How Jude Law Connected With Captain Hook's Humanity In Peter Pan And Wendy
For those that only know director David Lowery from his mystical Arthurian epic "The Green Knight" starring Dev Patel, it may seem a little strange to see his name attached to another retelling of the classic animated film "Peter Pan." But before the visionary filmmaker made the subdued haunter "A Ghost Story" and Robert Redford's "The Old Man and the Gun," Lowery also remade the 1977 children's fantasy musical "Pete's Dragon" for Disney. Returning to the House of Mouse, Lowery is all aboard for a new take on Neverland with "Peter Pan & Wendy" starring Jude Law in a great bit of casting as Captain Hook.
Peter Pan is so ingrained in pop culture that it can be a challenge to know what parts of the story to include and what aspects to avoid for fear of retelling the same version that audiences already know. To avoid those pitfalls, Lowery and Law focused more on the man behind the pirate scowl to explore Peter's (Alexander Molony) relationship with Captain Hook to try and delve into what makes him tick, so to speak.
An actor of Law's caliber isn't necessarily interested in playing a cookie-cutter, fairytale villain. It was a challenge to avoid falling into a clichéd stereotype of Hook, a character that's historically been one of the most cartoonish adversaries in storytelling. "It's one thing to play [an] arch-villain and just turn on the camp of the bad guy, but to really understand them," Law told Screen Rant. "To really go back and look at the damage done. The unfortunate path that this person has trod and how that affects the way they dress, the way they look, and just their spirit, their heart. That's why I do this job."
The boy who grew up
Peeling back the layers of a childhood classic can only run so deep, but Law wanted to make sure that his interpretation of Captain Hook made him a sympathetic villain. Peter and the Lost Boys have never had to grow up. On the other hand, Hook had no choice but to start adulting, which gets to the core of why he resents Peter so much. Law expanded on this, telling Screen Rant:
"Who was he as a little boy? Obviously, so much of the theme of Peter Pan is about growing up and Hook being the adult in the mix along with the pirates. He symbolizes the bad path. He symbolizes a life where the scars heal over scars heal over scars, and it has an effect, ultimately, on his heart and on his soul."
From a certain point of view, Peter can be seen as the villain who's constantly taunting and sparring with Captain Hook, giving a little added pathos to the adult in the group. First and foremost, "Peter Pan & Wendy" is still very much set in the rich, fantasy world that fans have come to expect, meaning that Law couldn't lean too much into Hook's darker side. "You want him to be fun," he said. "You want him to be attractive, laughable, and equally threatening. So getting that mix just right was the challenge."
With a natural storyteller like Lowery at the helm and Law chewing up the scenery as Hook, this new take on the classic tale may be coming at just the right time to breathe some new life into one of the greatest adventure stories ever written.
"Peter Pan & Wendy" premieres on Disney+ on April 28, 2023.