Editor’s Note: this interview took place before the ongoing actors’ strike, which began on July 14.
The actor was hired to play Mat Cauthon The Wheel of Time Season 2 has revealed why it was “difficult” to replace previous star Barney Harris in the role.
Speaking exclusively to TechRadar ahead of the second season’s release on Prime Video, Dónal Finn talked about the challenges associated with taking on the role of fan favorite following Harris’ departure.
In September 2021, deadline reported that Harris would not be returning as the troubled Mat Cauthon for the next appearance of the high fantasy series. At the time Amazon Studios and The Wheel of Time showrunner Rafe Judkins declined to comment on why Harris had left the show. Instead, Judkins chose to thank Harris for his work and also praise what Finn brings to the role in a separate role deadline article in November of that year.
Of The Wheel of Time – one of the best Prime Video shows – When I returned to our screens on September 1, I asked Finn how it felt to not only own Mat Cauthon, but pay tribute to Harris’s portrayal And giving his own take on the character. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Irish actor revealed that the process wasn’t easy.
“The biggest concern I had when I came into this job was finding that balance (between both versions of Mat),” explains Finn. “When I found out what the project was and what role I would play, I felt it was best for myself and the fans to interpret the role as my own.
“If you work in a different way, it can give a certain impression or, to put it another way, be a shadow of what happened before. That’s hard as an actor, and in my eyes maybe not that rewarding for fans (who liked Harris’s version). It wouldn’t have been fair to wear that skin, so to speak, because Mat is such an exciting and likeable man with multiple layers.”
Heading into Season 2, Mat finds himself in a very different headspace from where he started in the show’s first episode. That has mostly to do with his experiences with – and addiction to – the evil ruby-hilted dagger, which Moiraine saved him from in Season 1, Episode 6. Unfortunately, due to the effects of the Shadar Logoth-infected weapon, Mat decided not to. . join his friends in their ongoing quest to defeat The Dark One. Instead, he went to Tar Valon, the stronghold of the Aes Sedai, to seemingly seek help. What can viewers expect from Finn’s interpretation of the character?
“I feel very lucky to be able to bring myself into this character,” he added. “Once I got the role, I knew there had to be consistency in his voice and other elements that made it seem like a clear continuation of Mat’s personality (from what came before). But I also wanted to put my own stamp on him. So by going back to the source material, reading the Season 1 books and scripts, and using other resources, I was able to see how this man thinks and works, how he feels about his responsibilities and his life, and what his ambition or destiny is .
“So audiences will see something new and exciting, but what I find most interesting is that fans will still see things that are intrinsically Matt. That provides consistency to the performance that reflects the spirit or ethos of the character.The Wheel of Time author) that Robert Jordan first wrote about.”
There’s more to come from TechRadar’s exclusive coverage The Wheel of Time season 2, so get in touch with us between now and launch day for more info on the cast and our thoughts on the first few episodes.