Darren Criss Returns with More Glee at San Diego Comic-Con 2011

By Ken

Darren Criss, that A Very Harry Potter Musical wonder who parlayed being viral into a series regular on Glee, will come one step closer to being Harry Potter: He’ll step in the shoes of Daniel Radcliffe for three weeks on Broadway for How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Criss is expected to take over the role in January when Radcliffe leaves the show at the Al Hirschfeld Theater.

It was just one year ago that a shaggy haired Criss appeared at Comic Con 2010’s Harry Potter fandom panel to the screams of adoring fans. True to his nature, he put on a show, charming the audience with wit and song. Fast-forward a year later, and Criss was again strumming his guitar, but this time at a Screen Actors Guild event. And on the Glee panel this year at Comic-Con, he fielded most of the questions from the audience. Criss suggested that his character has daddy issues and wondered if his parents would appear on the show. (We here at 8asians wonder if one parent would be Filipino.)

Along with the other API stars of the show, Harry Shum Jr and Jenna Ushkowitz, Criss shared footage of Glee: The 3D Concert Movie, directed by Kevin Tancharoen (who despite his presence at Comic Con with the Glee movie and Mortal Kombat: Legacy couldn’t get into a Nintendo party).

In answering questions about what Disney song he’d like to perform, he told the audience that he’d be afraid to sing them—however there was some PR maneuvering going on as most of his repertoire at Maggiano’s at the Grove in Los Angeles was “recontextualized” Disney songs.

We’ll be seeing more of Criss and Shum next year, both were promoted to cast regulars for next season. And while the fear of “graduation” is present in the cast members’ minds, Criss speculated that Blaine may have held himself back in school. At the SAG panel, Criss mentioned that everything goes so fast on the show that sit-downs with the creators regarding the characters are impossible. Perhaps the hour long panel was the longest time the cast members had to share with Brad Falchuk, co-creator of Glee.

Dropping none-to-subtle hints in front of 6500 people regarding his character to his boss—that’s How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

ABOUT KEN: Ken Choy is an actor, writer, community organizer, and producer of Breaking the Bow. He is gay, green, and gluten-free.

(Image credit: Entertainista)