Courtesy of jeremysumpter.com
One hundred years since its first publication, J.M. Barrie’s Peter and Wendy has lost none of its magic – although it may have gathered a little fairy dust. I am honoured to contribute to this centenary edition of one of the most beloved children’s stories of all time.
Peter Pan has been a big part of my life ever since I was very young. I learned the story growing up and wanted to be just like Peter; I led the neighbourhood gang on adventures around our small town, hiking, climbing cliffs, swinging on vines and playing sword fights. My mother used to look out the window at me and my friends and say, ‘There’s Peter Pan and his lost boys!’ I didn’t know at the time that I would one day be the first boy to play Peter in a feature film that remained faithful to the original story.
After auditioning for the part, I travelled to London to test with Jason Isaacs, who played the roles of Captain Hook and Mr. Darling. Jason and I went to Hyde Park to practise sword fighting. A police officer came along to ask why a man was fighting with a boy and made us leave. I, of course, thought the reason was that I was getting the best of Captain Hook.
A few months later, I found myself in a new country to train and film the movie with Jason, Rachel Hurd-Wood (who played Wendy) and the rest of the cast. I was on the Gold Coast of Australia for almost a year, where I learned how to sword fight from the country’s top fencer, and, more importantly, how to fly… Six days a week I looked forward to going to work to play Peter and see my Wendy.
J.M. Barrie’s classic has spoken to so many kids over the years with its tale of the boy who wouldn’t grow up. I’m sure you will love reading this story, whether for the first time or even if you have heard it a hundred times before.
Star of the 2003 movie Peter Pan from Universal Pictures,
Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios
boy who never grew up turns 100 peter and wendy peter pan merchiston publishing
