Yahoo News The Tourist boss explains why The Matrix's Hugo Weaving was replaced by Damon Herriman
BBC One mystery-thriller The Tourist was originally set to feature Hugo Weaving in the role of Agent Lachlan Rogers.
Recognised among film fans as Elrond in Lord of the Rings and Agent Smith in The Matrix, the screen veteran stepped aside at the very last second, with Damon Herriman (Mindhunter) coming in as his replacement.
"It was very last minute because it was a schedule thing and those things can always happen so they're always really last minute and a bit of a panic," co-writer Harry Williams told RadioTimes. "Luckily, Damon Herriman was around, who's just an incredible actor."
Related: The Matrix 4 was supposed to feature Agent Smith, confirms Hugo Weaving
"He was literally about to get a flight to Los Angeles that day and we got him on a Zoom and persuaded him to stay after about two hours, which was a relief," added fellow scribe Jack Williams.
"There wasn't a lot of choice and getting into Australia on that notice is impossible. While Australia seemed like a great place to film at that time during COVID, it turns out everyone else had the same idea!
"They called it Aussiewood, didn't they, and Thor [Love and Thunder] was filming so cast, crew, everyone – everyone was busy. It was really hard."
According to Harry, production had been close to starting filming on scenes involving the character of Lachlan when Herriman was cast in the role, prompting production to push the scenes back two weeks in order to allow a settling-in period.
Related: Jamie Dornan's TV comeback The Tourist release date confirmed by BBC
"We were, I'd say, a week away from doing it and we had to do that thing of changing schedules and re-writing," Harry noted.
"We pushed his scene two weeks down to give us time to work with Damon and bring him in. But you know, that's OK. It does happen more than you think sadly. You make all these plans and then suddenly they change at the last minute and you go, 'Oh, shit.'
"The number of times we've had to cast people at the last minute and then you go, 'I can't imagine it without them'. Hugo Weaving is a great actor but I think Damon gives something, if I'm just being honest, that's far more surprising and interesting than we would have got from Hugo."
This six-parter marks the TV return of Jamie Dornan, who portrays an amnesiac known only as 'The Man'.
The Tourist comes to BBC One on New Year's Day.
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