Hughes explained: “I think a notable difference is that Shardlake meets Barak much earlier. In the books, he met in the second book, but his original companion in the first book doesn’t return – that’s kind of it. And with Barak, their relationship is, I think, much more interesting.”
Boyle added that he thinks “Barak is a more interesting character than the boy in the first book,” referring to Mark Poer’s character. “They take it a little harder, it becomes a little more of a buddy film, a detective film.”
Hughes continued: “Exactly, there’s a longer way to go with them, and I think that’s why Barak was introduced. But other than that, I think it’s like a dark, scary story, like a detective series, a haunted house.
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“And I think that’s really what we did, I think that’s really what it looks like. So I hope fans of the book, and fans who aren’t, really enjoy this.”
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The other member of the central trio at the heart of the drama is Thomas Cromwell, played by Sean Bean. He sets the story in motion, sending Shardlake and Barak, two unlikely partners, to investigate a murder in a monastery.
-Bean also spoke with RadioTimes.com and explained why he took on the role of Cromwell, saying it was the character’s “malice and cruelty” that he found most appealing.
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“And also his charm and the pleasure he took, these are the goods which [had] “The relics and skull of Saint Barbara and the way he handled them were stolen from the church,” he explained. “There was something quite frightening about it.”
He continued: “And I like the fact that he was quite a dark character, apparently quite a humorous man when he wasn’t at work. I found him quite frightening, quite frightening, which apparently he was, so it was something that was quite frightening. very enjoyable to play, very rewarding to play, this aspect of his character.”
Shardlake premieres on Disney Plus on Wednesday, May 1. You can sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year now.
Check out more of our drama coverage or visit our TV guide and streaming guide to find out what’s on. To hear more about TV’s biggest stars, listen to The Radio Times podcast.
