The ability to access the brain's complete capacity is something one can only dream of, but for Brian Finch it has become a reality with the help of a mysterious designer drug, NZT, on the new CBS drama "Limitless."
Adapted from the 2011 movie starring Bradley Cooper, "Limitless" continues the high-action adventure and even features a rare TV cameo by the Oscar-nominated actor. Jake McDorman stars as Finch, a down on his luck musician, who is introduced to the NZT drug by an old friend.
Cooper makes a rare TV cameo in the pilot, reprising his movie role as Eddie Morra to inform Finch about the brutal side effects of the drug. He also serves as an executive producer on the show and gave his seal of approval for McDorman, his co-star in 2014's "American Sniper."
"I got the script from my agents with kind of a note that was like, "Hey they'd like to meet with you. Apparently Bradley thinks you would be great for the lead," McDorman told reporters at this summer's Television Critics Association press tour. "I totally didn't believe them at all and at the end of the meeting they were like, 'Yeah, Bradley really has you in mind for this.'"
In addition to keeping Finch super focused, NZT also gives him the ability to tap into some incredible talents like playing "Flight of the Bumblebee" on guitar or solving a Rubik's Cube in seconds flat. It also puts him on the FBI's radar.
The Bureau enlists the services of Finch to help them solve crimes with the ulterior motive of keeping under surveillance to learn more about NZT. He agrees only if they will help him father get the liver transplant he needs immediately.
His FBI handler is Agent Rebecca Harris, played by Jennifer Carpenter. The "Dexter" favorite credited her law enforcement character on the Showtime series to helping her prepare for her latest role.
"I did eight years of research... when I went to work in law enforcement. I felt pretty equipped," Carpenter told reporters.
The real challenge for the actress was hiding her pregnancy at eight and half month when they shot the pilot. A little "magic" by the wardrobe department and camera operators made it nearly impossible to tell.
"It was more about ignoring my current circumstances and asking everyone else to pretend that stomach wasn't there," she joked.
"Limitless" will air on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on CBS. Keep reading to learn more about the physical demands McDorman faces on the show and what his character Finch has planned with his newfound powers.
What are the physical demands of this show?
In the pilot there was a lot. I actually think Greg (Sweeny) had said he wrote far more action sequences than he thought would ever make into the show. So when the network came back and axed a few for budgetary reasons, he had the right amount. We shot a lot of action sequences for the pilot but as far as where the series goes, I think it's something fun that we explore in episode two.
What's Brian take on the amped up version of himself?
Brian definitely thinks he is a superhero now and will go into the FBI and be 'The Man,' like a rogue agent like Briggs from 'Lethal Weapon,' but he has a rude awakening that that's not going to be how it is. He's completely unqualified at what he's doing and is a huge liability. So they'll keep him locked up in the basement. I'm sure as the season develops we'll have some big action sequences but right now it's back to the FBI and getting to work.
Is it safe to say these booster shots he needs all involve a re-appearance by Bradley Cooper?
No, I would love that, but no, definitely not. There is a character that you will see from the pilot that does come back in a big way to administer that but maybe not administer it if Brian is misbehaving.
So they could hold you hostage?
Absolutely. That's interesting because you have a character that is a protagonist and not addicted to the substance, but is benefiting from using the drug, which is different and weird and fun to play. But this drug still has full control over his life, like drugs do with many addicts. Maybe it's not in the way of side effects or actual chemical addiction like with the booster shot, but it is in such a way that he can't stop taking the pill and stop working for the FBI. He also can't tell anyone about Eddie and what he's doing. He really is trapped in taking the pill as often as he's told to.
Would you take the pill if given the chance?
I'd have to, just for research [laughs].
What do you wish you could do with all of that power and brain capacity?
There's so much, but ultimately I don't know and I wouldn't know until I was on the pill. I'd like to think that Brian would use that wisdom to help other people, but maybe I'd just end up at the Guitar Center for a day playing the guitar. People do that anyway, by the way, that are definitely not on this drug.
Did you actually learn how to play "Flight of the Bumblebee" on the guitar for the show?
No that was actually a guitarist from Whitesnake who was such a good sport. There are a couple of gags coming up with like a Rubik's Cube expert and someone who is really ambidextrous and can do drawings with one hand. But my head just gets thrown onto their body. You see them on set and it's so awkward. It's like I'm stealing their talents. The special effects were really good, but it's really embarrassing because the artist goes and does it first with this whole crowd at Union Square live then they get me up there and say, 'Remember what he did?' And then my face has got to look like I'm doing that... it's similar to 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers.'
What other kinds of abilities will he discover he has?
Craig has said that's the funnest part of the writing process, doing it episode by episode. We have such fun ideas but really it is the gift that keeps on giving - the drug mixed with Brian's personality. I would hate for it to become a show that takes itself too seriously. They make sure to hit a quote for every episode that's kind of that wish fulfillment thing you had at the beginning of the movie and in sequences of the pilot. A lot of it is Rubik's Cubes, he can paint with one hand while doing illusions with another. But it's really different every time because anytime Brian talks to anybody he's locked into something completely different. He sees them for their uniqueness and what makes them different from everybody else.
Will we ever see Brian use the drug for selfish reasons?
Oh sure. He gets more rebellious when he gets to the FBI. Brian has confidence with how he is on the drug, the Bureau doesn't. So he'll go to great lengths to go out of bounds to kind of prove his worth to the FBI and get out of the filing room and into the field. But that's a long process and a lot has to happen. Also I don't think it's outside of Bryan's capacity to refuse to take the pill. That's all stuff we can explore as we go along.
What do you know about the arc of his character in the first season?
I don't know much, and I also have to focus on just the episode we're working on at one time or else my head will explode. But I know at least where we are now is developing his relationship with Rebecca and the Bureau in general and the Eddie character in that - is he is he a plant? Is he a good person? Bradley Cooper is charming but why does he need this guy if he has the antidote? I think what slowly develops is he proves himself to the FBI and there are people not in the FBI that could potentially be on the pill so you might find a Moriarity to his Sherlock. And as he goes on his missions for the FBI the people close to him are increasingly in danger if he acts out or doesn't want to do a task provided by Eddie. One of the things Eddie has the power to do is take the antidote away. That way he'll suffer from all the side effects and raise questions at the FBI of, 'How are you magically immune and now you're not?' He's kind of a half Nelson from the get go.
Your chemistry with Jennifer Carpenter is really good, was that instantaneous?
Thank God it was. It really was because we didn't have time. We read the script like two weeks before we started shooting. It was all very fast, but it was instant from the table read. I think we get out characters and each other and it's fun for me to play off her and try to keep it together with the FBI, but obviously enjoy how exotic working with someone like Brian is in the force. When I met Jennifer she reminded me of my sister, who was also eight months pregnant and I was like, 'You remind me of my sister, but maybe that's just the baby thing?' It's a really cool relationship and I'm glad that it is that relationship. There are no romantic aspirations. It's all about them very much and not dating each other.
Do you think dating would be kind of hard?
It would be impossible and you find that out. Anyone close to Brian is really in potential danger.
