Winner of the 2019 Inaugural Taurean Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in The Meeting, Kerwin Thompson has a dynamic portfolio of stage and screen work. His stage work includes performances with Triad Stage, Aurora Theatre, and Marietta’s New Theatre in the Square, playing roles like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in The Meeting, Henry Brown in RACE, and Wolf in Two Trains Running. On screen, he’s been involved with HBO Max’s South Side and Taboo 2: An Unspeakable Act, though you can now see him in a position of royalty in Disney+’s new show The Quest.
The reboot of the 2014 ABC series follows eight teen Paladins (Ava, Caden, David, Holden, Myra, Serean, Shaan, and Toshani) as they try to prevent Sorceress Tavora (Mel Mehrabian) from taking over the twelve kingdoms of Everealm. If you’re interested in following the teens on their mission, you’ll have to watch and see.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Thompson plays King Silas, the noble and dignified ruler of Oraa. After Tavora wreaks havoc on his brother’s kingdom, Sanctum, it’s up to him to keep Sanctum’s heirs safe and fight against the sorceress. As king, he interacts with the Paladins, encourages them on their quest, and ensures the safety of his people.
We spoke with Kerwin Thompson about the experience of filming a scripted and unscripted series, working with his fellow cast members and Paladins, and the responsibility he feels as a Black man cast in a role of nobility.
The Quest is Both Scripted and Unscripted
Disney+
The fun of a hybrid reality competition show is that not everything is off-the-cuff. Thompson spoke about the freedom he had in his interactions with both the other characters and the Paladins. He described his work in the series as requiring “a lot of improv… but it is a controlled, artistic improv.” His interactions with the Paladins weren’t completely scripted, giving him room to improv in an artistic way, so long as the scripted story was still considered.
A lot and not very much, respectively. The Quest is both a scripted and an unscripted show. The interactions with other characters are scripted; there’s a clear story that we want to tell. Our interactions with the Paladins are mostly unscripted; a lot of improv is involved, but it is a controlled, artistic improv. We always work our way back to the scripted story.
This improv resulted in beautiful interactions between him and the young cast, usually encouraging them on their quest and providing words of wisdom that helped them find their inner strength.
The Responsibility of Representation
Disney/Allyson Riggs
The Quest features several Black actors in key roles. Thompson plays the king of Oraa, Keith G. Brown is King Magnus of Sanctum, and Racquel Jean-Louis is Princess Adaline of Sanctum. Thompson values the image he’s putting out there for young viewers, specifically those of color. When asked what he enjoyed about playing the King of Oraa, he detailed the representation he provided in the series and what it means to him.
The lack of people of color in medieval and fantasy media, specifically in authoritative roles, is something people have noted in recent years. The popular fantasy series Game of Thrones has received quite a bit of criticism regarding the lack of people of color in the series and the roles they have when they are included. In an interview with GQ, John Boyega, one of the stars of the most recent Star Wars trilogy, called out the lack of representation in the HBO series. He’s right in his call-out.
The responsibility of representation. Growing up, I never saw Black people cast as Royalty or in ANY position of authority in medieval movies or TV shows. I am honored to help establish a new normal for kids to aspire to.
At the time of his interview, there were only two or three Black characters that even spoke on the show, and they weren’t authority figures. One of the most well-known is Nathalie Emmanuel’s Missandei, a character Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) technically purchased from someone else. Missandei is described as a former slave and is never in a position of power before being written out of the show.
Games of Thrones isn’t the only series to lack representation. There are no people of color with speaking roles in the Lord of the Rings films, even though there are several described in the books. These are just two examples of the many medieval and fantasy shows and movies that lack Black individuals in their nobility.
Ultimately, Thompson makes an important point that children should be able to see themselves as royalty in the ever-popular genre. The Quest has provided some representation between the three nobles, but the industry as a whole needs to move in this direction.
Advice for Future Paladins
Kerwin Thompson speaks highly of his experience with his fellow cast members and the young Paladins. He describes his time with them in a positive light, highlighting how the teens inspired him and compliment the characters. The passion the Paladins and the actors had for the genre was always evident in the show, and audiences will feel it too.
The Quest is an excellent watch for the entire family, especially kids and teens who enjoy fantasy and medieval stories. Is your child interested in becoming a Paladin in a future season (or maybe in their own life)? Thompson has some advice for those hopeful of becoming their own true hero.
A tremendous joy. The heroes inspired me with their passion for the genre, and my castmates are amazingly talented and generous scene partners.
You can watch The Quest and see Kerwin Thompson as King Silas now on Disney+. But, be careful. You never know what (or who) is lurking in your realm.
Believe in yourself.
Chase your dreams!
