Fortunately, things didn't go so well with the banana! What the British actor Matt Edwards had to show during the casting for "Pan Tau".
Pan Tau, the silent and mostly invisible magician from the 1970s children's series of the same name, returns. The British stand-up comedian and magician Matt Edwards (37) takes on the title role in the remake "Pan Tau". The 14 new episodes will be shown in double episodes from October 4th on every Sunday at 10:10 a.m. on Das Erste.
Pan Tau is no ordinary school mascot. He always uses his alien magical powers when a child from Westpark School needs help. And the problems of young people are manifold: A classmate snatches the role in the musical away from you? Nasty influencers want to ruin your father's reputation? Your secret love seems unreachable? No matter where the sneaker pinches, the friendly Pan Tau is there.
In an interview with the news agency spot on news, the British actor Matt Edwards tells what he had to show during the casting for the cult role, which he did not even know at the time. But Edwards also reveals astonishing things about his serial colleague, the German actor Helmfried von Lüttichau (63) – who most probably know as the policeman Staller in the successful crime series "Hubert und Staller" (2011-2018).
What did you know about Pan Tau when you were invited to the casting?
Matt Edwards: I honestly didn't know anything about him. The original series never ran in the UK, which is a shame because he would have been a big star there too. The first thing I did when I got the job was to watch all the episodes straight away. And I really liked it a lot. The series is special, I don't know anything else like it.
How was the casting in Cologne? What did you have to do there?
Edwards: The casting was pretty fun. I had to do a lot of weird things and some stunts too. Above all, they wanted to know how I would react in certain situations. Among other things, I should walk past a mattress and imagine that there is a banana on the floor that I'm slipping on. Then I should fall on the mattress … I did that, but I missed the mattress completely and ended up missing it. It went totally wrong, but they thought it was funny. They liked how I handled the situation. And what can I say, I got the job – and now I'm Pan Tau (laughs).
The new series is now finished and Harry Potter fans in particular might like it, right?
Edwards: Yeah, I agree. It should please everyone who likes fantasy, fun and comedy. And if you are a "Harry Potter" fan this series is actually a must.
What makes the new series so special?
Edwards: It's not a series for children or adults. I think it's become a series for the whole family. When I was a child, it was normal for the whole family to watch something together, but this is no longer the case today. "Pan Tau" could just bring everyone together again.
What are the big similarities and differences between your Pan Tau and the original?
Edwards: The difference to the original series is that Pan Tau is a lot younger and we tell contemporary stories. Children no longer have the same problems as they did in the 1970s. Still, I think the fans of the original will recognize a lot.
The same thing in both series is that Pan Tau does not speak. How's that for an actor?
Edwards: It was really very difficult for me. I usually do a lot of comedy and slapstick. It was not easy to transform myself into this elegant, gentle and thoughtful figure. Mastering this challenge was a real experience, and it changed my life a little too. I learned a lot about myself and how I see the world. Pan Tau really is a very special person.
What did you learn from Pan Tau?
Edwards: I've learned to live in the here and now. There is always that voice in your head that drives you and corrects you. Sometimes I thought about the past and got sad: Oh, why did you do that? Then I thought about the future and was worried. Pan Tau taught me to just live in the now. The earth is such a beautiful place where such wonderful things happen. We are all human and we have problems, but there is no better feeling than helping others.
"Pan Tau" was shot with international cast. How did you experience your German colleagues on the set, for example Helmfried von Lüttichau?
Edwards: Helmfried von Lüttichau is great. I love this guy. He's such a kind man, but woe betide him he's slipped into his costume. Then he was to be feared. What an incredibly good actor. He plays a wizard with whom I have to fight as the magician Pan Tau – for me as a professional magician and "Harry Potter" fan, of course, a dream come true. Helmfried's English accent was also surprising. I showed his scenes to my family and everyone was sure he was British.
Did you take a souvenir from the filming?
Edwards: I'm not exactly sure if I can say that … Oh well, I'll tell you: I took a miniature pan-tau, a hat and a clapperboard – I just wanted a pan-tau shrine at home .
Can you imagine the series continuing?
Edwards: Absolutely. We shot 14 episodes – and didn't even start telling everything we wanted to tell.