Charlie’s army on blockbuster form
Action men play key roles in Outlaw King
Action experts from the Carron Valley are currently featuring in one of the biggest blockbuster movies of the year.
Charlie Allan and his team starred in and also helped behind the camera on the new Scottish historical tale about Robert the Bruce, Outlaw King.
Charlie founded the Clanranald Trust, a charity dedicated to promoting Scotland’s culture and history, and Combat International, its battle re-enactment company based at Duncarron Medieval Village.
Fifty–four members of the team were drafted in to play a major part in the Netflix production, starring Hollywood actor Chris Pine.
They helped train the cast and 400 extras for key battle scenes in the war epic and acted as consultants for the wardrobe department.
Team members were handed roles as Bruce’s 22 men and worked and he got it spot on. I think he really pulled it off well.
“Bruce is such a historical Scottish figure and it was important that it was done right. I think he did the character justice.”
Shot from last August to November, almost entirely in Scotland, Charlie and the cast and crew filmed at 74 of Scotland’s most scenic locations, including the shadow of Stirling Castle – at Falleninch Field – plus Glencoe, Inverness and Talisker Bay in Skye.
Action scenes from the movie’s climactic final event – Bruce’s victory in 1307 at the Battle of Loudoun Hill, Ayrshire – were filmed on location at Mugdock Country Park.
In one scene from the film, Charlie and his team had to row a longship in to Talisker Bay, breaking through waves in the process. He added: “It was difficult but we were alright as it was nothing really new to us. For some of the people who had never done anything like that before it was nervy.”
Charlie himself was one of those chosen to star as one of Bruce’s key men and is now hopeful that a second part of the historic saga will be filmed. The film tells the tale of Bruce up until 1307 – leaving open the possibility of a sequel telling the story of the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
After the shoot, Charlie and the team were presented with a giant wooden trebuchet catapult, used in one of the opening scenes, to display at Duncarron.
Creation of the village has been a passion for Charlie and he is now excited ahead of the grand opening next year.
It was reported by the Observer in August how the Clanranald Trust opted to move from its base at St Kessog’s Church, Callander, back to the medieval village in the Carron Valley.
It’s anticipated that the village will open in May 2019, with indigenous tribes from around the world expected to perform.
“We will have a grand opening at Duncarron Medieval Village in May where people can meet Bruce’s 22 men and see some of the costume and weapons worn in the movie,” added Charlie.
Meantime it’s hoped that the team will continue to make itself one of the most sought-after in film and television.
They are hoping to be called upon once again for a third series of Norwegian comedy, Norsemen.
Outlaw King is just the latest blockbuster with which Charlie has been involved.
In 2000, he was used in the Russell Crowe film, Gladiator.
In June this year, the Observer reported how Crowe was to have a landmark named after him in the Carron Valley hills.
A tower being built at the village will be built after the Oscar–winning actor, who visited the site seven years ago.
Bruce is such a historical Scottish figure and it was important that it was done right