Ryan Guzman Talks 9-1-1 Season 8, Finding Family in His Costars, More

9-1-1 soared to new heights when it was given a second probability at life by ABC. Now, Ryan Guzman and the remainder of the forged are decided to make season 8 higher than ever earlier than.

“I believe everyone has a way of gratitude for the place we’re. I imply, we’re a procedural that’s lasted eight seasons now. It’s distinctive, to [say] the least,” Guzman, 37, solely shared within the newest problem of Us Weekly whereas selling season 8 of the firefighter drama. “So, it’s simply that sort of factor that we had been excited to get again to our work household and get again into this season 8. It’s simply [like], ‘All proper, how can we make this simply nearly as good as final 12 months?’”

After a gradual degree of success on Fox for six seasons, the community canceled the collection final spring just for ABC to revive it hours later. The community’s threat paid off: 9-1-1’s season 7 premiere was the most-watched multiplatform episode since November 2022, and 10 episodes later, the finale reined within the greatest demo viewers on broadcast TV since Could 2023.

Season 8, which premieres on Thursday, September 26, will proceed to comply with Guzman, who portrays navy vet and beloved single dad Eddie Diaz, and the remainder of hearth station 118 as they face new adjustments. With Captain Bobby Nash’s (Peter Krause) unintended resignation, the group will likely be led by the militant — to not point out racist and homophobic — Captain Gerrard (Brian Thompson). It’s a problem Guzman says will likely be rather more tough for some than others.

“[Gerrard] likes all the pieces carried out by the e book and he’s sort of a tough ass. [But] figuring out Eddie’s background, he sort of falls in line,” Guzman defined. “He’s used to this type of habits. He’s used to this type of determine in entrance of him telling him what to do, what to not do. So, it doesn’t actually ruffle Eddie’s feathers an excessive amount of.”

Whereas Gerrard is actually “not” what Eddie “desires” for his crew, Guzman famous that his character’s skill to maintain his feelings in examine will likely be a useful device with the controversial new chief.

“He’s fairly near [the vest] together with his feelings until he’s venting to the therapist or Bobby or Buck or another person within the 118,” he defined. “So it doesn’t actually have an effect on him as a lot as a number of the different characters who occur to be a bit bit extra emotional or erratic of their habits.”

Eddie may be dealing with adjustments at work in stride, however his private life will likely be a distinct story. The fallout from getting concerned with Kim (Devin Kelley) — a lady who resembled his late ex-wife — continues to be in full impact as his son, Christopher (Gavin McHugh), stays in Texas together with his grandparents. And as for his romantic life after splitting from his ex Marisol (Edy Ganem), Guzman teased that Eddie will likely be centered on loving somebody new this season: himself.

“All I can actually say is that when you possibly can’t love one other particular person, it’s normally as a result of you possibly can’t love your self,” Guzman defined. “So, this portion of Eddie’s story goes to be a bit bit extra concerned in his lack of — and his gaining of — self-love.”

One relationship that continues to thrive? Eddie’s shut friendship with Evan “Buck” Buckley (Oliver Stark). The actor instructed Us that the duo are nonetheless “going sturdy,” noting that Eddie will likely be a supply of consolation for Buck when Gerrard makes issues tough on the job.

“Buck’s habits is lots completely different than Eddie, so seeing Buck take care of the load of Gerrard, he undoubtedly leans on the one 118 — and particularly Eddie — a whole lot of the time,” Guzman instructed Us. “In order that relationship is stronger than ever and continues to flourish.”

Buck, in the meantime, will likely be there to help Eddie as he offers together with his newly estranged relationship together with his son. “Particularly now, with Christopher being gone, there’s nobody in Eddie’s life actually,” Guzman identified. “So he leans on his finest pal lots.”

Buck and Eddie have been a fan-favorite duo since Guzman joined the forged for season 2. The duo’s onscreen chemistry, maybe, is helped by Guzman and Stark’s real-life friendship, which has additionally developed over time. Recently, Guzman stated that the pair have related over their mutual love of images.

“We haven’t shot collectively, however we’ll speak about images every so often,” he stated, sharing that Stark is within the midst of lending him a few of his lights. “It’s all a matter of collaboration.”

A part of why followers love 9-1-1 is due to the forged’s bond, and Guzman is grateful they’ve “fine-tuned” their “household dynamic” over time. “We hang around with one another off set on set,” he added. “Like, me and Aisha [Hinds] are going to Disneyland very quickly collectively.”

These genuine friendships have led the 9-1-1 forged to blow up in reputation some place else: social media. Guzman and his costars have grow to be viral sensations for his or her hijinks behind the scenes, usually taking pictures movies doing well-liked TIkTok traits or enjoying lighthearted pranks on one another throughout down time.

“We’ve a good time doing these little movies as a result of they’re humorous,” Guzman stated with fun. “I imply, we’re simply sort of capturing a little bit of what we really do on set usually. And that’s how the ambiance is.”

In latest months, your entire 9-1-1 crew has come collectively to largely honor a brand new member of the season 8 forged: Eddie’s mustache. Guzman is nicely conscious that followers have a “love hate relationship” with the facial hair, however that hasn’t stopped him from exhibiting off the brand new look every time he can.

“[Eddie having a mustache] is one thing I pitched an extended, very long time in the past after I first bought on the present. I needed to do a mustache and it didn’t make it then, nevertheless it got here again this 12 months,” he instructed Us of how the look got here to be. “Kenny [Choi] noticed it. He beloved it. He goes, ‘Are you gonna do it?’ I stated, ‘Man, in the event that they let me do it, I’m there.’ So I despatched an image to [showrunner] Tim Minear, and he beloved it. Subsequent factor you understand, we’re publicizing this mustache prefer it’s its personal character.”

Whereas Guzman — and his mustache — are at present busy taking pictures, a brand new season of 9-1-1 isn’t all he has on the horizon. Guzman is ready to star reverse Rosario Dawson within the film Midnight, a thriller that follows a lady (Alexandra Shipp) being hunted by worldwide criminals who imagine she has a bundle that was given to her by her federal agent sister (Dawson).

Guzman instructed Us that spending his summer season with Dawson was the very best resolution he may have made.

“She was such a blessing to shoot with,” he gushed. “, generally you’re employed with actors which can be very gifted however aren’t very good folks. She was undoubtedly not that. She was such a sweetheart and unbelievable soul on daily basis. Coming to work was only a pleasure.”

Whereas 9-1-1 is maintaining him busy, Guzman can be excited to get again to his “old flame” of featured movies.

“I’m writing and attempting to provide my very own [movie], as of proper now,” he shared. “And I don’t know the way lengthy we’re on 9-1-1, however I’m planning for the longer term to be very busy.”

For now, Guzman is pleased to be proper the place he’s — a spot he is aware of is basically partly to the followers.

“I’m so grateful for [our] loyal fan base and for the viewership and the backing of Eddie’s character,” Guzman instructed Us. “I used to be initially solely imagined to be in a pair episodes. I believe I used to be signed on for one episode, and if that episode did good, I used to be going to be on eternally. I’m so pleased that the viewers love the character and are behind the character.”

“We’ve bought a lot [in] retailer for you this 12 months,” he teased.

For extra on Guzman and the upcoming season of 9-1-1, choose up the most recent problem of Us Weekly, on newsstands now.

9-1-1 season 8 premieres on ABC Thursday, September 26 at 8 p.m. ET.