Brendon Zub Talks ‘Batwoman’s’ Chuck Dodgson [Exclusive Interview]

You might recognize Brendon Zub as a french baker in a Hallmark movie or as one of The Grounders in The 100. Now, you can catch Zub on The CW series Batwoman as Chuck Dodgson. 

I recently spoke with Zub about his work on Batwoman, his skills in carpentry and jujitsu, and whether he prefers playing heroes or villains. 

Zub actually auditioned for a couple of roles on Batwoman, including Sophie’s Crow husband, who is played by Greyston Holt.

One of the big reveals on Batwoman‘s pilot episode is Dodgson’s allegiance to Alice, the leader of The Wonderland Gang, played by Rachel Skarsten. Zub teased that we will find out more about their relationship as the series progresses. 

He’s also aware that his character’s name is actually the real name Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll, and he has already seen some fan theories. 

However, he doesn’t know how much his story will align with the comic book universe. “I do know that even though the series is respecting the life of the comics, it is its own thing at the same time,” Zub said.

Although Dodgson might appear as an enigma on screen, the writers have structured the story to slowly peel back layers to reveal more about his character and his relationship to Alice. 

“Each episode, you find out a little bit more and add a little bit of backstory to Dodgson’s character, and [his and] Alice’s complicated relationship — how they’re linked, their plans, ulterior motives, and things like that,” Zub explained. 

One thing that Zub finds particularly interesting is how Dodgson might have been turned to the side of the Wonderland Gang. 

“I think later on there’s the possibility of finding out how Dodgson infiltrated The Crows or if he even infiltrated them at all and he just switched over for reasons of his own.”

Zub also recently appeared on the reimagined Charmed series as Trip Bailey who was killed pretty early on in the series run. In contrast to his Charmed character, his Batwoman counterpoint is darker and definitely a bad guy.  

“I’m starting to play a few more bad guys all of a sudden. They’re fun. I love the good guy roles, the romantic leads, but the bad guy roles, there’s a little bit more to them — a bit more backstory, a bit more complication. So they’re very interesting and fun to play. When I found out I was a double agent, it was a nice surprise, to be able to go down that road.”

Zub also practices Brazillian jujitsu. His experience and skills have helped a little bit in his role as Chuck Dodgson, although maybe not in the way he hoped. 

“My martial arts has helped a little bit,” Zub said. “Although I’ve been getting beat up a lot in training and in the show. It definitely helps with a lot of choreography and being able to do the moves that the stunt team asks you to do.”

He has been doing his own stunts on the set and particularly remembers a fight scene in Batwoman Season 1 Episode 2, “Rabbit Hole.”  

“It was a big episode for me, and I did pretty much all those stunts in a big fight with Nicole Kang’s character, Mary, in the hospital. I was throwing her around, and trying to break down the door with the ax,” Zub remembered. 

In addition to acting, Zub is also a skilled carpenter. He’s been working as a carpenter between his film and TV gigs for most of his career in Vancouver until he started working full-time as an actor a few years ago. 

“I started carpentry when I was in college. I used to work at a pizza joint, and then I switched to carpentry to help pay the bills and finish my way through school.”

The combination has worked well. Carpentry is his passion and he was able to become his own boss and set his own hours. He also reflected on how he’s balanced his carpentry gigs with the construction work he’s had over the years. 

“It was difficult and challenging because I’d be renovating somebody’s house or building a complex with my hard hat and steel-toed boots, and then ‘Oh, I have to go audition for an FBI role in The Flash or Supernatural or something, and I’d have to change in the client’s bathroom. Go, come back to work, put on the tool belt, and get back at it,” Zub explained.

Zub also said that his carpentry work has led him to book a few roles. 

“I came in off the street with my tool belt, hard hat, and [high-visability] vest because it was just very realistic and old, and used,” Zub recalled.

In addition to his work on Batwoman, Zub has also shot a few TV movies this year including Made for You, With Love, a romantic film which aired this spring.

He also just completed another TV movie called The Past Never Dies. 

“It’s a thriller, and I play a detective on the hunt for a rapist and killer. It’s a bit different than the romantic comedy stuff I’ve been shooting. It’s darker and grittier, it’s a lot of fun.”

With such a dynamic range of characters, Zub also reflected on his journey as an actor so far. 

“I’m glad I’ve been a little bit of a chameleon in a lot of things, whether it be a grounder in The 100, or a French baker, or a British prince. I got to play a gambit in my roles from my life experience, and it’s been a very rewarding and fun career. I never know what to expect,” Zub said.

Finally, Zub shared what he’s been watching on television recently.

“I don’t watch as much as I’d like to, mainly because I’m auditioning all the time for shows, but I’m enjoying Peaky Blinders on Netflix. I’ve recently binged The Haunting of Hill House,” Zub said.

“Usually, I watch a lot of shows I’m auditioning for to get a sense of them,” he added. “But I’m a big fan of those and Game of Thrones, and Breaking Bad. I’ll tune in to a lot of the shows that shoot up here like [Chilling Adventures of Sabrina], and other shows too, just to stay on top because you need what’s going on — especially in the Arrowverse.” 

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Batwoman airs Sundays at 8/7c on The CW.

*Featured image credit: Noah Asanias

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