Matt Mullins is an accomplished martial artist and actor, and an all-around great guy. Mullins is the break-out star of the new hit CW4Kids series Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight. Kamen Rider is exciting and action-packed. It can be seen every Saturday morning at 11:30am on The CW Network as part of their CW4Kids Saturday morning lineup.
Recently, NerdSociety.com interviewed Mr. Mullins and we asked him about his career and his awesome series, Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight. This is part one:
NerdSociety (NS): Matt, tell our readers a little about yourself. How long have you been doing martial arts? What style did you train in? What can you tell us about Sideswipe?
Matt Mullins (MM): I’m originally from Naperville, IL and I’m a 4th Degree Black Belt in Shorei-Ryu under Master John Sharkey. I competed for many years and won 5-world titles in the WKA. I moved to Los Angeles and started the Sideswipe performance team and we won a number of shows on TV such as 30 seconds to fame and Steve Harvey’s Big time. We also finished in the top 8 on America’s Got Talent on NBC.
NS: How did you get involved in acting?
MM: I actually started acting before I started martial arts. In Chicago, I trained at Second City and Act 1 and booked a decent amount of commercials. I moved to LA when I was 20 and I have been working ever since.
NS: How did you get the role in Kamen Rider? What appealed to you about the role of Len?
MM: I had to go through a series of auditions to get the role. I actually did not get an audition at first. I had to crash it. I was lucky to get the pilot, and even luckier to be kept on for the series. What I love about playing Len is his whole struggle between duty and his own morality. As the series continues everyone will see why.
NS: How many episodes of Kamen Rider were filmed? Are there any plans currently to film any more?
MM: We shot 40 episodes for season 1. There are talks of doing season 2, but it all depends on how well the series is received, so please watch, lol.
NS: We’re big fans of Steve Wang’s work. We loved the films he directed, Guyver: Dark Hero and Drive. What was it like working with him.
MM: Steve Wang is the man. His vision is incredible. He knew exactly what he wanted and how to make it happen. If there was ever a jam or problem of any kind, Steve was like Superman and made it work. His attitude is awesome too. The man never sleeps and it made me want to work even harder in every aspect of my job.
NS: Kamen Rider has a massive following overseas and the series is picking up a lot of steam in the United States. Any chance of doing a Kamen Rider feature film?
MM: I think again it will depend on how well it is received here. I think that was the original plan.
NS: We’re big fans of director Tarsem and his feature films, The Cell and The Fall. I know he directed that nifty Motorola Razr commercial that you appeared in. What was it like working with him? He has a great visual eye.
MM: That was my second time working with Tarsem. He also directed my Pepsi commercial. Both experiences were really fun. Tarsem has an eye for making things really cool and sexy. Both spots tell a whole story in 30 seconds and that is incredible. He also has funny jokes.
You can check out part 2 of our interview with Matt Mullins here.
Circus80
Mar 2, 2009 -
Do you know who you should interview next? M. Night Shyamalan. Really, I’m serious. You gotta get an interview with him. And if you ever do, be sure to mention my name, because I’m such a fan of his films. 🙂
Cricket
Mar 2, 2009 -
Sounds like a really humble and cool guy. That’s awesome, the show is also great.
Circus, that’s a great suggestion. We’re working on a couple more interviews right now. We’ll see what we can come up with.
Ccfmds
Mar 2, 2009 -
Nice addition with the Motorola Razr ad. It’s totally badass.
Tarsem = God
Scott
Mar 2, 2009 -
I can’t believe you interviewed him. I’m seriously jealous of you right now. That guy is the reason I get up to watch Kamen Rider instead of DVR’ing it, and watching it after I wake up. Sure, Stephen and Aria are great but it’s Matt’s work that really makes it a hit for me.
Also, I remember that Motorola commercial. I thought it was really cool back when it premiered and it’s good to see that Matt kicks ass in everything he does.
John Spartan
Mar 3, 2009 -
That’s a cool commercial. As for Matt, he reminds me of a young Christopher Lambert.
gilang
Mar 22, 2009 -
this is very lame, you all guys have to watch the original version of this masked / kamen rider stuff..
the storyline, character, and everything.. is amazing. definitely much better than this American version.
CCFMDS
Mar 31, 2009 -
Gilang, like you I always appreciate the orginal, but Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight is very good.
I’m impressed by the storylines and fight scenes. While obviously toned down for US audiences, it never gets overly campy or cheesy like Power Rangers and Masked Rider did. Give it another chance. Matt Mullins is one of the best martial artists I’ve seen in some time.
raja boxing
Apr 16, 2009 -
Enjoying reading your blog. Hard work always pays off.
