Kayvan Novak trolls “What We Do in the Shadows” Comic-Con panel as Nandor
“Does he know we wrapped?” series director and producer Kyle Newacheck wondered aloud.
The final season of What We Do in the Shadows begins this fall on FX, but at least one member of the cast isn’t ready for it to be over.
Kayvan Novak joined the show’s San Diego Comic-Con panel at Hall H on Thursday, which began with a special screening of the season 6 premiere. But unlike his costars Matt Berry, Mark Proksch, and Kristen Schaal, Novak wasn’t speaking from his experience as an actor during the panel. Instead, he participated entirely in character as Nandor the Relentless.
"There is no Kayvan, only Nandor," the actor said when moderator Eric Goldman first asked him a question.
Related: What We Do in the Shadows: 7 juicy teases about the final season
Since Novak was joining virtually via Zoom, the effect of his bit was enhanced by his face looming largely over the rest of the panel. He was even wearing his vampire teeth for the full illusion.
"He's really ready to give it up," Proksch joked.
“Does he know we wrapped?” Kyle Newacheck, a director and producer on the series, asked at one point.
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To be fair, it sounds like there will be some meta touches to the final season of What We Do in the Shadows, making Novak's bit appropriate. Newacheck, for example, actually plays a character this season — which makes sense since the mockumentary comedy series sometimes addresses its camera operators within the story.
"I did get to play a director in the show at a certain point, while I was directing the show," Newacheck said. "Which I think was the most meta thing I've ever been a part of. So stay tuned, y'all: It's gonna get wild and weird."
Goldman asked what the panelists took as wrap gifts from the end of filming. Schaal rescued a portrait of the late Paul Reubens (who reprised his vampiric role from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie back in season 1), while Novak took the portrait of Nandor that features prominently in the show's opening credits. Naturally, he had it hanging on the wall behind him while acting as Nandor during the panel.
As for Berry, it sounds like viewers will see a new side of Laszlo this season. Showrunner Paul Simms promised that the show will start to incorporate Berry's musical skills and "you'll hear Matt sing in a way you've never heard before." Simms also teased the slight possibility that Laszlo's fan-favorite persona, Jackie Daytona, could possibly make a long-awaited reappearance.
"I said we would never do it again after the first time," Simms said, referring to the regular human bartender. "But, who knows what might happen in season 6."
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