Christian Slater goes underground — both literally and figuratively — in his new series “Mr. Robot.” He plays the mysterious leader of a clandestine group of computer hackers. Much of his character’s time is spent in the subway tunnels riding the train out to Coney Island, where he has set up shop with a bunch of hipsters to undermine corporations with too much money and influence.
While Slater, 45, isn’t exactly an experienced computer hacker, he does know a thing or two about the city subway system. He’s a native New Yorker, and he moved back to the city from Miami last year with his new wife, Brittany Lopez, 26, whom he met at a Florida resort. Slater spoke to The Post on his day off from the show about his wild days as a teen heartthrob in films like “Heathers” and “Pump Up the Volume” and his more settled present, as a father to two teenagers.
Which of your old movies would you like to make a sequel to?
“Pump Up the Volume” was a film and character that I really responded to. That was a movie about a guy trying to take down the establishment using a ham radio. I feel “Mr. Robot” has a similar value. This show is about taking down a global empire. I was an anarchist then. I’m getting to be an anarchist again.
As a former teen idol, what advice do you have for Justin Bieber about growing old gracefully?
Wow. Embrace the word “former” as much as you possibly can.
Your early life was tumultuous with arrests and other kinds of mayhem. How do you look back on that?
Exactly like that: early and tumultuous. Dangerous and character-building.
What’s it like having two teenagers, Jaden and Eliana, in today’s culture?
It’s a little scary. The Internet opens up so many doors. It’s a phenomenal tool for education, but also a way for people to be scary and dangerous. We’re living in a world where we can be hacked and exposed.
You shot a fair amount of the pilot on location at Coney Island, including a very cool scene filmed entirely in a car on the Wonder Wheel. What was it like working there?
I had just been out there with my daughter introducing her to the Cyclone. We sat in the back row . . . and rode it three times. To go back two weeks later and shoot in these classic locations has been thrilling.
Do you think “Mr. Robot” is going to succeed?
Yes. You don’t always know how things are going to go. You just try to make the best deal you can possibly make. I’m an actor. I’ve got to work. The last three years of my life I have felt prouder of the choices I made. “Nymphomaniac,” with [director] Lars von Trier. “The Adderall Diaries” with James Franco. “Spamalot” at the Hollywood Bowl. I’m more willing to take risks. I have less to lose.
Which famous New Yorker would you like to have do a guest spot on “Mr. Robot”?
Is Caitlyn [Jenner] a New Yorker?