Exclusive: Pendragon’s Merlin Reveals The Secrets Of His New King Arthur Series

By Jennifer Asencio
| Published 32 seconds ago

It should go without saying that a show called The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin might just be about the famous wizard, but the show is not about the wizened old man we all know from King Arthur stories. Rise of the Merlin tells a different origin story: the story of the young man who will someday become Camelot’s advisor. Featuring all the drama, romance, and action of Arthurian legend, the show centers around Merlin’s efforts to help the Pendragon brothers, Aurellius and Uther, gather the forces of Britain against invasion by the Saxons in the 6^th century.

Newcomer Tom Sharp plays the title role, and I got to ask this incredible actor some questions about the show for GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT. I’ve previously reviewed and commented about the show and its themes, and have interviewed other actors from the show.

Tom Sharp’s Early Career

The first thing I wanted to know about was Tom’s experience leading up to his casting as Merlin. What got him into acting? Like most actors, he admits, “I grew up obsessively watching films. As a boy, I’d happily burn through a load of VHS tapes on repeat, and a trip to the cinema was special.” But it was more than just watching movies for the Merlin lead. “My family introduced me to a wide variety of genres & classics at a young age, which sparked my imagination… I consider it my ‘unofficial training.’”

Hope and determination were important elements in Tom’s career, too. “Acting was considered a pipe dream where I grew up,” he explained, “and with no industry connections, it wasn’t until my 20’s that I considered taking the leap. Independently, I began leading short films and on stage in small indie theatre, whilst trying to get my foot in the door for years… a lot of ‘trial & error,’ taking risks and relying on my instincts.”

Becoming Merlin

For Tom, the role of Merlin was a big leap, since he was a relative unknown. “I applied independently to the series without an agent via a self-tape,” he told me.

And the suspense went on. “After a few weeks of sending off endless Merlin tapes, production flew me to Budapest last-minute for a final audition in person. I had a pleasant dinner afterwards with the producers and directors, but they didn’t give me any answer when I was there, so I assumed the worst, expecting a NO after I flew back. However, when I returned home, I received a call from producer Dallas Sonnier (Bone Tomahawk and Dragged Across Concrete) telling me I got the job and am needed back in Budapest ASAP for what he described will be my ‘Most challenging five months EVER!’… and he wasn’t wrong.”

Naturally, the actor was thrilled to land not just his first lead role, but the lead on an ambitious, well-produced project. “Landing a production of this size for the first time, let alone the lead, was wild,” he told me. “When I applied online to the opening casting call, I didn’t know the scale of it and the script was kept under wraps, obviously. Once I knew it was Merlin, and it dawned on me what this was, I dove in. An opportunity of this size for a lot of actors I know is RARE, and my mantra has always been when something like this finally comes along, that I’d go all out and not leave saying ‘if only.’”

Since movies were such a family affair, there was plenty of joy to go around for the budding actor. “My parents’ reaction to when I landed the role was the best and meant the world. I gave a thumbs up to my Mum & Dad, who both broke down with joy – my favorite memory!”

Tom Sharp’s Approach To Playing Merlin

Once he got on set, he had to get to know the character. What did he think of the venerable magician in his younger years? “I really like how young Merlin grows from a naive, rebellious, and curious lad to a more wild and deeply rooted figure after living with the hill folk,” he said of Merlin’s history. “They taught him to ‘see and heal,’ appreciate the world around him, and [that] ‘the rhythm of life flows through him.’”

He continued, “Merlin’s a deeply flawed character, but has so many admirable qualities. For instance, he could easily rule as High King himself unopposed in a tyrannical position with his power and immortality, yet he doesn’t want it and fears losing control and hurting the ones he cares for. Constantly doubting his destiny, he humbly says ‘perhaps they saw through me to another,’ obviously foreshadowing Arthurian Legend. I really admire him.”

The young Merlin wasn’t all wisdom and counsel. He had a lot of extremes, from stoic to furious to deeply in love to deeply grieving. What was it like for Tom to be playing all of those emotions? “Episode 6, ‘Gaineda’ was my most important episode and has a special place in my heart,” he said of the emotional story of Merlin’s romance with his bride.

“It’s the full hero’s journey, Merlin’s core story, as he goes through every event and emotion. It’s beautifully tragic. When reading the script, I knew this was the ‘tent pole’ of the series, it was vital I land this episode else the character and show would fall apart. Playing opposite Brett Cooper (Gaineda), Steve Varnom (Custennin), and Lynn Hunter (Gern-Y-Fhain) was an absolute joy, which made the job a lot easier. I kept an eye peeled in the film schedule every time a scene from 6 would pop up. It was very challenging, very rewarding, and I was very relieved how it all turned out.”

The Mystery Of Merlin’s Yellow Eyes

I often wondered about Merlin’s distinctive yellow eyes. In some scenes, they were very prominent, and in others, they were very natural. I asked Tom about the use of colored contact lenses, and found out there were none.

