Colin Morgan, left, and Ivanno Jeremiah in a scene from “Humans,” a sci-fi series in which some robots develop human consciousness. Morgan is being touted as a future Doctor Who, but he's more focused right now on the possibility of playing 1916 Rising leader Sean Mac Diarmada.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMC
By Karen Butler
Irish actor Colin Morgan promises Season 2 of his celebrated, sci-fi drama "Humans" will feature even "bigger ideas, bigger risks" than Season 1 did.
Set in England in the not so distant future, the series is about how beautiful, artificially brilliant robots are rapidly replacing humans both at home and in the workplace, prompting real people to feel anxious and inferior.
Morgan's part-synth character Leo, the hero who holds the key to why some robots are developing human consciousness and feelings, frequently puts his own life on the line as he tries to protect his awakening, android brethren.
"Season 2 really just ups the ante on absolutely everything in every department," the 31-year-old Armagh native told the Irish Echo in a recent phone interview.
"I think that Season 1 very much focused on the characters sort of finding their place within a kind of family unit in their own little world, in their own little, sort of eco-system as such,” he said, “so they were all trying to find a little part that they could be in and exist in. I think that is across the board for nearly all of the characters in Season 1.
“Season 2 is very much more expansive and it becomes a lot more about the characters trying to find their place in the world, with bigger ideas, bigger risks and more emotional risks, I'd say. Relationships is a huge theme in Season 2,” Morgan said. “Every character has some form of bizarre or strange or challenging relationship issues going on and that is a huge factor in Season 2, as well. Plus, things are about to absolutely change the whole course of the future and history, as well, so it's kind of big stakes for everybody."
Asked if he immediately knew there was something extraordinary about "Humans" when he signed on to it, he replied: "I think I did, because it is all in the scripts. It's all in the writing for any project that feels special. Maybe other projects, maybe the script's not 100 percent, but you can see the potential. But I think in this, straight from the get-go, it was just really, extremely well-written and drew me in as an audience member."
Morgan, an actor also known for his performances in the TV programs "Merlin," "The Living and the Dead" and "The Fall," went on to say the series is quite timely as it examines people's connection to and dependence on technology -- something many are grappling with today.
"The machines are introduced into the world, but it's very much about how they are welcomed into the world or not welcomed into the world by humans themselves. The whole show is really a comment on us and I think when you watch it, obviously, the technology and the synthetic humans are a huge draw and huge attraction and really well portrayed on screen. It's very much about how we respond to it and it is so relevant, obviously, because technology is such as huge part of our lives now already. It is changing us. It is making us different people. It is making us maybe less connected to more primitive means of communication. It's making us less observant. It's making us more restless, possibly. Attention spans of people are diminishing. All these things that happen as a result of new technology," the actor said. "I think the whole show is about humanity and how we respond."
Since Peter Capaldi announced he is leaving the iconic drama "Doctor Who" at the end of this year, Morgan's name has been bandied about by fans and journalists as a possible replacement. However, the younger actor seems content to stay where he is for now.
"It all comes around, I guess, when the re-generation of the new Doctor comes along. It's been asked of me before," Morgan acknowledged. "I guess, in all honesty, it's not something I have my sights set on at the moment, but who knows?"
The actor emphasized there is enough rich material to continue exploring "Humans" over several more seasons, should AMC keep renewing it.
"There's definitely more to tell. As you see Season 2 progress, I feel like your hunger is going to grow for more, I think, as an audience member," he said. "It takes you in a completely different direction. I think it is very unpredictable. It is very surprising and I think people will enjoy being challenged in that way. Season 2 comes to a form of conclusion that also opens up a whole other Pandora's Box of things to be explored. If the opportunity to explore those exists, I think everybody will be onboard for going along, as well."
While committed to the series, Morgan is also eyeing the lead role in filmmaker Colin Broderick's planned movie about Ireland's Easter Rising of 1916.
"It's one of those things that happens where you meet people involved in projects and, suddenly, it's up online on IMDB.com and everything," he said. "It's still extremely early days on that project, but it's a story I want to tell. I think it's an important and vital part of Irish history that's hugely important and, I think, has gone under the radar. The story of Sean Mac Diarmada.
"I'm sure it will happen one day. I don't know what day that will be," he laughed. "But I hope, when it comes around, I'll be able to do it. It's a great project."
Co-starring Tom Goodman-Hill, Katherine Parkinson, Carrie-Anne Moss, Emily Berrington, Gemma Chan, Jack Derges and Ivanno Jeremiah, "Humans" airs Monday nights on AMC.
