Camelot is the highly anticipated Starz original series that offers a contemporary spin on the classic legend of King Arthur. Billed as an adult re-telling of the popular story, the new series offers a fresh take on the medieval tale of the sorcerer Merlin and the boy who would be king. Considerably different from the family friendly version made in the U.K, this new 10 episode series is both compelling and entertaining.
Ultimate Bond Girl Eva Green stars as the main antagonist Morgan, who after being cast out of the hall of King Uther, returns with a magical vengeance and a lust for power. Merlin played by Joseph Fiennes is quick to prevent her usurping the throne by making sure that the true heir, the young and impetuous Arthur, played by Jamie Campbell Bower is brought to Camelot. What begins is a fight for power, with Morgan summoning unnatural forces to claim the crown and the young Arthur discovering his own strengths to unite a kingdom.
The series is written by Michael Hirst and Thomas Malory and embraces the roots of Arthurian epics such as Le Mort d’Arthur with plenty of modernity in the retelling – so expect some changes to the familiar tale. The production values are high, with plenty of sweeping landscape shots and detailed costumes from that period.
It also offers a fair share of graphic violence, sexuality and nudity in a similar fashion as the Starz series ‘Spartacus’, and while some may shy away, the adults only tone adds significant depth that relies on the character’s relationships, and only a subtle use of FX to imply sorcery and witchcraft.
The Hollywood Reporter recently caught up with Joseph Fiennes and Eva Green on the eve of the MIPTV market in Cannes, and the two actors discussed the intensity of their roles and the new generation of network projects that are attracting big name movie talent.
The star of ‘Shakespeare In Love’ has had an uneven career juggling stage and screen, and his recent stint on network TV starring in ‘Flashforward’ ended with the shows cancellation.
However Fiennes spoke of how the edgier parameters of Cable networks have become the new home of creative risk.
Cable has its own model and it is not reliant on the murky areas of advertising and viewing figures. There’s great deal more freedom… Each of these episodes is like a mini-film. There’s good quality production, great writing and I think it’s not tied into the formulaic generic arc that film is.
TV has a quick production turnover and for an actor it brings new challenges:
The risk from a work ethic point of view is that there really is zero preparation. You do literally get handed the script just before you shoot scenes — there’s a great luxury in film when you have at least a month before to film and review and research.
Jamie Campbell Bowers who plays Arthur recently recovered from a broken ankle and along with the reshoots, the show only wrapped production a couple of weeks ago after four-months in Ireland. Shooting 10 episodes in such a short time, make things more impromptu:
That is the risk element. It’s rather like being a jazz player — you have to be on your game. But for an actor it does also give a great sense of pattern to the year. Independent films fluctuate wildly through the year in its funding let alone in getting things made and its much harder to have any routine or discipline in this year… It can make you a better actor.
As for his approach to the character of Merlin:
I wanted to do something that a bit more mean and thuggish. I describe him as a bit of Obi-Wan and a bit of Donald Rumsfeld.
Eva Green shot to international fame as the Bond Girl to Daniel Craig, and the catalyst to his vengeance in Quantum. She was recently cast in Tim Burton‘s new flick ‘Dark Shadows’, starring alongside Johnny Depp.
She was whether she prefer these darker roles or an edgier comedy:
In my next project, Dark Shadows, it’s sort of a dark comedy. Tim was like, “Do you actually have a sense of humor?” A lot of people don’t know that I’m really light on set. It’s true that people think, “Oh — she’s so cold.” They put you in boxes. But it is also true for me that dark roles are always so appealing. As a human being it’s nice to explore your dark side and let it all out on set and not at home. It’s better that way.
What is it like playing Morgan?
I love her, she’s a very cool character for a woman. You don’t get many roles like her. She’s ballsy, she’s manipulative, she’s very brave, but also sort of damaged and vulnerable. Little by little you understand why she behaves like this. She’s an empowering, strong character. There aren’t that many strong female roles — that’s why the character was very appealing.
Similarly, how is working on Camelot compared to film projects:
It’s completely intense — so much quicker — the pace is completely crazy. I’m usually quite cerebral and like to think about something before I do it. Here I had to trust my instinct much more and I learned a lot — don’t think, do. But otherwise it’s the same job. You don’t really notice the difference, just the pace.
What’s else can viewers expect from the sexy side of the show that viewers have already had a glimpse:
I have just one sex scene. Morgan has one scene and then she renounces men and becomes a lesbian! No, really, she was in the convent and then at some point decides that she doesn’t trust men at all and she decides to surround herself only with women.
How does she unwind after playing these intense characters?
It’s very hard to get back to reality afterwards. You feel kind of down. It’s so intense, it’s electric, like a drug, and then it’s over and you go back to your flat and lie down. It’s very strange to have inhabited that character for so long. I’m no method actor like Daniel Day Lewis, but it’s always like this when you end a movie — it’s a little death.
Camelot currently airs Fridays at 10PM on Starz.
Go behind the scenes of Camelot here:
via: THR
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