NPH on “Starship Troopers,” “Dr. Horrible” & being the voice of Disneyland Resort’s California Screamin’

Neil Patrick Harris has been doing all kinds of interviews and the topics most discussed are his recent wedding, his new book and his new movie (Gone Girl). And there are still questions about his Broadway run this year in Hedwig and the Angry Inch for which he won the Tony.

So this interview with TVFone is something I want to share with you because it includes three questions that have nothing to do with the above often asked about topics:

Q. Has there been any talk about reviving “Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog”?

A. I think everyone would love to see Dr. Horrible have another chapter, but we’re all involved in these projects that are long-lead projects. Joss just did “Avengers 2” so that’s going to take a long time to edit to previewing to re-shooting to opening. And once that’s done he has to have the time to focus on finishing writing “Dr. Horrible” and shooting it and who’s to say that Nathan is free, that I’m free. The joy of being able to make that first one was that it was during a writer’s strike and we were all available. Hopefully the writers find something wrong with their contract so we can revisit it.

Q. I just wanted to ask you about one of my favorite movies of yours: “Starship Troopers.” What did you think when you saw your outfit at the end? Did you say, “Oh I’m an SS officer in a movie about space bugs?”

A. I knew about that because I had done all the wardrobe fittings and everything. So I knew about the big boots and the leather coat and the SS stuff. But I thought it was interesting that, while we were making the movie, it was not intended to be comedy. I don’t know if it was ever intended to be comedy. It was supposed to be more commentary, with a society that becomes grossly Arian and how that turns all other species into bugs and they all need to die. But when you watch it later, it’s intentionally funny and ironic and while we were making it, all of those comedy moments were not eliciting laughter. It’s fun to laugh at myself now, I suppose.

Q. Now, you’re a big Disney guy and I know this because every time I go to California Adventure…

A. My voice is there!

Q. Yeah, how did that happen?

A. How did that happen? I think I had done some voice over for a Disney animated TV show and expressed my enthusiasm to do something like that. And the casting director for the TV show knew the people that did the theme park stuff, so my name got into the mix for that. They were revamping the back part of California Adventure and they didn’t want it to be so surfer dude; they wanted it to be more old school carnival barker, more of a “hurry, hurry, step right up” voice. So they asked if I could do it and it was my favorite thing ever. I got to do a bank of sounds, like the, “Remain in your seat” thing. “Hold tight!”