Wednesday’s finale marks Nick Zano’s final episode as a series regular.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: So this is your final episode as a series regular.
Was it your decision to make this your last season?
The cast of Legends of Tomorrow.Bettina Strauss/The CW
NICK ZANO:It was my decision.
My contract was coming to an end.
That decision was made during last hiatus, but the only people who knew were Phil and the producers.
Nick Zano as Nate Heywood/Steel on ‘Legends of Tomorrow’.Bettina Strauss/The CW
My castmates didn’t know.
I’m like, “This is it.”
They’re like, “What?!”
In the season 7 finale, Nate (Nick Zano, right) left the Waverider to live with his girlfriend Zari (Tala Ashe, left) inside of a totem.The CW
We’re a tight group that’s been through a lot.
How did your costars behave when it became the thing you were trying to avoid?
Because you’re around a lot of people on a set.
So there’s a lot of eye contact.
That’s just people who have been together for so long communicating so much.
I imagine the producers wanted you to return for another season if it gets renewed.
What made you decide that you wanted to leave when your contract was up?
I don’t know.
There’s always been a voice that’s guided me in my life.
But that’s what happened, and that’s a beautiful thing.
That’s a wonderful thing!
My head, heart, and gut told me that it was time.
So, I spoke with Phil, and then we started.
To Phil’s credit, he gave me a beautiful, honorable exit that I’m forever grateful for.
So you’re satisfied with Nate’s story wrapping up with him going to join Zari in the totem?
Anybody who watches the show knows that this is what the guy is really about.
Being rewarded this way is a beautiful thing for this character.
[Laughs] It’s insane.
But yeah, they found a way.
What was your very last day on set like?
It was a day early.
It was a Wednesday.
I was like, “Really?”
Then I felt the shift in my coworkers when everybody heard that we’re doing the scene.
It was an extraordinary experience for me internally.
I got a collapse hug from my coworkers that I was in the center of.
It was beautiful and it was nice, and it was special.
And then it broke and I just saw the entire crew staring at me.
I don’t prepare stuff to say, I just say things.
There’s no ill will.
Usually if there’s an ending, there’s something bad happening somewhere in the shadows.
Nothing bad ever happened from the time I walked in to the time I walked out.
What was the last scene you shot?
I have no idea [Laughs].
It was something [with] a crane.
We were looking up.
I knew I was going to feel a lot.
I just didn’t know how much I was going to feel.
If the show gets renewed for a final season, would you be open to returning in some compacity?
[Laughs] Once a Legend, always a Legend.
What do you think you’ll miss the most about being onLegends?
Conversely, what do you think you’ll miss the least?
November through February, 3 a.m. Saturday mornings in the raining woods.
I think that’s what I’ll miss the least.
That’s the thing about time.
So, it’s not one episode that’s like the most that I can think of.
Gugs' episode was just fun for all of us.
Then for us, just being so ridiculous in so many different ways.
It was so much work, but all that work we knew there was a huge payoff.
I think this is the rare situation: Surround yourself with seven actors who are not complaining.
And that’s what we were.
We were really working hard in that episode because we all knew the outcome.
We just kind of pushed one another through with like joy.
Have you started figuring out what you want to do next?
Do you have an idea of a genre or pop in of character you want to play?
I’ve done sitcoms, superhero shows, sci-fi shows, comedies.
Andall of that is just onLegends.
Exactly, that was last month.
[Laughs] But I’m in a new place for the first time in my life.
I’m really excited to just read and go, “That’s interesting.
I’d really like to put all of my energy and efforts into this.”
Is there anything else you want to add?
I just want to thank our fanbase, our die-hardLegendsfans.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
