A year after moving to Vancouver to further his international career, Karl Walcott has won his bet. The Quebec native is hitting television around the world today with a role in the popular series Riverdale.
Karl Walcott is no stranger to the American film world, having walked the sets of films such as Moonfall and X-Men: Apocalypse. But the Riverdale series now offers him his first major role in a Hollywood production.
“It’s absolutely crazy to arrive on this set; everything is gigantic. It really looks like a small village with at least 300 people working there,” says Karl Walcott over the phone.
Departure into the 1950s
The set, which was erected a few months ago in Vancouver, transports its artists and craftsmen to the heart of the 1950s, where the action of Riverdale’s seventh and final season takes place. Karl Walcott lends his facial features to the character of Clay Walker, a classmate of Archie and his band.
Kept under wraps by his contract with the production, the Quebecer has little to say about his character’s plot or fate. But he promises that his arrival “won’t go unnoticed”…
However, fans of the comics that Riverdale takes inspiration from know that in the source material, Clay Walker and Kevin Keller’s relationship stretches all the way to the altar, where they get married. Will the series take you in a similar direction? Karl Walcott is unaware of this, the shooting spanning several months.
“I have no idea what the future holds for my character. All I know is that the show didn’t always follow the comics, so anything can happen.”
The following ?
What will life hold for Karl Walcott when the Riverdale adventure is over? The Quebecer isn’t entirely sure. Despite this, he is not fooled, knowing full well that the visibility this series is giving him could open certain doors for him in the middle of American television. But he has no intention of getting carried away too soon.
“I know nothing is guaranteed and I have no control over what happens next. So I take the opportunity to learn everything I can and enjoy every moment. That’s all I can do,” he says.
One thing is for sure, we’ll find it on our TVs next fall thanks to the Quebec series After the Deluge. Because no, Karl Walcott has not turned his back on his roots. On the other hand.
“I’m proud to tell the people here [à Vancouver] that I’m from Quebec. And if I can do my job anywhere, it’s thanks to what I built and learned in Quebec. That will never change,” he said.
♦ New episodes of Riverdale are added to Netflix on Thursdays at the rate of one per week.