Tom Felton Cast as Guy Fawkes in Hybrid VR/Theater Experience “The Gunpowder Plot”
Great Britain remembers Guy Fawkes as the most well-known conspirator in the plot to blow up the House of Lords on November 5, 1605. Nowadays, the Internet recognizes Fawkes as the face of antiestablishmentarianism after the Internet activist group Anonymous adopted his face for its protests. Regardless of how you know him, Fawkes is most often associated with radicalism and unrest. And it looks like we will have to start associating our beloved Tom Felton with those same extremist ideals because he was cast as Guy Fawkes in a new immersive experience that combines virtual reality and live-action theater called The Gunpowder Plot.
Starring as Fawkes, Tom joins a massive digital cast of over 50 performers. Tom excitedly spoke at length about the role and the ability to bring him to life through virtual reality:
I’m very excited to be playing a character so famous (and infamous!) for being at the centre of the most famous conspiracy plot in UK [h]istory. Guy Fawkes is a fascinating character with a complex history and with passionate advocates and detractors then and now. To be able to bring the character to life through [v]irtual [r]eality, and to allow him to interact with audiences in a way that has never been done before, is thrilling.
Combining virtual reality with live theater performers and special effects to stimulate all five senses, The Gunpowder Plot is a new attraction opening in May at the Tower Vaults in London, England. The show promises a fully immersive experience, where audience members, wearing virtual reality headsets, will participate by undergoing an undercover mission to uncover the plot and infiltrate the conspirators’ company. As part of the virtual reality experience, attendees will be able to interact with both digital and live-action cast members.
The show will run for 80 minutes, along with a 20-minute intermission allowing audience members to grab food and drink from the Duck and Drake, a re-creation of a tavern that is believed to be where the Gunpowder Plot was conceived.
Tickets are on sale now, ranging from £40 to £70 for standard admission and from £90 to £110 for VIP admission. VIP tickets include unique custom moments added to the show, a meal and drink, a themed cocktail to be enjoyed during intermission, a souvenir photo, merchandise valued at £10, and access to a VIP area following the show. The attraction will open on May 19.
We were first introduced to Tom as Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series, a character that we loved to loathe. Though Tom has had quite a prolific career since his turn as Harry’s frenemy, his love of the franchise and fan base has kept him from ever shedding his Slytherin colors. After all, he rewatched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone for the first time last year and even hosted a TikTok screening of the flick.
Londoners will be seeing a lot of Tom both virtually and physically this year since he will be starring in a stage play, 2:22 A Ghost Story, also opening next month.
Will you be seeing The Gunpowder Plot? How do you suppose Tom will play Guy Fawkes? Do you think he has the right facial hair to play Fawkes? Let us know in the comments.
