We’ve received word from the production that the wizard Coriakin has been cast for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. The actor that is playing the role is Bille Brown, a drama graduate of the University of Queensland. He is a well-known Shakespearean actor who began with the Queensland Theatre Company. Later, he served as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford and London. Coriakin is the magician whose mansion is found on the Isle of Duffers where he governs the dufflepuds.
Here’s a passage from chapter eleven of the book, featuring Coriakin. Beware, it is full of spoilers if you haven’t read the book:
Lucy followed the great Lion out into the passage and at once she saw coming towards them an old man, barefoot, dressed in a red robe. His white hair was crowned with a chaplet of oak leaves, his beard fell to his girdle, and he supported himself with a curiously carved staff. When he saw Aslan he bowed low and said,
“Welcome, Sir, to the least of your houses.”
“Do you grow weary, Coriakin, of ruling such foolish subjects as I have given you here?”
“No,” said the Magician, “they are very stupid but there is no real harm in them. I begin to grow rather fond of the creatures. Sometimes, perhaps, I am a little impatient, waiting for the day when they can be governed by wisdom instead of this rough magic.”
“All in good time, Coriakin,” said Aslan.
“Yes, all in very good time, Sir,” was the answer. “Do you intend to show yourself to them?”
“Nay,” said the Lion, with a little half-growl that meant (Lucy thought) the same as a laugh. “I should frighten them out of their senses. Many stars will grow old and come to take their rest in islands before your people are ripe for that. And today before sunset I must visit Trumpkin the Dwarf where he sits in the castle of Cair Paravel counting the days till his master Caspian comes home. I will tell him all your story, Lucy. Do not look so sad. We shall meet soon again.”
I really kind of like that. Possibly looks a little bit too much like Vincent Grass around the eyes, but overall pretty good. I just hope they do something interesting with Coriakin’s look and don’t just make him another cliched wizard looking character like we’ve seen so many times before in movies.
I think he could be a wonderful addition. I would like to hear his voice though…
Dear Icarus and Jonathan,
I hope we did in the true spirit of the book not make him just a movie wizard. Michael did not want a panto magician but someone who would talk about the great and serious task to great and serious children. The inspiration for the look was the beautiful Byzantine mystics in those murals, his magic was his knowledge and his wand the subtle and delicate tone with which he speaks directly to the heroic children warning them that the journey is an inner test of strength. He is not showy but scholarly in the best sense of the word. I will let you into a secret- i did very quietly impersonate Apted style of direction – between us and the Dufflebuds.
bb