Interview: Luke Youngblood Talks Galavant Season Finale – Exclusive

Luke Youngblood plays the role of Sid on ABC’s comedy extravaganza series Galavant. In my opinion, one of the best and funniest shows around with a talented cast and creators, Galavant is wrapping up its second season next week.

We got to chat with the series star about what initially attracted him to Galavant, working with Alan Menken, Glenn Slater and Dan Fogelman, last week’s killer cliffhanger leading us into the epic season finale, and whether or not he believes in Tad Cooper.

Read on for our exclusive interview with Luke Youngblood below:

What originally attracted you to Galavant and the role of Sid?

Luke Youngblood: I remember receiving the scripts for the pilot… I obviously had known about Dan Fogelman’s work before — Crazy Stupid Love and Tangled — so I figured it was probably going to be a good one, knowing him. And literally two pages in, I was hooked. I think it was the part where Princess Isabella is introduced. In the notes they had written her as a “strong Jennifer Lawrence” and then he put “I’m sure we can get her” obviously being extremely sarcastic.

And when I got that tone, I was like “I’m in.” Until I got to Sid being introduced. *laughs* He was described as a scrawny Jewish guy and it continued on… wait for it: “The kind of Jew that non-Jews find funny.” So I was like, “Hmm, I don’t think that looks anything like me at all. Maybe I shouldn’t even go in. I’m never going to get this role.” I just thought there was no way in hell I was going to book this job so it completely took the pressure off. So I just went in and had fun with it and I got called back. Then the second time I met with Dan and then I ended up booking the job. I was so over the moon purely because I didn’t think I had a single chance of being this Jewish guy but it turns out I can be. *laughs*

Your heart shows!

It’s a testament to Dan’s imagination. He truly thinks outside the box. I really think that comes across in Galavant. There are no rules. Even though it’s set in an extremely serious time period, we’re just being completely ridiculous about it and that’s probably my favorite thing about the show.

Working with Alan Menken and Glenn Slater, it’s a dream come true for fans of great music and of course Disney fans everywhere. Was that a big draw for you when hearing about Galavant initially?

Oh my god. Uh, yeah! He basically wrote, I mean Alan Menken composed all of our childhoods. It was really daunting being considered for something that he’s going to be so hands on with. He’s creating original music for it. It’s everyone’s dream, especially for a performer who has been in the West End and things like that, to have somebody of his level write songs specifically for you. It just doesn’t happen in anybody’s lifetime but it has in mine now. It was mind-blowing having such heavy hitters on network TV. They truly are the nicest, most kind, genuinely happy, excited people and it makes it very easy to work with them. We feel so lucky every day that we get to just be around these people and be in the recording studio.

There have been little Disney jokes here and there throughout the series. Did you have a favorite Disney song or movie growing up?

I think my favorite Disney movie was probably Hercules. It’s such a weird one because it’s a less popular film. I don’t know if it’s something about the way it was animated… and I loved ancient history growing up. It had lots of interesting characters and it was about redemption and love.

I think my favorite Disney song though…there’s so many! Maybe, “One Jump Ahead” in Aladdin just because he was this rebel who was jumping around. It was high energy and running from the soldiers and as a kid that’s all I wanted to do. It’s so good. *laughs*

The thing I’ve loved about this season is that the cast and writers are so grateful to have a second season and it’s reflected in the songs, especially in the premiere. You guys kind of broke that fourth wall.

*laughs* We have broken the fourth wall so many times this season. When you do it, you kind of feel special you get to do that on TV because people hardly ever get to break the fourth wall. I think we’re super lucky that we get to do everything that the other more serious shows are restricted with.

The cast is a great one and you’ve also had some great guest stars. How has that been working with them?

We never know who it’s gonna be. They rewrite the script and rewrite it, so we’ll get the script a few days before we shoot so we have no idea who the guest stars are until close to shooting. And every time they come in they just blow us away. It doesn’t air in the UK just yet but everybody has heard about it already. So people want to be on it because it’s so much fun. You get to sing and dance and the story lines are crazy and interesting.

