Exclusive Insider's Interview: Unveiling the Exciting New Face of Mat Cauthon in Wheel of Time Season 2!

Summary

Dónal Finn replaced Barney Harris as Mat Cauthon in The Wheel of Time Season 2, but the reason behind Harris' exit remains unknown.

Finn avoided overanalyzing the task and instead drew inspiration from the admiration of the audience for the character, using it as fuel to drive his performance. To fully comprehend Mat's demeanor, values, and relationships, Finn meticulously studied the scripts and extensively explored the literature to construct a detailed backstory.

Dónal Finn recently discussed taking over the role of Mat Cauthon in Prime Video's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, following the departure of British actor Barney Harris. The show, based on Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's book series, centers around Moiraine, a member of the Aes Sedai organization, and her quest to find the dragon reborn. Harris played Matrim "Mat" Cauthon, a powerful Ta'veren and one of the main characters in the first season, but it was announced in September 2021 that Finn would be taking over the role for the upcoming season. In an interview with TVLine, Finn shared that he didn't dwell on the pressures of stepping into the role and instead focused on his passion for the character and the desire to do it justice.

I tried my best to avoid imagining it. I chose to ignore the situation because I knew that if I took the time to think about it, I would become overwhelmed. However, the immense love from the fans for this character motivated me to ensure that I began on the right note. To achieve this, I gathered all the written work from Season 1 and used it to create a backstory for Mat. Furthermore, diving into the books and extracting the tone of this man, his beliefs, and his passion for living life to the fullest has been incredibly valuable. Additionally, understanding how he interacts with people and objects in his environment has allowed me to develop a renewed understanding of his character.

Why Did Finn Replace Harris As Mat Cauthon

While there is ongoing speculation about the possible recasting of Mat, the exact reason for Harris' departure from the show still remains unclear. Initially, Harris had filmed the first six episodes before production was halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, when production resumed, Harris did not reprise his role. As a result, the ending of episode 6 was modified to exclude Mat's presence with the group, and his only subsequent appearance in the show was through archival footage.

Despite rumors that Harris would not be returning to the show due to his refusal to be vaccinated under the production's COVID-19 policy, these rumors have been proven false. The show resumed production in September 2020, before vaccination requirements were implemented in December 2020.

While the reason for Harris' departure from The Wheel of Time remains unknown, Finn is expected to be a capable replacement for the British actor. Finn has recently showcased his talent in The Witcher, Cursed, and the BAFTA-nominated SAS: Rogue Heroes, demonstrating his acting abilities and readiness for larger roles. With the release of season 2 approaching, viewers of The Wheel of Time can hope for a seamless transition in the recasting, and have confidence that Finn will effectively capture Mat's charm.

Source: TVLine