N 'GRATH  TO DO   "A BUG'S LIFE II" 

N 'Grath

In a press conference today, Babylon 5's resident Down Below arthropod, let it be known that he will be doing Disney - Pixar's sequel to "A Bug's Life" called "A Bug's Life II"

The embattled actor who portrayed N'Grath has made it clear he is moving on.

"I made this character.  It has been hard. JMS asked me to do 'The Gathering,' and I had to drop several projects to help him out. I made a commitment, but my scenes were rare and often cut.  Then there were the Down Below want'a be's that grabbed my time.  What was with Byron?  Deuce was okay, for a human that is. It seemed natural to ask for free time to try some other ventures so I asked for time off."

We asked him about the rumors he was fired.

"I'm not sure what happened.  I was doing a U.K. convention, Coyote 468, and a fan told me I was out.  That was the first I heard of it. JMS's people said I never returned his call.  Heck, I've got eight arms, I can do seven things and return a call !  This is a hornet's nest.  JMS's people, WB's people, my bugs, ... what a mess !  All I know is that I'm not doing B5."

Reporter went on to explain his discontent.

"I'm a professional.  I come from a family of professional actors.  My Dad starred with James Whitmore and Leonard Nimoy in the Warner Brothers classic 'Them!' and later "The Them" and "Them The Invasion."  We're a Hollywood tradition like the Barrymores.  I just expected them to be professionals too.

N'Grath also addressed the 'Crusade' rumors.

"True, the asked me to reprise my role in 'Crusade.'  However, TNT just offered scale pay for for the day part.  What cheap skates !   It was an insult.  If you want talent, you pay for talent."

The details of "A Bug's Life II" are sketchy, but N'Gath gave us a few details.

"Disney is experimenting with new areas and wanted a more mature theme for the sequel.  Filk was barely a larvae in the first run. This film will explore the social issues like, "Is it socially acceptable to kill and eat you spouse after mating?" 

The question we had was, "How a preying mantis could play an ant?"

"It is make-up.  Thank the make-up department.  If they can make Bea Arthur presentable, they can make me anything."

N'Gath was careful in dealing with the co-star controversy.

"Yes, we have all heard that Disney is under pressure from Jesse Jackson to pick an actor of color.  I'm not sure Aunt Jamima is the ideal for the part.  I assume those Hollywood exec.s know she's an "aunt" and not an "ant," but who knows with the way those So. Cal. Hollywood Starbuck's types pronounce things.  Movies have already taken up the inter-racial thing.  I'm not sure if inter-species is where they want to go."

N'Gath had one comforting note for Galactic Inquizitor fans.

"I'll always remember my roots.  I may be busy, but I'll continue my gossip column."

Updated on: April 29, 2002 

A Bug's Life

Barrymores

" Them ! "