Legend of the Seeker Audio Interview With Craig Horner
Craig Horner as Richad Cypher the 'Seeker' in Legend of the Seeker
Legend of the Seeker is a live action epic fantasy series based upon Terry Goodkind’s bestselling Sword of Truth series. It tells the story of a young woodsman named Richard Cypher who discovers he is the ‘Seeker’, a legendary warrior born to fulfill a prophecy to defeat evil and defend the oppressed. Wielding the magical Sword of Truth, and with the help of a wizard named Zeddicus (Bruce Spence) and a magically powerful female warrior named Kahlan (Bridget Regan), Legend of the Seeker follows the Seeker as he battles against the tyrant Darken Rahl (Craig Parker) to prevent him from enslaving the world.
The role of Richard Cypher is played by 25 year old Australian Craig Horner, a talented young actor who is attracting a legion of fans and who has been referred to by his peers on more than one occasion as ‘the next big thing’. This morning Craig, who is an exceptionally nice and humble person, spoke to me from New Zealand a few hours before he was due on set to shoot scenes for the final two episodes of Season 1. The full conversation lasts for just over 13 minutes and whilst I’ve transcribed some excerpts (shown below the video), you’ll have to listen to the interview to hear everything Craig had to say about himself and Legend of the Seeker.
13 Mar 2009: Audio interview with Craig Horner (and slideshow)
A handful of excerpts from the audio interview:
Is it weird filming the series in New Zealand when its not actually airing in New Zealand yet?
CH: Totally, totally – it really is man. It’s not even here, like no one really knows anything about it. It comes out in like three weeks but we’ll be done and I’ll be in America. It’s been kind of perfect, like you get to come to another country, like concentrate totally on the job. Have no external kind of factors, no people going “can we get on the show blah blah”. You’re just totally in your own little environment, it’s kinda cool man, it’s like you’re own little secret society. We’re like chucking it in America for millions and yet we’re in our own little world here, it’s fun.
I once wrote that Bruce Spence’s Zeddicus is the best wizard since Ian McKellan’s Gandalf – who would win in a real fight, Bruce Spence or Ian McKellan?
CH: Yeah wicked! I think ah, maybe Ian McKellan, because, ah, Zed might be just like “you know what, you can have this one, I’m just going to eat this bread roll instead.”
He’s just too laid back is he?
CH: Yeah, he’d be like, “It’s not worth it.”
Legend of the Seeker, well the first season, is based on Wizards First Rule, the first book in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. Have you actually met Terry Goodkind?
CH: No, damn, I would love to because I’m a big fan of that book. Of course I’ll get to, I’ll probably touch base with him when I go to the States.
There’s something like 25 million books in print with the Sword of Truth series, was it daunting to take a lead role in a series based on books that are so popular?
CH: No it wasn’t daunting, it was just, ah, electrifying, it was charging. It was like, in fact having that book I just went straight through it and I went ‘let’s check out thsi book’, even before I knew how popular it was, I went ‘let’s have a look at this book so I can nail this audition and get this role you know’, and I fell in love with the book and thought it was amazing. I thought this character is a great chracter and I really think I can do him. And when I got the part and when I knew that they were confident in me in playing this part and instantly knew I was right for the role then that instilled me with confidence enough to embark on the project. Then I just hoped to do the book justice and do Richard Cypher justice, and I’m still trying to do it and I hope its coming off.
Does Sam Raimi have a lot to do with the series, does he have a lot of involvement or is he more of stand back and let everyone else do their job guy?
CH: Yeah exactly, pretty much. He takes care of all the American side of it because he’s there and we have his co-partner, Rob Tapert who is pretty much the New Zealand side. He has a house here and he’s here half the time so yeah. I haven’t actually met Sam Raimi but I’ve met his brother Ted Raimi. His brother Ted had a guest role on the show and he’s a real character.
Have you heard anything about what the plans are for season 2?
CH: Only the shoot dates, we start late June or early July. But no, in regards to storyline and character development I really don’t know. I can only hope that they’re gonna delve into it and make use of characters a bit more 3 dimensionally and really flesh them out a bit you know.
Have you had any Martial Arts training?
CH: No, but I’m very fortunate to have pretty much actual Ninja’s on the show who do all the stunt choreography. Their names are Allan Poppleton and Glen Levy and they’re just amazing martial artists and I’m always getting them to teach me stuff in between takes.
Craig Horner with Bridget Regan in 'Legend of the Seeker'
Before the interview with Craig I had compiled quite a long list of questions. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough time for me to ask them all. It was my own fault because I should confirmed how much time we had together with his publicist (how’s that ‘assumption’ saying go?). Fortunately I’m not the only interviewer Craig was booked to talk with, so to make up for my own ineptitude, I’ve tracked down some of his other recent interviews where he has answered different questions to the ones I asked. Visit the following links for more Craig Horner insight:
The Torch Online: ‘Craig Horner Interview: “Seeker” Star is Holding Up Just Fine’
The TV Addict: ‘Craig Horner talks Legend of the Seeker’
Newsarama: ‘Australian Actor seeks to create American TV Legend’
UGO TV Blog: ‘Legend of the Seeker – Craig Horner interview‘
Thud Interview: ‘Craig Horner (Legend of the Seeker)’
Visit the official Legend of the Seeker website
March 13th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
[...] Finally Sci-Fi scoop has a long Audio interview with Craig posted. Here’s an excerpt: [...]
September 24th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I love Legend of the Seeker I watch it every week! i think it would be cool to do things like that! And Craig Horner is so HOT!!!
September 24th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
its such a cool show i want to be an actress but i dont think im very good! plus i dont even know where to go to get in a tv show much less a movie!!
May 5th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Just like the series….these interviews are gems but well kept secrets…he is so fun to hear… very down to earth…deras