Matt Lanter Talks Traveling Through Time on NBC’s New Timeless Series

Time travel is not new to television by any means. From The Time Tunnel to Quantum Leap and Doctor Who to Outlander, it’s an integral part of the TV culture. But this fall, it is one of the hottest trends in TV with the introduction of several new series in the genre, including ABC’s Time After Time, The CW’s Frequency, FOX’s Making History and NBC’s Timeless, debuting tonight.

Timeless follows an unlikely team comprised of a history professor (Abigail Spencer as Lucy Preston), a soldier (Matt Lanter as Wyatt Logan) and a scientist ((Malcolm Barrett as Rufus Carlin) as they chase a mysterious criminal (Goran Visnjic as Garcia Flynn), who is intent on destroying America by changing the past. They will follow Garcia back in time to critical events in America’s past in an effort to prevent him from changing history, while making every effort not to affect the past themselves, which could change their present.

Parade.com caught up with Lanter at a press day for Timeless to talk about what motivates Wyatt, why he might want to change the past, where he would like to visit if there really was such a thing as a time machine, segueing from teen series like 90210 and Star-Crossed to this adult role, and more.

What can you tell us about Wyatt?

He’s lost his wife. You’re going to see that come into play a lot throughout the first several episodes. A big thing for Wyatt, really, is what is meant to be and what things you can change. I think we can all relate to regrets that we have in our life. I think Wyatt has regrets, whereas Lucy is a little bit more: “This is how things are supposed to be. This is history. We need to keep it.” I think Wyatt, even though he’s mission-oriented being military, is going to struggle with that within himself. Do I follow this mission, or do I deviate from the mission and do what I believe in my heart?

Does Wyatt get to the point where he understands that his actions could change the present they return to?

I think Lucy has more of an understanding being the historian. He is a little more rogue and, I think, he might be willing to take that chance. At this point, he is trying to adhere to the rules of the team and the rules of time travel, but I think he might be the one that is going to deviate from that mission in order to bring his wife back. He wants to bring his wife back at all costs. I think you are going to see that play into the next several episodes, if not throughout the whole season.

Is there a lot of action for you on the series?

I have gone through a lot of fight training already. It seems to be a running theme in every episode. There are some epic fights and I am a part of them. I have also worked with some actual Special Forces military — both Canadian and American. Before I left for Vancouver, I went up to the range with Special Forces guys here and learned the ins and the outs, both physically what they do, but also emotionally how does it feel when they go overseas, how does it feel when they come back, how do their relationships change. I asked a lot of questions. Maybe some that were pushing the envelope with some of the guys I was talking to, but I was trying to dig deep into emotionally what happens when you’re put through stressful missions like that.

What do you like about the sci-fi genre?

For an actor, to be able to do something different and fun every week is an incredible treat. Then to have [executive producers] Eric [Kripke] and Shawn [Ryan] behind it, knowing it’s going to be grounded in realistic characters that feel emotion and have real connection, that’s pretty incredible. But the adventurous spirit of this show is really why I became an actor.

I went through a phase where I watched Jurassic Park every day for about 13 or 14 days after school when I was young. It is one of my favorite movies. I love that adventurous, Spielberg-esque feel, and when I read this pilot and [found out] what they had planned out for Wyatt and the show, how could I not want to be a part of that? It reminds me of Star Wars; it reminds me of Indiana Jones. Particularly for Wyatt, I saw a lot of similarities to Han Solo and Indiana Jones, so it is a huge reason of why I wanted to be a part of it.

If you could go back in any period of time, where would you go?

I do love history. I loved learning about wars and things in school. I would love to go to the Last Supper and become a fly on the wall to hear what was said and see what went on. I think that would be fascinating. There are really so many places. History is so rich that it is one of those things that every time you ask me, I might say something else. I would also like to see the pyramids being built.

As an actor where would you want to go?

As an actor, I would love to see old Hollywood. I am a huge old Hollywood movie fan. My wife and I tend to watch old movies more than we do new movies. I would love to go back and see the 1940s and maybe the birth of the talkies. I don’t know. I am a huge fan of Paul Newman. I also really like Montgomery Clift as well. There are so many great actors I would love to do a scene with.

You have grown up on TV in front of us. Do you consider this your first adult role?

I would. Not my first grown-up show. This doesn’t always happen for actors, but I was here for six months and I was on Commander in Chief with Geena Davis, so I was playing with the big boys early on, but you’re right that I did a lot of teenage shows. I think this is the first show where I get to embrace a character as an adult that has adult things happening and  has adult emotions. Wyatt is a protector. You’re going to see him have to protect others. It is extremely exciting to me to be a part of this team.

Timeless premieres tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.