Christianity Today interviews Will Poulter

Christianity Today has published a wonderful interview of Will Poulter, who plays Eustace Clarence Scrubb, in the upcoming film, Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Mark Moring, who wrote the article for Christianity Today, calls Will “The best thing about The Voyage of the Dawn Treader“! In the interview, Will discusses what it was like to play a jerk kid-Eustace, as well as the significance of turning into a dragon, how he understood the story as a child when he first read the books, and some other themes of the book/film.

Here is a sample of the interview:

CT: Why can’t Eustace tear off his own skin? Why does he need Aslan to do that?

I think it’s because he can’t be the one responsible for redeeming himself. It needs to be done by a superior being. When we look to be redeemed and forgiven for what we’ve done, we can’t do that to ourselves. We really do have to look to others for that, and I think that’s what happens with Eustace and Aslan.

CT: How would you describe Eustace after the un-dragoning, when he becomes a boy again?

I think he’s feeling guilty. In the book, he offers an apology to Edmund for the way he was. In the film, he apologizes to Caspian and Lucy as well. It’s certainly a feeling of guilt, but it’s a sense of reformation. He is so very sorry for what he’s done, and he’s a lot more sensitive to the needs of others. I think that’s something that Reepicheep helps to bring out of him.

The more we read and hear about Will Poulter, the more incredible we find his acting-the ability to change on the set from being the gentle, humble person that he is into the jerk, brat like Eustace and to do it so convincingly! He is truly gifted.

Read the full interview here.