Motherland: Fort Salem: Chatting with Tony Giroux about his character Adil

Fans of Motherland: Fort Salem, meet Tony Giroux who plays newcomer Adil on the series. Find out how he feels about witches and more about his character!

Motherland: Fort Salem is Freeform’s latest fantasy series about an alternate world where witches are on the frontline of our military against the deadly Spree. We had the chance to chat with actor Tony Giroux — who you may recognize from his work in Descendants 3 or The Romeo Section — about his character Adil.

Find out what to expect from Adil, how Tony’s past dance experience helped him on the show, some of his favorite behind-the-scenes moments, and much more!

Hidden Remote: To begin, can you tell me about your character on the show? What’s his story?

Tony Giroux: Adil comes in midway through the season to stir up a little extra tension within the power structures. Adil comes from a pacifist tribe from a remote, faraway land, who possess enticing, powerful witchcraft.

He desperately makes his way to Fort Salem, seeking help for his dying sister. However, tension builds quickly as he doesn’t agree with their methods and isn’t afraid to be vocal about it.

Yet as unexpected attachments arise, he gets caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to stand for his values or follow his heart.

HR: What attracted you most to Motherland: Fort Salem?

TG: It’s an edgy and original take on witchcraft and Salem, that’s hard to pass up. Aside from the intriguing premise, the tone and writing of the show are fantastic.

There is real weight and authenticity to its story and characters. And one of the most fascinating aspects lay in it being a matriarchy. It is a show that brings forth strong female narratives and empowers women, which I believe is exactly what we need in this current climate.

HR: What do you think will surprise people most about working on this show?

TG: This isn’t a typical show. As the series unfolds and plots deepen, different parts of the puzzle are revealed that blur the lines between who is “good” and who is “bad.”

I think we’ll have different people rooting for different characters, making for gripping TV. And seeing bada** women do some cool magic?! It’s going to be something.

More from Teen Dramas

• When do new episodes of Harlan Coben’s Shelter come out on Prime Video?
• Is Heartstopper canceled? (Will there be a season 3?)
• When do new episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty come out on Prime Video?
• 3 School Spirits characters who definitely won’t be back in season 2
• School Spirits season 2: Everything to know about the second season

HR: Are you a fan of stories about witches? Did you watch any other thematically similar projects before working on this one?

TG: I was really scared of magic and dark tales as a kid. I remember watching The Witches when I was in grade 2 and being absolutely terrified of being turned into a mouse after that!

As I got older, I became incredibly fascinated by those narratives, and how we as a society, respond to them.

I had also read The Crucible by Arthur Miller a while back and loved his take on the witch trials, so I was thrilled to be part of a show around similar themes. As for watching material, I have always had a love for magic and sci-fi such as Lord of the Rings.

HR: How did you feel about working with a cast that was predominantly composed of women?

TG: Loved it. The women on this show were collaborative, passionate, and welcomed me into the family with open arms. We also had lots of female directors and writers on the show, which made for a great platform to empower women and push strong female-driven narratives.

HR: You’re also a dancer and choreographer, did those skills play into your role on the show at all?

TG: Well, I had a lot of dance parties during my breaks, so that sure helped. But yes, with every role I take on, having a dance background helps me ease into the physicality of the character and have that as an anchor.

HR: What are you most excited for people to see and react to on the show?

TG: Well, I’m thrilled for my Chinese grandma to see me on TV. And as a close second, the characters are a gripping aspect for me, beautiful and contrasting women that become entwined in deep and complex relationships, while utilizing super cool magic.

HR: Do you have any favorite memories from working on the set?

TG: Ashley Nicole Williams’ welcome. Coming into a show half-way through can sometimes be intimidating. I remember my first day on set with her was a dramatic scene. I had been shooting all day; she arrives on set, instant giggles and goofiness come out. I knew it was going to be a ride from there.

New episodes of Motherland: Fort Salem air Wednesday nights at 9/8c on Freeform.