New four-part historical crime drama Shardlake is about a conscience-led hero in a dangerous world.
I dont think Im projecting at all!
When the kings man is killed at a monastery, Thomas Cromwell sends lawyer Matthew Shardlake to investigate.
The way Sean plays it is just lovely, says Butchard.
The smiles, the arm on the shoulder… theres a weight there.
Its dont let me down, and youre terrified!
Beans Cromwell is a manipulator, says Butchard, with a hint of charming monster.
He grins remembering the actors delivery of the words My Matthew in episode four.
Its just loaded with so much because Shardlake effectivelyishis Matthew.
Hes his puppet, and Shardlake hates the fact that its true.
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Shardlakes Cromwell is a manipulator with an agenda he prioritises over all else.
And theres lots of cases now where thats similar.
They always say that history repeats itself and itdoes.
You see the same mistakes being made, you see the same promises being made.
I dont think it was too hard to project onto that.
Matthew Shardlake is heroic, he stresses.
I like that theres a little bit of hubris.
He is kind of pleased with himself, Butchard tellsDen of Geek.
With his disability, he has to be his own coach.
He has to pump himself up because hes afraid of losing whatever power he has.
He knows that hes vulnerable.
Hes very much a reformer, but also he wants to reform in a proper way.
Hes a very honest man.
Truth and justice, as Shardlake tells a monastery novice in episode one, are his currency.
Thats whats wonderful about him, says Butchard, theyarehis currency.
In his essence, he is good.
Thats still intrinsic to who he is.
Hes realising that you dont need to be a godly man to be a good man.
His relative youth makes him maybe less jaded, says Butchard.
He still hasnt given up on finding romance.
Hes still lonely, he still would love to fall in love, says Butchard.
For all his mistakes, you want him to succeed in his personal life.
Its much more of a solo show than [Butchards previous historical adaptation]The Last Kingdoms ensemble.
He is such a complex character, Shardlake, so itll be about growing him.
Butchard wants people to fall in love with Shardlake in the same the way that he has.
Overall though, he stresses, Sansoms books are primarily crime novels.
You always want to maintain that.
Shardlake is streaming now exclusively on Disney+ in the UK, andon Hulu in the US.
