Introduction to a Blockbuster Film
A Jersey actor has landed an outstanding role in the upcoming Masters of the Universe film, alongside big names like Idris Elba and Jared Leto. James Wilkinson will play the part of Mekaneck in the film, which sees the return of the iconic comic character He-Man from the 1980s.
The Exciting News
Wilkinson described the night he found out he got the role as "crazy". He had to run 1 kilometer to a restaurant with good Wi-Fi to find out the news from his agent, as his internet connection at home was terrible. "My Wi-Fi was terrible, so I had to run for a kilometer to this restaurant, which I knew it had a good WiFi, it was closed, so I only stole her Wi-Fi while I found out what was going on with my agent," he said.
Familiarizing with He-Man
Although Wilkinson was not familiar with the Masters of the Universe franchise, having been born after its peak, his older sister was a fan. "I heard about it, but it was before my time. I’m 35 and it was just a bit ahead of my time, but my older sister loved it," he explained. To prepare for the role, Wilkinson watched all the cartoons with a bowl of muesli, describing it as the "easiest research of all time".
A New Take on a Classic
Wilkinson recognizes the large fan base of the franchise and the responsibility that comes with it. "It is such a responsibility because they want to ensure that the fans are looked after and represented. At the same time, it has to be fresh and new so that new viewers can understand," he said. He added that being on set was an eye-opening experience, with hundreds of people working on the film. "If you are on the set, you can see how great it is with hundreds and hundreds of people who work on it. And I’m just lucky enough to be there."
Love for Jersey
When asked about his love for Jersey, the 35-year-old said he misses the island when he’s away. "I miss it so much when I’m gone. When you grew up on the island, you just get used to being at the sea, especially in summer." He expressed his dislike for being in London during hot weather, where he can’t escape to the beach or the water. "I love it and I love to come home to see the family," he said.
