THE MISTS OF AVALON
| The Mists of Avalon premiered on TNT on July 15-16, 2001 and was watched by more
than 30 million viewers, the largest audience ever for a TNT miniseries. It is an unusual,
promoted as “feminist” retelling of the legend of Camelot, based on the best-selling 1983
novel of the same name by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Executive Producer Mark M. Wolper
reportedly tracked the rights to the book for 16 years. Actor James Coburn and Lisa Alexander, also Executive Producers of the miniseries, originally had
the rights for a possible feature film, but according to Wolper, “They couldn’t do it as a
two-hour movie,” and he continues “I’d still love to do it as six or eight hours, because
there’s that much material in the book.”
The miniseries is in fact four hours, which aired in two parts. The $20-million production
was directed by Ulrich Edel and won the Best Television Drama Miniseries Award at the
San Francisco International Film Festival. Edward played King Arthur, which in my opinion was a powerful, inimitable performance. You can find out more about The Mists of
Avalon at TNT’s Official Site. And here’s some further comments from Executive
Producer Mark Wolper: |
TNT's interview with Edward: Q: What was your reaction when you were offered the role of Arthur? Edward: I was thrilled because, along with playing James Bond, every school boy in England has at some point dreamed of being King Arthur. Q: How is the Arthur you imagined the same or different from the one you are playing? Edward: I think I imagined a more Victorian Arthur, traditionally romantic, with a strawberry blond bob and a beard. And I imagined Excalibur with a big large emerald and ruby in the handle. I have longer hair in this piece, and Excalibur certainly has no jewels in it. It's a solid piece of iron. Uli, the director, wanted to show a darker, grittier world, a sort of wild existence which represented the Dark Ages. There is no chivalry or refinement here. Q: What does this story say about the power behind the throne? Traditionally Arthur holds the reins, but in Mists, the women appear to be in control. Edward: I think Bradley did something very clever in the novel -- she divided the physical and spiritual worlds. Arthur and Lancelot are still very much physical warriors in battle, but behind them are women exercising spiritual power. Q: How does Arthur deal with Paganism vs. Christianity in this particular story? Edward: Arthur's great skill in this piece is how he marries the worlds. Arthur's father was very much from the Pagan world, and the Christian influences in the story come through Arthur's wife, Gwenhwyfar. She tries to get him to renounce Paganism, but he is committed to not letting either belief dominate. As long as he doesn't commit himself either way, he believes the kingdom will survive. Q: Talk about the relationship between Gwenhwyfar and Arthur? Edward: Gwenhwyfar is very much the beginning of the end for Camelot. She is unable to have a child, and this failure is a huge strain on the relationship between her and Arthur. It's the first step toward Arthur's sort of collapse. She blames his Pagan roots and sees this as God's punishment. Gwenhwyfar is a powerful force against Arthur, yet she loves him and he loves her. They have a very complicated relationship. Q: What about the discovery that Mordred is actually his son? Edward: That realization really seals his fate. Arthur keeps hoping he will have a child with Gwenhwyfar. But then this young warrior, Mordred, comes along. I think he's my nephew -- my sister Morgaine's child -- and I love my sister more than anyone else. I think that Mordred will be able to follow in my footsteps. But then I realize that he is actually my son. Arthur unknowingly slept with his half-sister and is not told about it until much later on. So this person he thought might provide security for the future of Camelot is actually the one person he must destroy. |
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