The Kid Who Would Be King has been a long time coming for writer and director Joe Cornish.
Not only did he come up with the idea after watching E.T. and Excalibur in the ’80s, but he’s also been working on the script since his last film, the critically acclaimed Attack The Block, hit theaters all the way back in 2011.
But while it was far from design, The Kid Who Would Be King is actually the right movie at the right time, as it revolves around young Alex (Louis Serkis) joining forces with a band of knights and the legendary wizard Merlin to thwart the wicked enchantress Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson)’s attempt to destroy a heavily divided world, which is overcome with fear and paranoia.
Joe Cornish and Rebecca Ferguson talk The Kid Who Would Be King
Sound familiar? But while there are obviously parallels to Trump and Brexit, Cornish insists that those are purely coincidental, because not only did he dream up the idea in the early 80’s but he wrote the last draft in 2015.
“There’s always a sense in society that the world is going to fall on everyone’s head. The early 80’s was an equally dark time as now,” he tells Metro.
“But there’s no denying that this point in time that this myth has more resonance in a divided country and a need for leadership, and also the need for civility and decency. So it was certainly relevant now but it was also relevant in the 80’s.”
While Ferguson’s entry point to The Kid Who Would Be King was her Mission: Impossible co-star Simon Pegg, a good friend of producer Nira Park, she was immediately entranced by Cornish. So much so that she signed up for the villainous role without even reading a script.
“It was a good presentation and his burning excitement and love for this story that had me. It’s so lovely being apart of someone’s dream work. Because we all do lots of films but some of them are just our little pearls, so I think his happiness and joy of making this film shone through.”
However, there was just one problem. Ferguson was already shooting Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
“They were filming The Kid Who Would Be Kid at the same time that they were shooting Mission. I managed to do it because kindly enough, Mission let me go weekends.”
While Mission: Impossible – Fallout and The Kid Who Would Be King couldn’t be more different, neither could the fantasy epic and Cornish’ R-rated predecessor Attack The Block.
“It’s really gratifying that over the years Attack the Block has found its audience. I hope that this will do the same with the younger kids plus, adults with childish brains like me,” explains Cornish. “That’s not to say it isn’t a little bit scary. It’s full of big action and adventure and big battle scenes. So hopefully it’s still quite satisfying and punchy.”
Ferguson wants audiences to feel the same sense of “magic and excitement” that makes them believe “anything is possible,” just like she felt when she first read the first adventures of another British wizard.
“We want people to feel like they’ve been on a ride, a real adventure ride,” adds Ferguson. “I want them to be scared. I kind of want them to think, kind of like when I read Harry Potter for the first time. I was just sitting there waiting for my letter to arrive for my invitation to Hogwarts. I want them to wish to go and hope to find out and find Excalibur to find the sword.”
The Kid Who Would Be King is released on January 25.
