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Robert Halmi, Sr., the Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning executive producer of Legend of Earthsea, has offered to answer your questions about this coming-of-age epic-fantasy miniseries. Send your queries to rhs@www.scifi.com.

July 20, 2004
How closely will the movie follow the books?
I've done a lot of productions based on books, and I always try to be true and honest to the source. I think that the scope and spirit of her work is represented closely and fans of the books are not going to be disappointed. These books have been around a long time, so it would be a shame to change them.
I've been reading the books in anticipation of the miniseries. Which books will the miniseries cover?
We originally thought about doing the first three books of Earthsea, but this miniseries is mainly based on A Wizard of Earthsea and The Tombs of Atuan, the first two novels in the cycle. Hopefully, there will be a chance to continue the story in future productions.
One of the more interesting things Le Guin does in the Earthsea series is play with race, casting the whites as barbarian. It's mentioned in the books many times that Ged and the Gontish people are dark-skinned, and Le Guin, in several interviews, has also said this is the case. Why then make Ged blond and pale-skinned?
Legend of Earthsea, the miniseries, was cast completely colorblind, as any of my productions have been. We searched for the right actors for the roles and brought in diversity to the cast as a result. There was no decision to make Ged blond and pale-skinned. Shawn Ashmore is a terrific rising star and the perfect choice for the character. Most people have the image of him from X2, in which he played Iceman. Ged is a completely different look for him.


11.10.04 – How did this miniseries come to pass?
11.10.04 – Will you be true to the books in that the greatest magic wasn't a flashy light show but rather a few spoken words of power?
11.10.04 – Is Ursula K. Le Guin involved in the writing or production?
11.10.04 – Would a follow-up include the books that came after the trilogy?
07.20.04 – How closely will the movie follow the books?
07.20.04 – I've been reading the books in anticipation of the miniseries. Which books will the miniseries cover?
07.20.04 – In the books, Ged and the Gontish people are dark-skinned. Why then make Ged blond and pale-skinned in the miniseries?