Anytime they come in they’re so ready and they bring their own unique stamp on the character. We’ll have a table read and the guest stars won’t be there and then they come in and do it completely different and blow us all away. Reece Shearsmith and Eddie Marsan are in the same episode together this week actually. You’re just kind of on set standing in awe of what these guys do. And it’s such a massive departure from anything they’ve ever played before. It almost takes you out of the scene sometimes because you’re looking at these people like “You’re this serious guy on Ray Donovan. You shouldn’t be singing and dancing around!” They get such wonderful actors in and I think it’s purely because everyone wants to be a part of this fun show.

In a recent episode, your character finally got the solo you’ve long deserved. That song has been stuck in my head all week!

Yeah! It’s been stuck in mine as well. *laughs* I don’t want to be narcissistic at all but I’ve been listening to it over and over again. They get released on iTunes and Spotify so I’ll play it on that and it sounds so much bigger and fuller when you get to listen to it without the crowd around you watching the show. And you can hone in on what you’re listening to. It might get to a point where it’s annoying but it’s been on repeat for me as well.

What did you enjoy most about performing that song?

I remember Glenn Slater last season said to me “Luke, we’re giving you a number. We owe you a solo.” Thank you, Glenn Slater! It came up and it was at the perfect time. The writers give Glenn and Alan free rein to produce musical moments where they see fit and it always tends to work out. And luckily I had this big song. I remember hearing Alan’s demo and — he records all of them which is amazing by the way.

Oh my gosh.

Tomorrow on #Galavant, Sid’s latest number is downright miserable(s). https://t.co/HIXCKYPBzm

— Galavant (@GalavantABC) January 17, 2016

He’s actually got a really good voice! It’s about banding together and how we’re gonna get killed and people aren’t gonna be able to pee and poo properly. I was in stitches but it had such a strength behind it. I really wanted it for Sid because he’s been trapped in this castle and scared for a lot of this season. It was so nice for him to finally have this moment. Being in the recording studio I felt like I was on set already, punching the air and really going for it trying to channel the Les Miz in me. It was so much fun and the one thing that made it so much easier but the song a million times better were all of those supporting artists we had. They were just so gung-ho and ready to be a part of this epic number. It made it so much easier for me and so enjoyable getting the crowd together. We had such a blast that day. And also our amazing director, Paul Murphy, for that episode, he had such big ideas for the show and he just blew it out of the park. I’m astounded at what he’s able to achieve.

In the last episode, for some reason, Sid decided to throw a sword through the air. It was quite a cliffhanger.

*Laughs* If you cast your minds back, at the end of season 1 when we escape the dungeon, I’ve got Galavant’s sword. And I throw it to him and he catches. So it’s kind of like our thing. I’ll throw his sword and he’ll slay a few people and that’s it. I was given Galavant’s sword in the Forest of Coincidence, I throw it through the air, he gets distracted when King Richard punches a kid in the face…

Now, it wasn’t my intention to stab him. But it is a super duper cliffhanger, which I absolutely love. It’s my favorite thing. I don’t know, what do you think? Do you think he’s gonna come back to life… will he die? What do you think? I don’t know how much I want to tell you *laughs*

You can’t kill the hero! But I think Sid would make a nice hero too.

*laughs* Let me tell you this. I have a build-in in the beginning of the season that there’s gonna be this epic battle that takes place between three armies. Everyone’s going head to head. Galavant may or may not be there. You have to tune in to see what comes up. It is gonna blow. You. Away. Twists and turns. Things you didn’t see coming. It’s all there. It’s amazing.

So, I have just one final question for you. It’s a question that blew up on my Twitter feed after the last episode, so I have to ask: Do you believe in King Richard’s dragon, Tad Cooper?

You know what. I wouldn’t say that I do believe in Tad Cooper. But by the end of next week… I think I might be a believer. How about that?

Thank you so much to Luke Youngblood for taking the time to chat with us! As a Harry Potter and Galavant fan, I really appreciate it!

Be sure to keep up to date with Luke Youngblood by following him on Twitter @Luke_Youngblood.

Tune in to Galavant tonight and next Sunday on ABC!