Theo James and Rose Leslie star in HBO’s The Time Traveler’s Wife, a new series based on Audrey Niffenegger’s bestselling novel and set to premiere on May 15, 2022. Theo James (Divergent) stars as Henry DeTamble, the time traveler referenced in the title. Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones) plays Clare Abshire, the titular character and love of Henry’s life.
Two-time Emmy Award winner Steven Moffat (Sherlock) adapted Niffenegger’s novel for the series and during the Television Critics Association’s winter press panel, he explained his fascination with time travel and romance.
“I think, actually, I loved the idea of time travel affecting romance when I read this book. When I read this book – and I was working on Doctor Who back then – I said we had to do a Doctor Who story like that, which we did. Which was called ‘The Girl in the Fireplace,’ which Audrey Niffenegger saw on television and wrote into her next book, so I knew she was onto me.
But I think what is brilliant and thrilling about the interaction of time travel and a love story here is it makes the most common phenomenon of a completely happy marriage interesting again. I mean, love stories tend to end at the altar…or love movies do. A romance movie ends at the altar or they start with the divorce. We never do the bit where people are perfectly happy with each other for decades because it seems like an undramatic thing, in a way. By scrambling it all up and by constantly reminding you that love is inextricably linked to loss – which is a cheery thought for you all – you make this very common phenomenon of the happy marriage interesting, thrilling, and full of tension and tragedy, as well as joy and happiness. So, that is why.
And I do love the time travel story, in general, as my career would suggest,” explained executive producer Moffat.
Theo James had the difficult task of playing Henry at different ages and in different time periods. James admits it was a huge challenge to try and keep track of where Henry was at certain points in his life during specific scenes.
“That was a massive challenge because we cross-shot the series, as you often do as you know these days. And on top of that, everything is out of order,” explained James. “What Steven did was deliciously use the narrative and the concept and the construct of time travel to make it jump around in a way that made it percussive and pacey and really interesting. But as a result…you know, people tried to help all of us out as much as possible, but there were days when we could be shooting one year in the beginning of the day and an entirely different year at a different age at the end of the day. So, it was a head f**k – to put it lightly.
But you know, in a way, it was good because you made sure you kept on top of exactly where you’re going and where you’re coming from. And that’s kind of the beginning and end of acting, in a way.”
In addition to tackling different ages and time periods, there were also scenes in which James was playing against himself.
“Henry plays against different ages of himself so sometimes I was playing against nothing. Sometimes I was playing against a great scene partner that then would be taken out in post,” said James. “So, it was complicated, definitely.”
Fortunately, Henry sports different hairstyles throughout his adult life which helped Theo James. Still, switching between the ages took some getting used to.
“David (Nutter, executive producer and director) tried to shoot the younger guy out first. And then the next day we’d go back to the older version. Because it’s quite hard to switch between those on a dime, you know? You’ve got to kind of live in that person from the moment you wake up in a way. It sounds pretentious to say, but the way he walks and talks and stuff are just a little bit different with age, even if it’s the same person,” explained James.
Brit Theo James claims his Scottish co-star Rose Leslie was much better at hopping in and out of an American accent while shooting The Time Traveler’s Wife.
“I’ve done an American accent a fair bit but I haven’t done it opposite another English person before, and so it was different because you can drag yourself out of it and start making similar mistakes,” said James. “I stay in it because I have to. I find I’m a natural mumbler and I need to exercise my mouth. And I need to be in the character a little bit from the beginning of the day. But Rose is much better, and she can just slip in and out of it like that. So, it was a little challenging but not too bad.”
