Sci-Fi Wire

Ashmore Conjures Earthsea Magic

Shawn Ashmore told SCI FI Wire that he's a lifelong SF&F fan, but admitted that he was unfamiliar with Ursula K. Le Guin's work until approached by SCI FI Channel to star in Legend of Earthsea, the network's upcoming original four-hour miniseries based on her books. "I read the script and really liked it," Ashmore said in an interview. "Then I got the books A Wizard of Earthsea and The Tombs of Atuan, read them and totally fell in love with the character. I decided it was something I wanted to be a part of."

Ashmore (X-Men) plays Ged, the central character in Legend of Earthsea. Ged is a young man destined for greatness as a powerful wizard, but that destiny is put to the test when he accidentally unleashes a dark force that threatens his world, Earthsea.

"I think it's the classic coming-of-age story," Ashmore said. "I'm 25, so I've already gone through what my character, Ged, goes through on a general scale, because I haven't studied at a wizard's school. It's a young man coming of age and dealing with the consequences we all have to deal with. I really liked Ged's dark side. He's a young man who is strong-headed, growing up in the middle of nowhere, and [who] feels destined for something else. I liked his drive and the fact that a lot of the bad things that happen to him he brought on himself. So it's him taking responsibility for his own actions. It was an interesting way to deal with someone growing up and becoming whole."

Legend of Earthsea premieres Dec. 13 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

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