*SPOILER ALERT*
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WGTC: The film ends with a very open door, leaving your character Tom to step into Master Gregory’s shoes…
Ben Barnes: Well, yes, but I already think I know where this question is going, so I’m going to let you finish. [Laughs]
WGTC: I know you’ve probably heard this a billion times already, but were there – or are there still – talks about continuing Tom’s adventures on screen in a possible sequel?
Ben Barnes: I have been asked that, but I haven’t answered in the way that I’m about to answer, which is that I want to see where Tom goes. I think this is just the tentative steps for Tom. [Seventh Son] is an interesting exploration of the history and baggage of Gregory and Malkin, but for Tom, it takes a while for him to get going, to show who HE is. I would love to see him with some of that baggage. He gives up something at the end of the film, for the “greater good,” and I want to see how that takes a toll on him. Whether he turns more into Gregory or different from him – he certainly seems more serious then Gregory at the end. I would like to explore that more.
WGTC: Gregory has a more jovial attitude, where he might be late to a fight because he was at the bar…
Ben Barnes: Yes, and Tom is a bit more serious and sarcastic. He jokes with Gregory saying, “No, no, don’t get up. I just killed a monster, but keep your seat.” As I went through the film, I found that more and more.
I also think the relationship between him and Alice would be intriguing, because do they become intertwined lovers who can’t keep away from each other? Or are they going to be enemies? Will they blame each other for the way they behaved so far and in the future? There’s room for exploration. I’m enthusiastic about it, but like many things, it’s a business transaction.
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END SPOILERS
WGTC: Well it looks like we’ll just have to wait and see, then. Alright, getting away from more serious topics, what was your favorite bit of weaponry to use on Seventh Son?
Ben Barnes: Well I’d done the sword stuff before, which is what I felt most comfortable with, but the staff training was cool. The staff is hard, because you’ve got two ends to worry about, but it looks really badass on film, especially when you get it around your head for a pretty serious knock. I was always afraid of hurting the stunt men, because you’re really hitting them, but they were wearing pads, so you could hit them and feel really cool afterwards. Then you remember they’re being paid to lose, and you realize you might not be as much of a badass as you thought you were. [Laughs]
That concludes our interview, but I’d like to thank Ben Barnes for his time this past weekend, and be sure to catch Seventh Son, which is in theaters now!