as the FX ice melts, along with us, in the 90-degree heat.
Seven thousand screaming fans at a record store in Paris. Adrian turning to me and saying, "Not bad for a couple of old war horses."
Adrian, Milo, Hayden and I in London at the end of the world tour, eating Yak face (not really, but close) at a restaurant of Adrian's choosing, exhausted and laughing uncontrollably.
Buying Lori perfume in London, changing the beauty product gift ratio from 1,000 to 0 to 1,000 to 1.
Drenching Kristen Bell with the kitchen faucet as she electrocutes herself. "Stings like a bitch, doesn't it?"
Zach and I singing Simon & Garfunkel and then beating the snot out of each other.
Wendi, after another 16-hour day, coming in early to clean the espresso machine for Adrian and me.
Ali bursting into the sunken trailer and, with the cameras rolling, grabbing me by my collar, shaking me and crying, "Jack, Jack, wake up!" and then bursting into laughter when she realizes she's called me by my real name.
Three days of uncontrollable giggling in a motel room with Sendhil, Greg and Milo when I exclaim in Japanese something that has the unfortunate effect of sounding like, "He's a tiny human Oka!" Masi bears the brunt of my wretched pronunciation for weeks.
Love and gratitude to:
Tim, the sine qua non, who conceived the show and the character and sent me the nicest email I've ever received after "Company Man."
Dennis, who always had my back and always helped me forward.
Bryan, who did so much to develop the character of HRG.
Jason and Natalie, who have always thought of me when casting.
James Props (he does have an actual last name: Clark), keeper of the HRGs, whose humor and love for the show were homing beacons when things felt bleak.
The writers/producers (Adam, Kay, Joe, Aron, Jeph, Jesse, Rob, Mark, Allan, Jim, et al).
The talented actors (Cris, James, Santiago, Leonard, Tawny, Dania, Malcolm, Robert K., Robert F., Chris, Eric, George, Zeljko, Ray, Lis, Jimmy Jean-Louis (my Haitian hero)... I'm neglecting many; forgive me.
Our crew. No one worked harder.
To my wonderful castmates:
As I wrote to them earlier, our bond was real and rare and the fans felt it. And it made them love the show all the more.
Which brings me back to you. Thank you for watching. Thank you for caring. Thank you for taking this journey with us. I am so appreciative. Until we meet again...
All my best,
Jack
JAMES KYSON LEE: I'll comment more Heroes in a blog. Meanwhile, much love & thanks to the fans & our team for the 4 years. Onward to a new chapter...