Image Credit: Jack Rowand/The CW

So when I talked to Justin Hartley about tonight’s episode of Smallville, “Dominion,” which also happens to be the actor’s first directing effort, he was excited, to say the least. You wouldn’t think that this was a freshman director poised to make his big debut with one of the final episodes of a decade-old cult television show. But it’s Hartley’s passion that makes me think we’re in for a real treat tonight. And hopefully after reading this chat with the 34-year-old actor/director — where he talks about everything from his biggest challenges to his character’s return — you’ll agree. (And hopefully I’m not the only one who sort of swooned when he used the word “nesting” to describe Oliver’s life with Chloe.)

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What was it like taking your first turn in the director’s chair on one of the last episodes of Smallville ever?
JUSTIN HARTLEY: For me, it was a bit scary. [But] as soon as I stepped on set, from the very first moment, I was very comfortable. I realized that’s because that’s where I’m comfortable. It’s the prep –  the meetings, the tone meetings, all that stuff — that I’m not that familiar with. That was a bit intimidating at first. So I’m thankful that it was one of the last episodes because I got an opportunity to watch more closely each director leading up to my own. I actually went to Vancouver — I live in L.A. and wasn’t in the episode previous to “Dominion” — way before [I directed]. Mike Roland is one of our directors and I watched a lot of what he was doing. I’ve seen the episode and it’s pretty phenomenal. All Smallville episodes are “epic,” but I don’t think this was one of the “big deal” episodes, and I think it turned into one. Hopefully I had something to do with that. READ FULL STORY »