Kit Harington Adds Even More Dimension To Literature's Most Tragic Antihero In A Tale Of Two Cities

Charles Dickens enthusiasts can rejoice, for MGM+ is bringing a new adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities to the small screen, starring Kit Harington as the eternally lonely Sydney Carton. Taking place amidst the bloodthirsty backlash of the French Revolution, the classic novel follows two men whose faces are eerily similar, yet whose fates could not be more different.

One is the aforementioned Sydney, a brilliant yet tortured British lawyer, and the other is Charles Darnay (François Civil), a French noble on the run from his own riches and in pursuit of liberté, égalité, and fraternité. Their paths first cross in a courtroom, but their lives become irrevocably intertwined when they both fall in love with Lucie Manette (Mirren Mack). Over the course of four episodes, the three characters must right old wrongs, overcome their own moral failings, and — in a surprising shift from the original novel — decide which part of their divided hearts to follow.

ScreenRant interviewed Harington and Mack in anticipation of A Tale of Two Cities' premiere, and the duo teased how the MGM+ adaptation changes (and in many ways modernizes) the romantic tensions at the heart of the Dickens classic. Harington specifically explained how he approached the role of Sydney, and why Charles Darnay had to level up as well, while Mack shared Lucie's point of view on the infamous love triangle.

MGM+'s A Tale Of Two Cities Adds Layers To The Love Story

ScreenRant: Sydney Carton is one of the most famous characters in English literature. Kit, what did you want to bring to this story and character that was new or different?

Kit Harington: Yeah, not daunting at all, right? He's one of the original romantic antiheroes. He's the person that you want to fix, but he's never going to be fixed. That's quite an intoxicating thing for some people.

What I found fascinating about him is that he's the smartest person in any room, but he hates himself. When he encounters Lucy, he thinks that's the solution. He thinks he's found the thing that's fixed him, but that's too much to put on another person. You can't expect someone to be your fix, but like an addict, that's what he wants.

I think he's a wonderful character. He's so torn up and so tormented, and also so charismatic. But he can't see that. It's a big challenge to play, and I hope I've done it justice. I just know that back when I first read the book, probably before I even wanted to be an actor, I was like, "God, that's an amazing character."

ScreenRant: This adaptation changes the dynamic between Sydney and Lucie a little bit. Why are they drawn to each other?

Mirren Mack: I really love that it's different from what I was expecting. I think it's really important and such a brilliant thing to explore. It feels very modern in many ways, the heart being divided.

I think what Lucie loves about Sydney is that she meets him in the courtroom first, and he is brilliant. He is this firework of brilliance, and he's so smart; he's quick-witted, and he manages to spin the whole room. I think that's so attractive and thrilling.

When they converse, they have a real meeting of minds, which is so exciting for Lucie to explore, but what she falls in love with is the heart of the man underneath this brilliant facade. He's a troubled, painful, compassionate, beautiful person - and she imagines the life he could have if he let himself believe in himself.

Fleshing Out The World Of A Tale Of Two Cities

ScreenRant: On the other hand, we also have Charles Darnay, who completes one of literature’s most heart-wrenching love triangles. What can you say about each of your dynamics with this version's Charles Darnay?

Kit Harington: François [Civil] is, first and foremost, a fantastic actor. It's just lucky for us that we look similar, because he was the first person we wanted to go to. In the book, I have to say, he's not interesting enough. Certainly for me, I just wanted to read more about Sydney, and so we had to plump up his character and hire someone we knew would take the character further, which Francois did.

He's a sort of heroic pastiche in the book - which a lot of Dickens fans will hate me for saying that, but I do think that's true. This needed to be a proper love triangle, rather than just Sydney and two others. It needed to have a feeling that she could go any way. He's just as attractive as Sydney in every way. That was the challenge of adaptation, and François certainly helped because he was magnetic.

Mirren Mack: I think Lucie really recognizes that Charles had a life set out for him. He could have followed so easily in his father and uncle's footsteps, but he refuses that. He fights for [freedom] in America, and he's got these huge core values.

I think Lucie sees in him someone who knows himself, who knows his beliefs, and who doesn't accept the life that has been set for him. She finds something of herself in him, and she sees a mirror there, but she also admires him very much.

ScreenRant: The French Revolution is a fascinating time in history, and this novel in particular is an interesting take on it. What was your way into that era? Were the costumes transporting you, the sets, or your wig?

Kit Harington: That bloody wig! I think all I needed to do was shave and put on a wig, and I felt entirely vulnerable. It's one of those things where, when you put on a wig like that, all you want to do is go on set and turn to people and go, "Do I look a little bit like an idiot? Just tell me. Just be honest. Do I look like an idiot?"

But the costumes were incredible. Nina, our costume designer, was fantastic. And there was no buying them cheaply; we crafted everything, and that just added to the richness of the show. She made them timeless. I think they were of the period, but there are moments, especially in the fourth episode, where you look at Lucie and feel like she could have walked onto a Second World War train platform, waving her loved one goodbye. It had that kind of sweeping period feel that crossed centuries.

Mirren Mack Takes A Trip To Rome For Assassin's Creed

ScreenRant: Mirren, you've also been transported to ancient Rome for Assassin's Creed. What can you tease about the scale of that project?

Mirren Mack: I'm terrified to say anything! I'm not really sure what I can tease, but all I'll say is I'm in Rome just now. It's hot, it's so beautiful, and I feel so lucky.

When we filmed A Tale of Two Cities, we were actually in Budapest, so we were not in Paris or in London, but they made it [look right]. It was so cool walking in; it was like stepping back in time through a time machine. And it's the same here in Rome! It's extraordinary. I have so much admiration for any [creator] who can really make it where you can just look at something and believe that you're in a different time. It's amazing.

A Tale of Two Cities premieres on MGM+ on September 6.