full size Michael Roark at the Premiere of Dolphin Tale on September 17, 2011
Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

The future has Michael Roark’s name written all over it.

Although you may already have seen the actor’s brief stint on The Vampire Diaries (as Isobel's cowboy friend) or in movies like Dolphin Tale and Magic Mike — where Olivia Munn chose him over Channing Tatum (!) — in the next couple of months it will be hard to escape the blond actor.

Tonight, he travels into the distant future on NBC’s Revolution to help Miles (Billy Burke) and the gang fight off some bad guys. “Things are starting to get really intense, and you’re going to start seeing a lot more action,” promises Michael. “I play one of those guys that you’re not sure you can trust. I think it’s going to be a great episode. I’m part of a very cool fight scene. I come to the rescue of some of the major players on the show.”

While it’s likely he might be returning to the power-less future, we already know where we’ll be seeing him next. This spring, Michael appears in Kevin Williamson’s FOX drama, The Following, as a police officer tasked with watching over Maggie Grace’s character.

“That was such a cool gig to be a part of,” he tells us. “Just reading the pilot was incredible. And Kevin Bacon is one of those actors who just brings so much to what he’s doing. He was great to work with. You have to thank your lucky stars, because working with people like that can only make you better.”

His character — like everyone else on The Following — appears to be hanging in the balance, but while he waits to hear his ultimate fate, Michael keeps hoping his experience with Free Ride co-star Anna Paquin is enough to hook him up with a role on the next season of True Blood.

“It’s one of those shows that you don’t want to like, but it’s cool,” says Michael. “It’s really fun to watch. I’m a sucker for good performances, and Anna Paquin is as good as it gets as far as actresses go!” 

We could not agree more, and in the presence of her fairy jazz hands, the future would certainly look bright.