Imagining things are there that are not really there, with the green screen, is very much like theatre, when you're looking at the fourth wall.
I actually learned about Cyborg through the cartoon shows, and I think that's how most people learn about Cyborg.
I was huge fan of most of the animated series growing up in the golden era of '90s superhero animation. I didn't care who was producing - it was much more about the specific heroes that I connected with.
I'd love to do something in a more humanitarian context. I think it will come to me.
I've had lots of fans who come out and say, 'Listen, I can relate to Cyborg because I lost a limb,' or 'I have this cochlear implant.' It's one of those things when you actually start seeing it, when you actually start hearing about it, that made Cyborg more relevant to me than I think he ever had been up until that point.
I'm not trying to rush my life.
I'm proud that I can represent, within Cyborg, a couple of different groups. One being people of color, but also, Cyborg is a superhero that is in many ways disabled. So, being able to give representation from that end as well is something that's really powerful to me.
Cyborg represents not just people who are differently abled: he is also a representation of the black community and people of colour within the Justice League. Being able to don both those mantles with the integrity which that character would need to be portrayed and was adhered to was something that was very important.
I remember watching Wesley Snipes as Blade. I watched Michael Jai White as Spawn. I even watch Shaquille O'Neal as Steel. I felt like seeing a physical representation, a non-cartoon representation, affected me in a much different way.
It wasn't until I booked the role of Cyborg that I was sent literally everything Cyborg-related from DC comics.
What drew me to Cyborg was the tragic nature of his origins and how grounded he is in a reality that I recognise. As an actor, it really gave me a lot to chew on.
I was a huge fan of that Cyborg growing up as a kid because that was when the original cartoon show was on, and Khary Payton is a master at what he does.
I was literally in the car every day on my way home from school trying to hurry up and get the homework done so I could just go home and watch the cartoons and not be bothered.
Obviously, the world is yearning for more diversity.
I didn't know too much about his comic book history. I know that in 'Teen Titans,' he's much more the comedic relief. But after reading the comic book iteration of Cyborg in 'The New Teen Titans' from the 1980s that Marv Wolfman and George Perez had worked on, I saw that there was a lot of texture to the character.
Those early Cyborg comics were very politically charged, and he was very aware of being a black superhero.
I felt like a typical kid growing up, and Lawnside is a nice town with a huge historical significance.
I was really able to integrate into a diverse school and learn to get along with all different types of people.
Once you actually book the role, you see that people have faith in your ability to portray the character.
I love the levels, the depth, that the character has. He is the only member of the Justice League who cannot take off his costume. He is Cyborg 24/7.
