FBI: Most Wanted star Kellan Lutz previews the CBS spinoff

Before FBI: Most Wanted premieres on CBS, Kellan Lutz told Precinct TV why he’s confident that ‘really great television’ is ahead in the FBI spinoff.

Next week CBS expands the FBI universe by premiering FBI: Most Wanted, the show’s first spinoff focused on the Fugitive Task Force introduced in the episode “Most Wanted.” It’s a high-stakes cat and mouse series, chasing down criminals before they can escape—or continue their rampage.

Kellan Lutz stars in the new series as Special Agent Kenny Crosby, one of the task force members who is equal parts brain and brawn, not afraid to get physical when the situation calls for it. Ahead of the series premiere, he spoke to Precinct TV about what drew him to the FBI spinoff and why he loves it already.

Learn more in our Kellan Lutz interview below, then be sure to tune in for the FBI: Most Wanted premiere on CBS at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT this coming Tuesday, Jan. 7.

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Precinct TV: What was it about FBI: Most Wanted that pulled you in originally?

Kellan Lutz: That’s multi-layered. I love doing film and traveling the world, but once I got married, you’re thinking for two people and you’re an us. I definitely wanted to start a family with [his wife] Brittany, and with that you want to have some consistency.

I still want to do movies, but I am excited to be a father and have kids, [and] to find a show that I can have consistency with [so] our kid wasn’t moving around all the time. That I could come home, and they didn’t really have days go by where I wasn’t around, or they couldn’t come with me internationally for a movie. So it’s just the right time; it’s the season of life I’m in.

And working with Dick Wolf has really good odds of going for a really long time, especially with the crew and writers and amazing actors I get to work with. It’s definitely a little new for me but fun. I’m up for it.

PTV: One of your earlier roles was guest-starring on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Did that part give you any insight into how the procedural genre works, or has this been a whole new experience for you?

KL: No, not at all. I wish. When I did those co-star roles, you’re playing the bad guy, so I think it’s just different when you’re playing the one who they’re seeking. I really had no idea. In all honesty, two things that I love is being in control and having freedom, and being part of a procedural series, you don’t have that. You work for seven to ten months a year and you aren’t in charge of your schedule, whereas in movies you know if you’re working next month or not.

I’m learning a lot about myself…and I’m just really grateful for this team of actors. Julian [McMahon] is such a great actor to work with and just a great captain of our ship, and our showrunner, it’s just having it really good on the show…Everything is well-oiled and that makes my enjoyment of doing TV so much better.

I was a little afraid, like what am I doing? I’ve never had a job for so long and I’m already getting a little anxious, but every new episode is so much fun. We shoot every episode like a movie, the scripts are so different and it’s just shot really well, so I’m very confident that we’re making really great television versus just phoning it in and making something cheesy.

PTV: Your film career has featured a lot of physical roles. How much has that helped you with the physical elements of FBI: Most Wanted?

KL: I think that’s really been a blessing. I love doing action movies and I’m well-trained in the military [aspects] and shooting guns, so I think that was very helpful for them casting me. I am the character that usually punches or breaks down doors, or just does a lot of the heavy lifting, so that’s fun. One of the things is we don’t shoot real guns on the show, and I’m like man, I miss movies where you get to blow stuff up for real. (laughs)

PTV: What have you loved most about working on the show so far?

KL: The cool thing about our show is that we sort of give the audience everything in the beginning. Within the first minute you see who the bad guy is, and usually the bad guy’s a good person. You see, for example, a mother whose son got arrested in a very unjust way—because the cops or the lawyers are discriminating or some sort of injustice—and then the mom tries to save her son. The mom just doesn’t know what to do, and she ends up making some bad decisions.

You see this really beautiful story arc within the first five minutes of the teaser as we start our show; it really gets you invested and gets you wanting to see how it ends in a really beautiful and delicate way. Then it’s like a really epic, gritty movie, so there’s a lot to enjoy.

PTV: For TV crime drama fans who are about to be introduced to you, what other Kellan Lutz roles should they check out?

KL: I’ve got a lot. I was able to do Stick It with [FBI star] Missy Peregrym back in the day. Then Generation Kill, which was paying homage to the Marines. And from my comedic side, I did Accepted, which was really fun. Those are my favorites, and then obviously Twilight; that’s always on TV, so you just turn on TV and you’ll see one of those.

PTV: Is there anything you want to say to TV crime drama viewers before they tune into the FBI: Most Wanted premiere?

KL: I really love what Dick’s been doing with these universes—and it’s just a fun show to sit back, get some popcorn, get some friends and come on the ride with us.

FBI: Most Wanted premieres Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.