“I didn’t wear contact lenses,” he revealed. “They changed the color of my eyes to gold digitally, which I’m very thankful for. You connect to actors on screen through their eyes. The problem with colored contact lenses is the pupil is fixed and won’t dilate when emotional or in different lighting, which is very disconnecting to the audience. We tested it before filming and it looked very wrong. Digitally changing the eye color only was the best decision the producers made, allowing my eyes to dilate naturally and connect with the audience.”

Conveying The Burden Of Immortality

Every good actor puts something of themselves into their part, and Tom Sharp is no exception. I asked him about his own contribution to the character, and he told me, “I’d constantly look for clues in the script and ask questions. For example, in Episode 3, ‘A Fatherless Child,’ Merlin narrates, ‘They say Merlin is Mad’ and ‘the future and past are known to him.’ I didn’t want to simply play him crazy, I wanted to know ‘how mad?’  After all the events and tragedies he has lived through – being abducted as a child, the murder of his loved ones, killing 500 men, his constant visions and how he stares into the fire zoned out like a soldier returning from war… to me his ‘madness’ is PTSD. That was the biggest puzzle piece and gave me a foundation to build upon and make this mysterious figure relatable to the audience.”

Tom explains, “Plus, he’s burdened with immortality, an incredible loneliness as he will outlive everyone, including loved ones, so he keeps everyone at a safe distance. I let the filmmakers deal with the magical elements whilst I focused purely on his humanity. He’s not ‘happy go lucky,’ he’s stoic, but when you threaten the ones he cares for, he snaps, and when he’s around loved ones, he softens. Again, for his voice, his immortality and power come into play, he has all the time in the world so his voice glides, he doesn’t need to bark.”

Living Out Every Boy’s Sword And Sorcery Dream

Some of acting is hard work, and some of it is really fun. With all the conditions the actors had to endure, contrasted with getting to do cool stuff like sword fighting and simulate medieval battles, I asked about what he enjoyed and what was hard to do.

“I grew up watching epics like Braveheart, Gladiator, Last of the Mohicans, Lord of the Rings, and to get to play this genre is every boy’s dream,” he explains. “Charging into battle or running with a wolf or giving a speech to an army with exploding sets and practical effects, whilst on location was a blast.”

Not everything was paradise, he admitted. “Filming was either brutally hot or bitterly cold, yet it was all worth it.” Fans of Rise of the Merlin appreciate both his endurance for these conditions and the powerful optimism that drove him through.

With this in mind, I asked him what scenes he enjoyed from the show, both on set and off. “There were many scenes I loved, especially the second half of Episode 6; however, the very final scene of Episode 7, ‘The Last True Bard,’ is easily my favorite. Without spoiling anyone who hasn’t watched it yet, it was a very surreal out-of-body moment for me because it’s so iconic. We shot that in the middle of the night in freezing, snowy conditions, but I was so euphoric afterward. When it happened, all I could think of was my journey here and my family, which was very rewarding watching it back with them. I’ll never forget it. Whatever the future may hold, I can look back and say, ‘I did that!’”

As the main character of the show, Merlin got to be in every setting the series offered, from the otherworldly Ynis Avallach to the mysterious hills of the Fain Hawk, the spectacular Goddeu set, and the epic final battle. I wondered where he liked filming best. “Budapest is gorgeous and I encourage everyone to visit,” he suggested. “But I have to say the many locations in Italy were breathtaking. One of my favorite shots is riding through Gran Sasso, Italy with Alex Laurence Philips, where Pelleas looks back and sees Merlin riding alone talking to himself just as the sunlight rolls in. That, paired with Kyle McCuiston’s stunning soundtrack, is beautiful.”

The looming mountain vista and lonely green plains provided an ethereal setting for Merlin to be talking to a ghost that Pelleas couldn’t see.

The Brotherhood Of Merlin

Cast and crew who post on social media have spoken proudly of the camaraderie on set and even after production was over. I asked Tom about the “Brotherhood of Merlin” and if he made any new bonds on the set.

“Absolutely,” he confirmed, adding, “We pretty much all stay in contact on a daily basis. It was an incredibly challenging shoot, and we were all in the thick of it together. The cast had a rigorous boot camp before filming, involving horse riding and fight training in the intense Hungarian sun. It was tough, but we all bonded and supported each other from Day One.”

Tom Sharp’s Bright And Shining Future

Now that filming is over, I asked Tom what was next. “It’s very early days, but I’m open to anything,” he told me. But he’s in it for love of the game: “Whether it be Merlin again or something completely fresh, whether it’s another big production or an indie arthouse production, I’m good.”

While I was getting this interview together, I decided to finally replace my lost copies of the Stephen Lawhead novels The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin. The second novel is called Merlin, and familiar golden eyes gazed back at me from its cover. I asked Tom how it felt to be the new face of the book as well as the show, and this was big news.

“I didn’t know about the books; they were purely a surprise,” he confessed. “Having my face on a book cover was never on my bucket list, but it is certainly welcome and an honor. It’s a great addition on the family shelf.”