Myriam
Sep 30, 2009 -
For all Matt’s fans check out his annual martial arts camps and also his instructional book and DVD! 🙂
http://www.howtotrick.com
http://www.sharkeyskarate.com
david b conway
Oct 10, 2009 -
my name is david b conway , and my question is will you think cw4kids will want to carrie the power rangers just on cw4kids just when walt disney does not want them any more in the future just for tv some time just for tv shows or tv series / love david b conway
ccfmds
Oct 10, 2009 -
That’s a good question, David. It’s possible CW4kids picks up Power Rangers someday because Kamen Rider is getting good ratings and according to the fanpage for Kamen Rider, there’s new toys out now at toys r us and a video game is coming out for the Nintendo Wii and DS :).
megamanofspaces
Oct 17, 2009 -
matt is cool, if the power rangers were with CW4kids, it will be like the old times, not this times in what disney destroyed the power rangers, seens Kamen Rider Dragon Knight premiered, it was unique, its better than power rangers R.P.M, but Matt is a good actor, good luck Matt.
WILLIAM
Nov 1, 2009 -
i wished that in the episode 30/swan song, Kase didn’t get vented so len would be happy
Tim
Nov 29, 2009 -
Seriously, relating this show to the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers needs to stop! Don’t compare the show to a series that is vaguely similar to it, and don’t relate it to MMPR at all. This show needs to be watched on its own merrits, because it’s worth it. As for the Japanese series, Kamen Rider Ryuki, the differences are great enough for the two to be considered two seperate shows, but with similar costume designs. Don’t get stuck in that “all American adaptations suck” train of thought. It was directed by Mike and Steve Wang, who actually care about the show.
If the CW4Kids picks up Power Rangers I’d still watch it, but if any toku is adapted I hope it would be Gransazers (which is unlikely because it isn’t owned by Toei like the other two). I’m finished 🙂
SAUD
Jan 3, 2010 -
I AGREE WITH TIM, STOP COMPARING POWER RANGER WITH KRDK! NO OFFENSE THE PEOPLE WHO LIKES TO COMPARE! ANYWAYS HE’S A REALLY GOOD MARTIAL ARTS STUDENT AND I WOULD LOVE TO MEET HIM AND PERSON AND WATCH HIM BEHEIND THE SCENES! I LIKE THE EPISODE WHERE MASTER YUBOLON FIGHTS MATT MULLINS TO TAKE OUT HIS ANGER, I LIKE IT WHEN HE SPINS HIS POLE I THINK OR STICK REALLY FAST!
Ignikakanak
Apr 19, 2010 -
Interesting blog, you may be an fan of the American version of Kamen Rider, but a true Kamen Rider Fan would love the original version of the Kamen Rider series.
CCFMDS
Apr 20, 2010 -
I never claimed to be a “true” Kamen Rider fan. I just liked what I saw on the American version and thought I would help promote the series and interview the actors. All the actors I interviewed and especially Steve Wang were tremendous. I hope the Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight is picked up one day by another network.
abraham
Apr 21, 2010 -
kamen rider dragon knight is an amazing show all the fighting and bad guys my only favorite kamen rider is torque he’s just so totally cool anyway the show is awesome anyway i hope you guys make a season two laterz.
takeshi kaizawa
Jun 7, 2010 -
HEY felicito a Matt mullins por tan bonito y excelente anuncio y eres un kame raider 1 ,eres muy especial en las artes marciales y de karate ..sigue asi….
Carlos
Jul 5, 2010 -
Hey matt, you are the best in arts martials, you inspire me in that deport, i´m practicing taebo =) ….. you know to Angelina Rios Garcia??? she is my cousin =) ……. well, Bye Beware.
Super Cheese
Jul 18, 2010 -
That commercial is super cool. I really hope season 2 of Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight comes out. Len/kamen rider wing is my favorite character and matt is a martial artist so GO KAMEN RIDER DRAGOB KNIGHT!!
Super Cheese
Jul 18, 2010 -
By the way I meant to say GO KAMEN RIDER DRAGON KNIGHT but I typed it rong. Sorry. 😉
Ajie Nugroho
Jul 19, 2010 -
Cool guy, nice interview A humble guy indeed. Hopefully there will be sequel
Akira
Jul 7, 2011 -
Interesting to see kamen rider adopted to US from Japan.