Gabriel Darku on ‘October Faction’ and Working on Sci-fi and Horror Projects [Exclusive Interview]

Netflix introduced the world to another family of hunters on October Faction, as the series debuted earlier this year.

Among the members of the family is Geoff Allen, played by Gabriel Darku, a teenager who discovers his family’s supernatural secret, and is intent on learning more.

Darku took some time to answer some questions about his work on October Faction, insight into Geoff and his world, the horror anthology Slasher, and what’s on his watch list.

Tell-Tale TV: What drew you to the role of Geoff, initially? 

Gabriel Darku: I can easily say it was the fact that Geoff is so different [from] myself. I love getting to play characters that will challenge me, and right away, I knew that I would have fun with it. Also, the sci-fi aspect of the show and playing a character with powers definitely appeased the geek in me. 

Tell-Tale TV: Can you describe Geoff Allen and where he’s at when we meet him in October Faction? 

Darku: When we first meet Geoff Allen, we get a great view of the kind of person he is; charismatic, witty, blunt, and highly intelligent. He’s lived all over the world, traveling at the whim of his parents, whom he believes to be insurance agents.

With them currently stationed in Japan, Geoff has enjoyed learning the language and successfully mingling with his senior year classmates and has no idea he’s about to be relocated yet again. Despite the intelligence and confidence, Geoff is still a teenager simply trying to enjoy his formative years. And just like any teenager, he hates when his parents spoil his plans. 

Tell-Tale TV: How much inspiration for how you played Geoff was drawn from the October Faction comics? 

Darku:  I was unaware of the comics before starting the project, and there was no time to study them extensively as we were on camera the same week. My inspiration came from the scripts themselves, as the characters are fleshed out much more for a screen audience.

It was clear to me from the beginning that this was an interpretation, and making the characters feel like the ones in the comic was never the key goal. Knowing that the creator of the comics was involved in the show, keeping it authentic to his source material, I was able to view my ignorance of the comics as a blank canvas and really shape my character around the material in the scripts. 

Tell-Tale TV: A lot of your work has been in the genre, from October Faction and Shadowhunters to Impulse and American Gods. Is science fiction/fantasy a genre you find yourself naturally drawn to? If so, what is it about these worlds that draw you to the roles? 

Darku: That’s an interesting question because, as an audience member, I can easily say yes, I’m very much drawn to science fiction and fantasy. I love how they can make you feel like a kid again; your imagination is given [a] chance to run wild. A good escape from reality is always welcome.

However, as an actor, I find myself drawn to the drama of a story. Great stories not only worth telling, but that will have a tangible impact on an audience. That’s what really attracts me to a script. 

Tell-Tale TV: You were also on the anthology series, Slasher. How was that experience filming and playing in a more horror-centered series compared to October Faction? 

Darku: My experience on Slasher was incredible. I’m a huge fan of horror. Being in a horror project was definitely on my bucket list, so I was beyond excited when I got the role. It was definitely a lot more uncomfortable filming Slasher, and I mean that literally.

There were days where I was covered in blood from start to finish, even during lunch break!

I also learned that you really need to take care of yourself emotionally as an actor. The material that we dealt with on that show was so dark and so heavy that I would get home and actually break down into tears because I couldn’t let go; it affected me that much. It was definitely an experience that I’ll never forget. 

Tell-Tale TV: What TV shows are currently on your must-see/must-binge list? 

Darku: There is so much content to watch right now. It’s actually insane. On the subject of sci-fi, The Witcher is something that I’ve been very excited about and have yet to get into, so that’s very high on my list for sure. 

—

Be sure to catch Gabriel Darku on October Faction Season 1 now available on Netflix, and horror anthology Slasher available on Netflix. 

*Featured image credit: Megan Vincent

 Follow us on Twitter! 

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

What to Watch on TV: Homeland, Schitt’s Creek, The Thing About Harry