Myth and magic
Hunter Page-Lochard has the title role in hit ABC supernatural series Cleverman. As the groundbreaking show returns for a second season, the actor tells DANIELLE McGRANE it’s an important part of the Australian TV landscape.
Cleverman is the original Aussie superhero story and, in terms of the superhero’s origin story, season two is when things start to get really exciting.
“The first season was him just getting the powers and not even putting on his superhero suit. It was the first 20 minutes of any superhero origin story film, it’s not even the whole origin story,” the Cleverman himself, actor Hunter Page-Lochard, says.
“Season two is where he understands his powers, finds a cool superhero outfit and starts kicking some ass.”
When it premiered on ABC last year, Cleverman was clear it was like nothing seen on TV before. For one thing, the majority of the cast are indigenous Australians and the storyline weaves aspects of Aboriginal culture and history into a supernatural thriller that’s been a hit not just here but also in the US.
Alongside Page-Lochard, the cast includes Game of Thrones actor Iain Glen, acclaimed British actress Frances O’Connor and Aussie stars Deborah Mailman, Ryan Corr and Rob Collins.
“We all went into the first season shooting it going, ‘This is groundbreaking, these are things that haven’t really been on Australian TV’. And having an 80 per cent indigenous cast who are very strong, and one character is wearing suits – there’s no beer in anyone’s hands – it was kind of crushing all the stereotypes, which is really cool,” Page-Lochard says.
The show also airs on Sundance TV in the US, bringing stories of Aboriginal culture outside Australia. For Page-Lochard, it’s been a dream come true working in a science-fiction drama that also welcomes diversity in casting.
“In my opinion it’s a bigger success overseas because they’re more used to that, they’re more allowing of that diversity to kick in. I feel like Australia is a little bit slow to the table but they’re still coming,” he says.
The actor, with his one blue eye, is the hero in this world where Hairypeople, who are inspired by Aboriginal mythology, are under threat from the humans. It’s up to the Cleverman to try to bring peace to this world.
The stories used in the series are based on real Aboriginal myths and legends.
“We’re just slowly spreading the knowledge of certain things within our culture, whether that be social and political issues that have happened throughout our history that a lot of people don’t know, or our folklore,” Page-Lochard says.
In season two, Cleverman, known as Koen, is beginning to explore his connection with The Dreaming, and his relationship with the natural world and time.
“There’s a beautiful thing in episode three where Koen finds out what his powers are actually meant for and what they are, and I found that such a beautiful moment because it was just embedded in so much spirituality of our culture and the fundamentals of our culture,” he enthuses.
Page-Lochard: “It was kind of crushing all the stereotypes, which is really cool.”