The Wheel of Time‘s Barney Harris‘s recasting before Season 2 led to the introduction of a new actor in his place to essay the role of Mat Cauthon. As the show’s third season premiered recently, viewers are curious to know the reason behind this decision and its potential effects on Mat’s narrative arc.
Here’s why Barney Harris left The Wheel of Time and got replaced
Barney Harris, the original actor who played Mat Cauthon, departed the series due to mental health reasons (via Screen Rant).
Harris left the show before Season 1 ended, prompting a recast of his role. He’d filmed up to Episode 6 before production was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic and did not return when filming resumed.
As a result, he was absent from Episode 7, and his earlier footage was used in the final episodes. Consequently, the script had to be rewritten and the creators cast Irish actor Dónal Finn for Season 2 as Harris’s replacement. Finn is known for his roles in SAS: Rogue Heroes and The Witcher.
In an interview with TV line, the actor said he hadn’t watched the first season before taking on the role. “Then I watched it alongside the fans when it got released, and I was pleased to see that there was some cohesion between Mat in Season 1 and Mat in Season 2.”
Finn has received positive reviews from fans and critics for his performance in the show. The series is currently in its third season and continues to enjoy popularity among viewers.
The Wheel of Time is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Originally reported by Ayesha Zafar on ComingSoon.
