Matt Bomer Loves Being One of the 'Doom Patrol'

Matt Bomer was fascinated with how much the DC Comics' "Doom Patrol" was not like the typical superhero story - one of the reasons why he decided to join the series, which starts its 2nd season this week. EDGE spoke to Bomer about the show.

Bomer first turned heads when he played a con artist on the hit series "White Collar" in 2009. Since then, he has appeared in several shows and films, including two seasons of "American Horror Story" as well as "Magic Mike" and "Magic Mike XXL." (Not to mention he's popped up on lists of the sexiest male stars in Hollywood.) He won a Golden Globe award for playing a closeted journalist in the film version of the late Larry Kramer's "The Normal Heart" on HBO (he was also nominated for an Emmy) and recently appeared as part of the Tony-winning revival of "The Boys in the Band" on Broadway, which will be seen with the revival cast on Netflix later this year.

But this week he takes on the role of Larry Trainor (a.k.a. Negative Man), a member of the superhero team known as "Doom Patrol." The series, entering its second season this week, is derived from the DC Comic from the 1960s about a superhero team who are outcasts and whose powers are derived in tragic circumstances.

"Larry is a former ace pilot who led a dual life as a closeted homosexual with a lover on the airbase and a wife and two young boys back home before a horrible accident left him terribly scarred and caused him to lose both lives," writes Variety. "Bomer mainly provides the voiceover for the character, only occasionally appearing in person. When Larry is all bandaged up, he is played by another actor, Matthew Zuk."

Bomer is joined on the show by Brendan Fraser (Cliff Steele a.k.a. Robotman), Diane Guerrero (Crazy Jane), April Bowlby (Rita Farr, a.k.a. Elasti-Woman), Joivan Wade (Cyborg), Timothy Dalton (Dr. Niles Caulder), and Mr. Nobody (the voice of Alan Tudyk).

Boomer has a very active streaming presence this year having recently a lead role in USA's crime anthology series "The Sinner," in which he plays a schoolteacher involved in a tragic car accident. Bill Pullman repeats his role as Detective Harry Ambrose from seasons 1 and 2 in the series exec-produced by Jessica Biel.

The second season of "Doom Patrol" is streaming on both DC Universe and HBO Max.

EDGE spoke to the in-quarantined Bomer about life at home with his husband Simon Halls (married in 2011) and their three kids, what attracted him to "Doom Patrol," and his favorite superhero.

Life in quarantine

EDGE: How has life in quarantine been going for you?

Matt Bomer: We are incredibly grateful that we so far have maintained our health and our boys have been such troopers about it all. Homeschooling was not for the faint of heart. I am not going to lie, but we got through it. I am really enjoying the time that I am getting to spend with my family.

EDGE: Tell us about "Doom Patrol?"

Matt Bomer: "Doom Patrol" is a quirky, off-beat, and reluctant superhero origin story. It is really a show about the human condition and the capacity for even the most marginalized among us that find their inner hero.

EDGE: Were you familiar with "Doom Patrol" before taking the role?

Matt Bomer: Not at all. It has always been a niche comic book with a cult following. I got into all of its alliterations over the course of my involvement with the project. I just become fascinated by it and it almost seemed like every writer who took on the project was trying to top the last in terms of being the most absurd, profound and abstract. I think the show is really true to the source material and it is definitely a fanboy's dream come true. It hits all the bizarre, silly and offbeat stories that made the comic so beloved, but it also builds on that in its own way.

Finding authenticity

EDGE: What kind of preparation did you do to play Larry Trainor?

Matt Bomer: When they first spoke to me about playing the role I was doing "Boys in the Band" on Broadway so I was all up in the 1960s and what it meant to be a gay man in the 1960s and what the price of that was. I think what is different about Larry is the cost of having to achieve your dreams while not being true to yourself and what that cost to you is personally and also to your loved ones and your authenticity. If you have ever read "Velvet Rage," he sort of has one of those classic personality types who believes if he can just achieve and become this ultimate golden boy then maybe he can live with who he is inside. It all blows up in his face and he has to deal with the fallout of it all.

EDGE: As an actor what's the experience been like sharing the role of Larry with another performer?

Matt Bomer: I love it! There was no precedent for it. We started this before "The Mandalorian," so I couldn't find any kind of example for having to share a performance this way with another actor. At the beginning, we were having to feel it out. It wasn't until episode 5 or 6 of the first season we really locked into something good. It really started to feel cohesive and collaborative. The most enjoyable part of this role is that I get to really collaborate with Matthew Zuk. I typically lay down a track that is my first impressions of the script and then Matthew will go and stage it. How a scene is setup, staged, and directed affects so much of the performance. He then will put his own spin on it and then I will kind of pick up again with another recording session and work with what he has created psychically. It is really an open dialogue and collaboration between both of us.

Great days for inclusion

EDGE: What are your favorite aspects of working on a comic book-themed show?

Matt Bomer: I don't really consider this a comic book show because you don't really have to like comic book characters or superheroes to enjoy the show. The characters on the show don't even like superheroes. To me, there is so much pathos and character-driven drama and humor in the show that I have never even thought of it like a superhero show.

EDGE: What a great cast you get to work with. What is it like?

Matt Bomer: It is a phenomenal group of actors. I went into the show already as a huge fan of Brendan Fraser and Timothy Dalton and have come out of it a massive fan of Diane Guerrero, April Bowlby, and Joivan Wade. It is such a strong lineup of actors. Often times when I am down on set, I am working with the actors who are just in Larry's flashback world. It's a rare treat that I get to have a scene with Diane or April or even see Timothy or Brendan because it is so broken up.

EDGE: We are seeing more gay representation in the superhero genre. How exciting is it for you to be a part of it?

Matt Bomer: It's great! I am so grateful to be a part of it. It is definitely high time that we are seeing more. To get to tell a story like Larry's is wonderful. Frankly, it's a story that I have never really seen explored in any medium. It's a real honor and there is definitely a sense of responsibility in bringing it to life and making it relatable. We owe so much to the writers and the folks at Warner Bros for making his story really authentic.

Favorite superhero?

EDGE: Favorite superhero growing up?

Matt Bomer: I was definitely on the DC spectrum. I like the classics - Superman and Batman. That is really what I had access to. Growing up I wasn't allowed a lot of comic books in the house. I love all the Christopher Reeves Superman movies. I do appreciate the Tim Burton Batman movies. What kid can't relate to a superhero? We all want powers to help others and look after society.

EDGE: You have appeared in television, film, and on stage. Is there a medium that you embrace more?

Matt Bomer: They are all so different. Even within film there is a big difference between a movie with a big budget and a movie that has no budget. To be honest with you, I love them all. I would say the most actor friendly is the stage because you and the audience have a very specific experience together. As an actor, I love theatre because it is how I got my start. There is something so special about sharing the stage with a group of actors night after night.

Season 2 of "Doom Patrol" premiered on HBO Max on June 25, 2020

Watch the trailer to Season 2 of "Doom Patrol"