“It’s so much more adult and gory”
Earlier today, ComingSoon.net spoke with actor Ben Barnes, best known as the title character of Disney’s The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, about his role in the adaptation of Noel Coward’s Easy Virtue, but the horror enthusiasts will probably want to know more about his starring role in the upcoming Dorian Gray, based on the story by Oscar Wilde. In the movie, Barnes plays a 50-year-old man living in the body of a 20-something-year-old, having maintained his youth with the help of a painting that has the magical properties to take on his natural aging process.
Even though there have been many adaptations and versions of Wilde’s tale, we asked Barnes if this new version was going to be a very different take on the story than we’ve seen in previous films and TV movies. “It’s fairly traditional in the context of trying to make a film that hasn’t been seen before, because they made one in the â50s,” he told us. “They had the museum version so now our job is to make one that’s exciting to a 19-year-old today, as well as the book lovers. It’s got a ‘Sweeney Todd’ element and because it’s so much more adult and gory, I think that’s why you’ve got a better chance at getting the teenagers.”
“It starts off (tamer), it teases, but we’ve done all we can to make it exciting,” he continued. “It’s a tough challenge to tonally, but they’re getting the music just right and they’re trimming it down a little bit but it tested really well. I’m most precious about that one out of all the films I’ve done. I want that one to work the most, because it’s such a great story.”
“We’ve changed a few things. We’ve added a character,” he admitted when asked about any major changes from previous incarnations. “There’ll be a few people up in arms about giving one of the lead characters a daughter and things like that, but actually, it helps make the story more visual, and that’s the point of a movie. The book exists already.”
Dorian Gray opens in England in September; no word when and who might distribute it in the United States. Look for our full interview with Barnes over on ComingSoon.net later this week.
Source: Edward Douglas
