Raised by Wolves, now on HBO Max, revolves around a new world in which androids are trying to raise human children. But they’re not the only makeshift parents around, as human loyalists of the sun god Sue and Marcus find themselves gifted with a child who holds beliefs of the old Earth.
Travis Fimmel and Niamh Algar sat down with Screen Rant to share the secrets of their characters and discuss how their relationship is affected by the sudden addition of parenthood.
What can you guys tell me about Sue and Marcus?
Travis Fimmel: Lovers.
Niamh Algar: Sue and Marcus, they are the pinnacle of survivalists. They do everything that’s in their power to survive. They’re very adaptable and resourceful, and they jump at the chance when given it. That unfortunately comes in the form of something that they weren’t expecting, which is this little boy Paul. Suddenly they’re being forced to be parents, which is this new alien experience for them and a test for them both physically and mentally.
They’re definitely rebels without a cause.
When you first sat down and read the script, what was the thing that jumped out the most and excited you about this project?
Travis Fimmel: It’s very unique. I haven’t read anything at all that comes close to the world that’s being created here, between the writing and obviously Ridley, who’s so innovative. I think people will be really surprised, and they’ll be like, “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” especially on TV.
Story-wise, there’s just so much meaning in it that reflects us now; reflects history and and really points out the mistakes that – unfortunately we haven’t learned from any mistakes. We’re gone through it now, and in the future it still looks like nobody really learned that much.
I love that about this series, because it really is a history lesson. What did you want to bring to your character that wasn’t necessarily on the page?
Niamh Algar: It’s trying to find the similarities, I suppose, between you and the characters. That’s where I kind of start. For me, it’s figuring out what drives them, what their passions are, and what their fears are. And I think that when you start there, you can kind of build upon that. There’s all these layers that are already there in the script, but I think it’s finding the truth and then grinding into that. Because it is such a sci-fi world that, when you begin to read it, you can kind of get lost in it. But you just have to remember that these are people, and that this is relatable.
What was your approach to basically playing two different characters at the same time?
Travis Fimmel: If we imagine, as with CIA agents or whatever going under cover with stuff that we absolutely hate, we surround ourselves with the people that we hate and we do learn some stuff, and then and then we’re gifted a child that we never knew we had.
This child has all the beliefs in the world that we absolutely hate, and we have to raise him and love him, and we’re going to learn from him and he’s going to learn bits of stuff from us. It’s really going to test our relationship and even our characters’ relationship.
Raised by Wolves is now streaming on HBO Max.
