For this third season as Alex Rider, the teen whose Freevee adventures spring from his uncommonly early induction into British Intelligence’s MI6, Otto Farrant has a sense of why the series is a global hit.
Each season is based on a specific book in Anthony Horowitz’s best-selling series; in this case “Scorpia,” about a criminal organization.
“What the show does so well,” Farrant, 27, said in a Zoom interview from London, “is that it stays true to the story of the books and the core values of the books. But it tries to expand on that world and that makes it feel fresh for both the younger audience and also an audience that have read the books and love them and love the characters.
“Scorpia in this one is Alex’s biggest threat yet. But in that there are some surprises along the way and I really hope that fans get excited by what we’ve got in store because there are some twists and turns.”
Farrant’s life has changed, of course, by playing Alex. “We’ve shot this show through three seasons in five years. It was 2019 when we started — and you change so much in five years! I remember when I got the job, it was like looking up a mountain and thinking, How on earth am I going to climb this?
“But with the support of the great actors and the team around me, we all managed with a show we’re so proud of.”
Alex was unknowingly trained since early childhood to be a MI6 agent. Is he like a teenage James Bond, trained to kill? Is Farrant required to train before each season?
“I do a bit of training to prepare physically. I also have the most incredible stunt team in Jamie Stanley and all the rest of them. But Jamie specifically. He’s been more than a double since Season 1 and he’s taught me so much.
“We have such a good working relationship and a friendship. He’s really taken me on a long, long journey to learning how to make a fight great and how to do all the action.
“Also, stepping in when something’s maybe too dangerous for me.”
As to the show — and Rider’s — continuing appeal, “The thing I like is it appeals to anyone and everyone. It doesn’t try to patronize its audience. It just presents a fun story that is emotional and is action-packed whenever it needs to be.
“And it has a good message, something everyone can relate to. Everyone wants to have fun when they’re watching TV sometimes. So it’s a good show for everyone.”
The first 2 of 10 episodes of “Alex Rider” stream on Freevee April 5.
