Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Deadly Class’ Liam James

From the moment that Liam James read the script for Deadly Class, he knew he had to be a part of the series. The pilot packed a major punch with its sharp writing and left adrenaline coursing through his veins. That passion and fire have translated onto the screen where he’s playing Billy, a student at Kings Dominion who’s just looking to survive.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Liam about all things Deadly Class.

PC: Tell us about Deadly Class and your character? What should fans know about Billy?
Liam: What should fans know about Billy? Well, he’s very handsome. [laughs] Let’s start there. But in all seriousness, when you first see Billy, he’s someone you probably won’t soon forget. He has a very striking appearance with his tall green mohawk and devilish grin on his face; you can’t tell if it’s a grin that you should be afraid of. From moment to moment, you’re either falling in love with him or you’re a bit scared because he’s got a bit of a crazy edge to him.

In terms of where he fits in at the school, he’s lower than low. He’s at the very bottom of the totem pole because he’s joining a school where generations of crime families send their kids. He’s fresh meat and is treated as such.

PC: What initially attracted you to this role and how familiar were you with the source material?
Liam: When I first read the script for the pilot, a feeling came over me. Time felt like it went into a warp. After I finished reading the script, I had a huge adrenaline rush. It’s been so long since I’ve read something that made me feel anything.

The writing is so sharp and there’s no filler. Rick Remender is a genius. Before my audition for Deadly Class, I never read any comic books, and I’ve been blown away by the way Rick tells a story. I have him to thank for getting me into the medium itself.

PC: Music plays an important role in both the comics and the television series. We heard each cast member was given a playlist to help them get into characters. What was on Billy’s?
Liam: Billy’s had a very specific type of music. It was 1980s punk-rock blasted to the forefront of kids making their own homegrown music, which is what Rick was really into at the time. He’s always been about coming from the bottom, but with so much creative energy that he needed to get out—that’s why he made the comic books. That kind of creativity can be channeled without a lot of funds and the punk-rock music is in your own garage. Billy’s music is about the misunderstood, frustrated, and angry kids who still want to have fun.

PC: Like you said earlier, there’s a lot of different layers to Billy. Which has been your favorite to explore and why?
Liam: This world is so dangerous and intense. To survive, you have to find your thing: you have to get really good at one thing. With Billy, he tries to diffuse any sort of tension with humor. It’s not only so he can get out of any situation, but it’s also for his own mental health. He needs to free the tension in his own head. He uses humor to escape. It’s been an incredible, transformative experience because it’s the age-old saying, “don’t worry be happy.” It’s had some profound effects on me, personally, and has turned me into a more positive person in my own dealings with daily life.

Photo Credit: Katie Yu/SYFY

PC: A lot happens to Billy in episode five. What impact will that have on him moving forward?
Liam: Well, I’m actually really interested in seeing what impact it has on the audience and how they relate to Billy from here on out. With Deadly Class, there’s never an easy answer. For Billy, his focus is taking care of his friends because his own family life keeps getting worse and worse. When his friends are in trouble, he has to channel that energy into making his friends his family.

PC: Billy experiences a lot of different emotions in that moment. How did you prepare?
Liam: The entire filming experience helped me prepare for that moment. Oftentimes, you never know how things are going to go when you get there on the day. We wake up every morning trying to do our best. At this point, we’ve been together for about two months and I’ve built deep and meaningful relationships with my cast and crew. They’re all special people to me, and when that happens, every scene and moment means a lot more. I have to thank everyone around me. When you’re working with people you like, you’re able to reach deeper inside.

PC: Billy’s perspective is different from a lot of the students at the academy. What can you tease about his arc for the rest of the season?
Liam: I’m constantly surprised every single week. Every time I think I have him pegged, Rick and Miles [Orion Feldsott] and all the writers come to me with something new. Most of the time, I’m 100% on board. [laughs] Sometimes I’ll be like, “But what about the last episode when he was this way?” [laughs]

Rick has said to me that he doesn’t write good or bad characters, he writes how he thinks people are. It’s a really eye-opening experience to see how people can change every single time you see them. It’s going to be a lot of fun to watch it all unfold.

PC: You said earlier that you read the comic book series. If Deadly Class gets picked up for a second season, where would you like to see Billy’s storyline head?
Liam: I just want to see where it all goes. When you’re on a rollercoaster, you don’t really think about the big drop that’s about to come; you’re just along for the ride. I want to see how he changes and grows and if he stays true to himself.

To keep up with Liam, follow him on Twitter and Instagram, and catch Deadly Class every Wednesday at 10/9c on SYFY.

Photo Credit: Katie Yu/SYFY