Maurice Miller, the nearly 80-year-old bloodsucker on SYFY’s supernatural series Reginald the Vampire, is getting a new title when the show’s second season premieres this Wednesday. During the assessment in last season’s finale, the vampire took a life in order to save his friend Reginald’s, and by doing so, unintentionally made Maurice the new Deacon.
PopWire recently connected with Maurice’s portrayer, Mandela Van Peebles, where he discussed his character’s new leadership role, the status of his relationship with the centuries-old Angela (Savannah Basley), and more of what’s to come in Season 2.
PopWire: In Season 1 of Reginald the Vampire, your character Maurice turned Reginald in order to save his life, making him your progeny. I sort of see both of your characters having a father-son relationship. And in real life, Mandela, you have a great relationship with your father. Is there any part of that relationship that you take influence or inspiration from and put that into your performance with your scenes with Jacob Batalon?
Mandela Van Peebles: Not consciously, maybe subconsciously. It’s funny because I do have a good relationship with my dad. I just see him more as my big brother, so maybe I do that with Jacob too, like that’s my brother. I have a big family, so even with that, it’s like my friends are my extended family. In real life, me and Jacob are friends and I think it really translates over with the chemistry on camera.
PW: We see that Maurice steps into the role of the new Deacon. Heading into the new season, how is he handling the new position?
MVP: Maurice steps into the role as the deacon and I think the reasoning behind it was not to seize power, it was to save Reginald. Being a leader and speaking for the whole vampire nation, it’s just a side effect of saving his best friend and I think that kind of hits him. He’s spent decades being an outlier, going against the grain, a lone wolf, very much so not in good standing with the Vampire Council, and then in a flash, is now representing the vampires and speaking for them as their leader.
I think he’s definitely struggling with part of what made him him and fighting the power, fighting the man, and that now that he is the man, kind of figuring out what to fight, how to be true to himself, and still look for that sense of justice for the underdogs. I think it’s a theme we see throughout Maurice on camera is his relationship with justice and how he feels he can craft and shape the world and that image.
PW: In Season 1, Maurice was obsessed with getting revenge on Angela. But they’ve since rekindled their relationship. What’s their relationship like in Season 2? How are they doing?
MVP: They have that sire bond, and Maurice is Angela’s progeny the same way Reginald is Maurice’s, so that sire bond is there. Mind you, I’m now in this position of power and what does that mean for Angela. I think she definitely feels a sense of debt over. It’s always been rocky so we’re not always on the best of terms, but when you live for an eternity, how long does a grudge last. I think there is a genuine love there between the characters. I’m excited to see everything unfold.
PW: There’s a new big threat surrounding Reginald and the gang in Season 2 of Reginald the Vampire. What can you tease about how this threat is affecting them and their personal lives?
There are crazy new characters that we unlock in Season 2 and the great actors bring so much to scenes and to the set so it’s awesome playing opposite some of our new characters. We definitely need to still fight for our survival and that’s kind of what we all kind of come together to do. It’s definitely a united effort. We all come together so that’s also fun watching us figuring it out together.
PW: For the first half of the season, what can you tease about what’s to come in regards to your character?
MVP: We get to see how Maurice handles this new leadership position and what he chooses to do with it, and who he chooses to delegate that power to because just him being him, he’s not always trying to do all the paperwork. Having Reginald who’s got this ability to learn so fast and do research and memorize and recite and all these things, it definitely is a useful tool for Maurice in this new position. He’s also going to figure out how to share that power amongst the people who share his vision of a new world for vampires and what it means not always sticking old ways and the traditions.
Be sure to check out the full video interview with Mandela Van Peebles below.
Reginald the Vampire Season 2 premieres Wednesday, May 8 at 10pm on SYFY.
