‘Earthsea’ stars find real lessons in fantasy

Although they may be set in far-flung worlds, fantasy tales can never truly be separated from their creators and from the lands that created them.

Some of the most popular fantasy -- including “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “Harry Potter” -- come from a British (and by extension, a northern European) tradition. But what if the fantasy originates in North America, a land once thought mystical and mysterious by European explorers? Further, what if it comes from a woman who spent much of her life in Portland, Ore., in the Pacific Northwest, a well-watered land of forests, rivers and seashore?

It would look a lot like Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea.

Initially published from 1968 to 1972, the Earthsea trilogy -- “A Wizard of Earthsea,” “The Tombs of Atuan” and “The Farthest Shore” (along with a fourth book, “Tehanu: The Earthsea Cycle”) -- was originally intended for young adults but has become a worldwide favorite with all ages.

On Monday and Tuesday, the Sci Fi Channel airs its adaptation of the first two books -- a four-hour miniseries called “Legend of Earthsea,” set in a mythical, wind-swept land of island kingdoms. Robert Halmi Sr. of Hallmark Entertainment, along with Kevin Brown and Lawrence Bender of Bender-Brown Productions, are executive producers. Robert Lieberman (“Casino”) directs from a screenplay by Gavin Scott (“The Mists of Avalon”).

Filmed on location in Vancouver, Canada, “Earthsea” stars Shawn Ashmore (the “X-Men” movies) as Ged, an impetuous youth who discovers he has magical powers. With the help of legendary wizard Ogion (Danny Glover, “Lethal Weapon”), he seeks to master his craft but instead unleashes an evil force. This forces him on a journey that leads him to Tenar (Kristin Kreuk, “Smallville”), the successor to High Priestess Thar (Isabella Rossellini, “Merlin”). Ultimately, Ged and Tenar must combine their powers to save Earthsea.

“It’s usually a European and middle-European world” in fantasy, Halmi says. “Because ‘Earthsea’ comes from America, it comes with all those American traditions. That’s why it’s multicultural, multiracial. ... We have no mythology, so we create our own.”

Kreuk first became aware of “Earthsea” through her younger sister, a fan, and she knew Halmi’s Hallmark Entertainment because she did a multicultural version of “Snow White” for the company.

“They took a chance on me with ‘Snow White,’ ” Kreuk says. “And I was shooting at home in Vancouver” -- where “Smallville” also films -- “which was another bonus for me. It would not have happened if it had not been shooting in Vancouver.

“And it’s perfect. The way you envision Earthsea is just this chain of islands, which is outer Vancouver, the Gulf Islands. I think they took a layout of the Gulf Islands and used that as the landscape of Earthsea. It’s beautiful.”

She also appreciates the differences between “Earthsea” and European fantasy novels. “The women are strong and play a very important role in bringing peace to Earthsea,” Kreuk says. “Isabella’s character is strong, as is mine, rebellious in some ways and feisty. The men and women work together to come to this end.”

As Tenar learns from Thar, Kreuk took the opportunity to learn from Rossellini, daughter of film legend Ingrid Bergman.

“Isabella seems in some ways like a child,” Kreuk says. “She’s so graceful and down to earth and funny and smart and worldly. She’s passionate about what she does. I’ve also just watched her enjoy everything, keep her sense of humor when things get rough.

“And she’s a woman who is who she is. She’s Isabella Rossellini, and she’s always been Isabella Rossellini. She’s so grounded and real. As a young actor who’s really just starting out, you can see where you should be and who you should be like. She’s someone to emulate, because there are so many people who just start to believe that they are the be-all and end-all of the world -- and nobody is.”

Hearing Kreuk’s compliments, Rossellini laughs heartily. “I don’t think I taught her anything.... She didn’t say it to me; the makeup artist said to me: ‘She’s so impressed to work with you.’ I said, ‘With me? What would she be impressed about with me? I’m not a superstar. She’s worked with Halmi; I’ve worked with Halmi.’ She doesn’t let anything through.”

Like his character, Ashmore also took away lessons. “I was never frightened of [working with Glover and Rossellini]. I think it’s more of a challenge. There’s a responsibility to this work. Some people can slough off fantasy as escapist and not take it seriously, but this is a real story.

“So to watch two amazing actors come in and take responsibility and give their all to these characters is pretty amazing.”

Fantasy works best when it offers a perspective on the real world, and Glover knows that.

“So much of what we consider the fantasy world,” he says, “resides in our own spirit, in our own hearts, in our own mind. What’s inherent in this story are enormous values and ideals: values around one’s use of one’s gift, the use of one’s gift for the betterment of the world, or the values that deal with responsibility.”

Kate O’Hare writes for Tribune Media Services.

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‘Legend of Earthsea’

When: Part 1 airs 9 to 11 p.m. Monday; Part 2, 9 to 11 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Sci Fi Channel

Rating: TV-PG-V (may be unsuitable for young children with an advisory for violence)