Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig Talk ‘Heels’ Season 2 [Interview]

 Starz’ Heels Season 2 premiere is quickly approaching, and things aren’t looking well for Jack Spade or Ace Spade.

I had the opportunity to chat with Stephen Amell (Jack Spade) and Alexander Ludwig (Ace Spade) about their characters’ journeys in the upcoming season, the importance of mental health, and more.

The end of Heels Season 1 Episode 8, “Double Turn,” saw the bond between brothers break and end in a flurry of fists. That split-second decision in real-time ultimately changed everything for the DWL as Crystal was forced to intervene, becoming the new DWL champion.

On Jack’s new focus:

Amell said Season 2 will see Jack focus less on worrying about those around him and taking a new interest in himself.

“He’s more focusing on handling his own business, taking accountability for his actions, and the way that he’s behaved since his father killed himself, which has been, I think, well-intentioned but misguided and has hurt people.”

“This is very much about him not trying to wave a magic wand and make everything better with everyone all at once, but just taking accountability for his actions, specifically with Ace and Stacey. And saying, ‘Look, this is me. This is what happened. Here I am, hat in hand. I’m sorry, what do I do?'” Amell continued.

On what we can expect from Ace:

In the same boat, Ace will spend a portion of the season reflecting on his past actions, trying to pick up the pieces from the Season 1 finale, and figuring out his identity inside and outside of the ring.

“What I love about this season so much is not only do the women lead the charge, and you get to see that on a whole other front, which is really exciting with this backdrop, but you get to see the inklings of what this could be with Jack and Ace. You know, how big this actually could be, and a road is finally paved to the kind of national sensation or promotion this actually could be, which is exciting,” Ludwig said.

One thing Ludwig loves about the series is how multi-faceted it is, focusing on not just wrestling but individual identities, family, and real-life issues.

“I think that this show has also been about mental health, and that’s becoming a big conversation in sports in general. Ace is dealing with his own version of that. He’s been traumatized for years, and I think that his outlook needs to change on his life and on himself because he feels abandoned by his father.”

“This is the first time you see Ace fully step into a role that he never, ever wanted to step into as a performer, but also as a human being. I think towards the end of this season you really start to see him become more of the man he was always destined to become,” Ludwig continued.

New dynamics in Season 2:

Heels Season 2 will see a brand-new power dynamic at play with Crystal as the new face of the DWL, something Amell says will take a toll on Jack in the early portion of the season.

“It’s like, ‘Is it a big seat change? Or do we call an audible, and we’re gonna put everything back to where it was the next day?’ I think what we discover for Jack is that while he appreciates what Crystal did, he may not see it as the big seat change that audience members, fans, or she might have seen it as,” Amell said.

It’s not a merry time for Jack in the slightest, as he’s forced to deal with the growing drama and rivalries at the DWL. Additionally, he’s also dealing with a strained marriage and home life.

On how long the family drama will last:

According to Amell, however, fans won’t be put through the wringer when it comes to Jack’s familial drama.

“I think that the troubled marriage or the conceit of the nagging spouse, be it the husband or the wife, is a little tired, personally. So, I thought it’d be fun, and I think Mike [O’Malley} thought it’d be fun too to examine a relationship where these guys love each other, but life isn’t perfect, but here’s what they’re gonna do.”

“The important thing is they’re going to show up for one another, and they’re going to be honest with one another about everything. About the big things, little things, not just the Kleenex and trying to destroy Ace’s life, but like, ‘Were you on time for work today, or were you five minutes late?’ You could say you’re on time, but no, you say you’re five minutes late. Honesty about everything is an important thing, especially about the little things,” Amell continued.

On getting a second season:

Living in the era where your favorite TV series could be canceled at a moment’s notice and even digitally erased altogether, it’s always a blessing for a show to be able to return after the first season.

“Second season is the toughest season to get. Well, actually getting something off the ground and getting to shoot it in the first place is probably technically more challenging, but bridging that gap from a first to a second season seems to always be where the show takes off,” Amell said.

“You have some time under your belt to see what works. You also have the real benefit of audience interaction and seeing what pops for people and what doesn’t. I’ve been very fortunate. This is the second time I’ve gotten a second season, and I hope that very shortly it’ll be the second time that I get a third [season],” Amell continued.

“It’s very humbling. I think I speak for Stephen [Amell] as well, like, there’s not a lot of shows like this that are made like this, and that’s what drew us to it. We were like, ‘When will we ever get a chance to do something like this and tell this kind of a story for hopefully six years plus?’ It’s so far and few between,” Ludwig added.

“Back in the day, this would have been the kind of movie that would have made me want to be an actor, and now it’s TV shows, right? I love everything about this. I love its flawed characters, that it’s a world I’m not super familiar with, and that I’ve fallen in love with simultaneously.”

On how Ludwig relates to his character:

Portraying these imperfect characters working furiously to get their lives in order, Ludwig compares portions of his life with his character.

He thinks Ace could take a few pointers from him, which made him love the character even more.

“I’ve dealt with my own versions of substance abuse and whatnot, and when you go to rehab, for example, you’re doing three years of therapy in 50 days. You get really, really into why there are certain things that are driving you to become the human being you’re becoming. So, it wasn’t that I’m learning from Ace, it’s that I’m understanding Ace, and that’s why I loved him,” Ludwig said.

“I understood that underneath these childlike temper tantrums that he throws and these irrational outbursts, there is a child crying for help. And the saddest thing about it is that only he can save himself from it. There’s nobody else who can do it for him,” Ludwig continued.

“He’s looking for all this external validation when in actuality, the only thing that is ever going to save him is coming to terms with himself and his father’s suicide. So, to me, I thought Ace was such a beautiful character because you love to love him, and you love to hate him.”

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Heels Season 2 premieres on July 28th at 10/9c on Starz.

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