Genevieve Kang Talks ‘Locke & Key,’ Netflix’s New Supernatural Powerhouse Series [Exclusive Interview]

Known best for her role on Freeform’s Shadowhunters, Genevieve Kang is no stranger to the supernatural world. 

She’s back on our screens again, this time playing Jackie Veda in Locke & Key–Netflix’s new adaptation of Joe Hill’s iconic horror comic series. 

Deviating from the comics, Veda is now Tyler Locke’s girlfriend, a sweet but supportive figure in the Lockes’ life who never stands down for a challenge and is always down to help her friends defeat some evil demons. 

I had some questions for Genevieve about her time on Locke & Key, what she hopes to see for her character moving forward, and how weird it must be to act scared of special effects that don’t actually exist. 

Tell-Tale TV: Were you a fan of the Locke & Key comics before being cast in the show? If not, did you read some of them to get a better grasp of the world Joe Hill had created?

Genevieve Kang: I actually wasn’t familiar with the comic books before joining the project. Prior to being cast, I did some digging online to learn more about Locke & Key and learned that Jackie in the scripts is very different from how she’s portrayed in the comic books.

So, I chose to not read the comic books and to instead approach the scripts as their own unique material. Because the scripts are so well-written, I never felt like I was missing out on pertinent information to play Jackie or tell the story. This is not to say I won’t ever read the comic books — I’ve flipped through a few of them and the illustrations alone are so incredible!

Tell-Tale TV: What were some of your favorite scenes to film on the series?

Kang: One of my favorite scenes to film was when Jackie confronts Tyler at the party. Throughout most of the series, we see Jackie so put together. She’s sweet. She’s forgiving. It was fun in this scene to show another side of Jackie — still very much aligned with her self-assuredness, but a little more guns blazing.

I also really liked filming the cliff and cave exterior shots in the final episode. We filmed in Nova Scotia, so maybe part of what I really liked was being close to the ocean. The coast is so beautiful!

But when we filmed on the cliffs, for safety purposes we all had to wear harnesses. And there’s something about being in a harness on-set that makes me feel really badass, like I’m about to do a cool stunt. I so badly wanted to see how far I could run and jump off the cliff while remaining attached to a tree, but sadly no one would let me.

Tell-Tale TV: We’ve yet to hear if Locke & Key will get picked up for a second season (fingers crossed!). What do you hope to see unfolding if there is another season, for both the Lockes and your character, Jackie?

Kang: I really love that by the end of the season, the Locke kids are brought together by the magic. There’s more unity as the new Keepers of Keys and in the aftermath of their father’s tragic death. Moving forward, it will be interesting to see what unfolds for Kinsey, still without her fear intact. F

or Tyler, I’m most curious about what will happen as he becomes older — because as we learn in the first season, once you turn 18 you don’t remember the magic. Tyler (and hey, Jackie too!) is 17 in the first season of the show. So, this is something that will be really fascinating to watch unfold.

As for Jackie, I would love to explore a bit more of her backstory and where she’s coming from. It would also be interesting for Jackie to experience more of the magic, while still remaining true to her initially skeptical roots.

Tell-Tale TV: Jackie and Tyler had a few bumps in the road regarding their relationship. First Tyler kissed Jackie’s friend Eden, and then ended up in a steamy make-out session with Dodge. Why do you think Jackie was so open to forgiving Tyler, and moving forward so quickly?

Kang: One of Jackie’s best qualities and definitely my favorite thing about her is the ability to forgive others. She has a great deal of empathy for other people and strives to see things from their perspective.

However, Jackie doesn’t let people walk all over her. She believes in second chances, as we see with Tyler. But much of that is because she really believes that Tyler is a better person than what he’s showing her. Jackie is understanding of what Tyler must be going through in the wake of his father’s death. Also, they’re in high school.

Regarding Dodge –Jackie doesn’t actually know about that steamy make-out session, so we’ll have to wait and see if that’s revealed to her in season two! Stay tuned.

Tell-Tale TV: Were you all aware of the big finale twist when filming started, or were you just as surprised as we were by the shocking ending?

Kang: I’m not sure about the rest of my cast, but it was a surprise to me! I found out when I read the final script. I think it’s a really great direction for the story to go: Eden Hawkins, girl demon. With Gabe and Eden in a partnership and hungry for keys, it would be fun to see where that leaves the rest of the demon disposal gang — Tyler, Kinsey, Jackie, and Scot.

Tell-Tale TV: There are a lot of incredible special effects used to bring the world of Locke & Key to life. How is it having to pretend to be scared by things that might not actually be in front of you?

Kang: Isn’t this the truest form of acting, because we really have to use our imaginations? Truthfully, I had a lot of fun with it! But compared to some of my other castmates, I only had to be scared by imaginary flames and nothingness a few times. Ask me again when I have to shoot an entire film or show with a green screen and floating tennis balls.

Tell-Tale TV: You also played Morgan Young on Shadowhunters. Did working on a show like Shadowhunters prepare you for another fantasy show like Locke & Key? That whole Owl/Jace situation was pretty terrifying.

Kang: I actually never really thought about that. I loved my time on Shadowhunters! It was a lot of fun playing someone who gets possessed by a demon.

I suppose in terms of the supernatural elements of both shows, Shadowhunters helped to prepare me for playing within a space that was really imaginative and to a degree, otherworldly — something we also find with Locke & Key. But the role I play in Shadowhunters and the experiences I have as Morgan Young are so different from playing Jackie in Locke & Key (at least the Jackie we get to know in season one) that it’s difficult to compare the two.

Tell-Tale TV: Is fantasy a genre you’re interested in pursuing more of, or are you looking forward to different types of projects in the future?

Kang: Fantasy is a lot of fun, but I am wanting to pursue other genres and projects. I have an affinity for what I refer to as “talking movies.” Basically, just two people talking, but beautifully shot and with aesthetically pleasing visuals. The circumstances of the story are often mundane and everyday, ordinary, though sometimes extraordinary.

These films are character-driven. Maybe drama, maybe dramedy, maybe a dark comedy. My first introduction to this kind of film was Before Sunrise with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. I love that trilogy of films so much! Other films that function similarly for me are Frances Ha, Call Me By Your Name, and The Florida Project.

On the other end of the spectrum, I’m also itching to play any kind of role that requires me to be more physical. I come from a background in theatre and I’m also a very active person in my day to day, so anything that allows me to use the full motion of my body would be exciting for me.

Tell-Tale TV: Speaking of other projects, you’re set to appear in Run This Town, which drops this month. What can you tell us about the film, and the character you’ll be playing?

Kang: Run This Town is the story of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford and the well-known political scandal that occurred while he was in office, starring Ben Platt, Damien Lewis, and Mena Massoud. There’s not much I can say about my character in the film except that I’m called The Squirrel.

I originally auditioned for another role, but didn’t get it. Ricky Tollman, our writer and director, wanted to include me in the project in some capacity so he actually revised the script to do so–let’s just say you’ll see me sneak in and out throughout the entirety of the film, just like a small rodent on a crisp spring day.

Tell-Tale TV: Wrapping things up, I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask the obvious: if you could use one of the magical keys from Keyhouse Manor, which would it be, and what would you use it for?

Kang: My favorite is the ghost key. Anything that involves the ability to fly and talk to the dead, count me in. I think the ghost key would be valuable for gathering information and learning about stories from the deceased.

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Be sure to catch Genevieve Kang on Locke & Key, currently streaming on Netflix.

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