CWGood news for those who would like to keep objectifying the hot men on The Originals! There's now a built-in excuse for shirtlessness, thanks to Marcel's new business in the French Quarter in New Orleans: a boxing gym.
"He converted the church into a gym, so he's been using that for recruiting," Charles Michael Davis dishes to E! News. Since the season two finale, Marcel has been busy "picking up a few hotties" and installing the lighting in his new headquarters, Davis jokes. "His Google search is all DIY. ‘DIY convert church to boxing gym.' But yeah, he's been recruiting and he's back in the Quarter and getting readjusted."
The season three premiere will pick up several months after the season two ending, with a rift dividing Klaus (Joseph Morgan) and Elijah (Daniel Gillies) and Freya (Riley Voekel) trying to mend their relationship. Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) is still cursed to remain in her wolf form for most of the month, while Marcel has regained control of the French Quarter and is using his gym to recruit new vampires. (And The CW is using it to keep him and others shirtless. You're welcome.)
"It seems to be a trend," Davis says. "If you look back at season two, I think I was shirtless by episode one or two, and I had pants and boots on, which made no sense. I put on pants, then I put on socks, then I put a boot on each foot, and then I didn't put a shirt on. It makes absolutely no sense! I argued with them, and they said, 'It's The CW.'"
But in addition to questionable fashion choices, Marcel is the man in control of vampire affairs. "He represents the vampire community, especially when negotiating with the witches, and he's in charge when new vampires come into town," Davis says.
As the season begins, we'll see a few new vampires arrive—powerful ones from the Mikaelson family's past. "They predate Marcel so they're pretty strong," Davis reveals, but it's unclear whether they'll get along with the King of New Orleans. "We don't know which side Marcel's going to be on."
The Originals airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. after The Vampire Diaries.