Actor Hayden Christensen talks about the production of Outcast and working in China for the first time
DISILLUSIONED, a crusader wanders east and finds redemption by helping a Chinese princess and her brother save their kingdom.
In Outcast, a battle-weary English knight Jacob wanders the earth to flee the horror of the crusades. But when he agrees to bodyguard royal siblings Lian and Zhao, he finds himself selling his sword in a faraway land.
Lian’s tyrannical brother Shing has seized the throne from Zhao, the rightful heir, and his rule threatens to plunge the land into chaos. To restore peace Jacob must escort the two fugitives on an impossibly perilous cross-country passage.
With only ragtag bandit Gallain to help them, the outcasts will face a legion of assassins, a relentless nemesis who has vowed revenge against Jacob for his deeds in the Holy Land, and Shing himself, the greatest swordsman to have ever lived.
Directed by Nicholas Powell, it stars Hayden Christensen as Jacob with Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage as Gallain. Other cast include Crystal Liu Yifei (Princess Lian), Bill Su Jiahang (Zhao) and Andy On (Shing). Christensen tells us more:
What is it like filming in China?
So far it’s been great. The experience of being in China is a real pleasure and I think we’re making an interesting, quality movie — and that’s always good.
Is this your first time in China shooting a movie?
Yeah — it’s my first time. When you shoot movies all over the world, each of them presents its own challenges, its own unique
qualities. Filming in China has been very different: The culture, the language, the environment. All are a far cry from what I’m used to.
However, I like things that are different. I like the challenges and new experiences. I’ve enjoyed my experience so far.
Tell us about your Chinese co-stars.
They were great. I wasn’t too sure what to expect. They were really professional, had great professional depth, and I think the director did a superb job in bringing together the right actors and actress. I think the cast really came together perfectly. I got to do a lot of work with Crystal and Bill Su, my two co-stars are phenomenal.
You started acting very early. Did you know from young what you wanted to do when you grow up?
To a certain extent, yeah. I always had a passion for movies. It feels like a great escape, sitting in a theatre and being told a story for a couple of hours, and I knew I wanted to be part of that from very young. I never could have expected when I’d be back then but I’ve always felt a connection to the industry.
How have you managed to stand out?
It’s a very fickle thing, like why people get opportunities, why people get certain chances — there an element of luck involved. You just have to make sure you’re well-prepared when the opportunities present themselves and hopefully the work you’ve done prior to that enables you to seize the opportunity.
It seems easier said than done. One day you’re in the cinema watching these big names, the next — you’re working with them. There must be a lot of pressure!
There was a bit of pressure, but it’s more of a childhood dream. I get to go from literally a year ago of working with my classmates on plays, to then being on set with George Lucas, Ewan McGregor and Samuel L. Jackson. It was a big shift.
If you had a chance to come to China-Asia again to shoot a movie, who would you most like to work with?
I’m very interested in first time filmmakers. People who are trying to make a mark in the industry are always fun to work with because they have a lot to lose and a lot to gain. It’s always good work with people who have something on the line.
I would love to come back and make more movies in China or Asia. The movie industry here is exploding!
RAM Entertainment