by At first glance, The magic Flute seems to be your standard YA fantasy film: a young boy in a distinctive scarf goes to a distant school, where he discovers a magical land full of snakes, princesses, and yes, a magic flute. The words “Harry” and “Potter” are never spoken, but the film doesn’t hide its similarities to a certain boy with wizard glasses.
However, once the characters start singing – and singing operatic arias no less – you realize that this film is very different from any other fantasy film out there. In a chat with Digital Trends, star Jack Wolfe talks about the challenges of starring in a film that’s both fantasy and musical, his love of the fantasy genre, and how his current role as Wylan Hendricks in Season 2 of Shadow and bone differs from his role as Tim The magic Flute.
Digital Trends: I spoke with Florian [Sigl, the director] earlier, and mentioned that he chose you to star The magic Flute because there are many parallels between you and Tim. How did your personal experience help you in the film?
Jack Wolfe: I knew [Mozart’s] OPERA. It’s such a recognizable piece, and my parents are both musicians, so I was aware of it. But… I couldn’t say I was a huge fan. It scared me a little, to be honest. Yes, I went to study music. Yes, I studied piano and singing. But even there the opera scared me.
It’s funny because Florian is right. there are many similarities between what I went through and what Tim is going through The magic Flute. I went to study music at the same time, I think Tim did, and it was really challenging. It can be an isolating place, especially for teenagers. Well, it’s something I understood very well.
The magic Flute it’s a bit strange because, on the one hand, it’s this Harry Potter fantasy, and on the other hand, it’s a musical based on an opera. How did you prepare for both the fictional and musical elements of it? The magic Flute?
I mean, the easy answer is that I was constantly intimidated by the whole venture because it was my first feature film. And since it was also a fantasy based on special effects and an opera as well, I felt like I had to take on a lot at once. The key for me was getting out of my head. Florian helped me with this. he is so calm and collected and knows exactly what he wants. I could trust him. I was also spoiled by the most incredible cast, which included real opera stars and actors like F. Murray Abraham who have a lot of screen experience. I was able to learn a lot from them.
The opera part didn’t scare me that much because I don’t play Tamino in an opera. I play Tim discovering the opera for himself. It was always through the eyes of Tim, who is also a beginner. And that’s what really helped me face the challenges of the music parts of the film. I also had an incredible vocal coach, Sam Kenyon, who brought me to a level where I had a functional singing voice for The magic Flutehis songs. I actually provide the singing voice for Tim in the German version of the film as well. I sing the opera arias in German, which is a nice easter egg for everyone out there. [Laughs]
I know you said this is your first big film, but with all your other TV work, you’re already becoming something of an expert in the fantasy genre. You have appeared on The Witcher and you’re in its second season Shadow and bone, which is a huge hit on Netflix. Even though it’s in the same genre, it’s your approach to Tim in The magic Flute different from, say, Nadbor The Witcher and Wylan Hendricks inside Shadow and bone?
Something I really like about the fantasy genre is playing a real person with human emotions who deals with things that are completely absurd. It’s such a fun thing to explore. In The magic Fluteit’s different because Tim exists in the real world, but then he escapes into this fantasy.
In Shadow and bone, Wylan exists in this made-up world and not in reality. It is something very different from that The magic Flute. But I love the fantasy genre so much. I like the escapism it brings to people. I love learning from fantasy and applying it to real life. I think that’s why people love the fantasy genre and also why people respond to opera. Both are about escape. they just do it differently.
This is my hope The magic Flute it allows people not only to escape through imagination and music, but also to be inspired to take the enjoyment they get from film and go and support live art forms like opera and theatre. The movie is a great gateway for some people into a genre that I think needs support.
The magic Flute is currently playing in theaters. Shadow and bone Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
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