We interviewed Yasen Atour, who plays Reza, the famous detective’s colleague and best friend, and Charles Mnene, who plays Bashir, a “gang leader” who becomes close to Wallander over time, about their characters and the series.
Young Wallander was aired simultaneously all over the world. How do you feel, what excites you the most about this series?
Yasen Atour: It’s really exciting that the series is being aired all over the world. I think what excited me the most at first was the character. So is the script, a plot full of action, full of enigmas. It’s amazing to be part of such a project, a sincere project.
Charles Mnene: I agree with Yasen. The journey of my character, Bashir, moved me a lot. His place in Wallander’s life is also very important. All this was very exciting and, at the same time, a great responsibility.
How did you get involved in the project? How did you prepare for your roles?
Charles Mnene: This is a very deep question for me. The beginning of the process was the same as it always is. I auditioned. I met with the directors and the production team. For me, the project really started during the character research phase. I researched Malmö, I researched the character. That process affected me a lot. During this journey, you also interact with other characters. This is a process that excites me a lot.
Yasen Atour: Let me tell you a short story about this process. Before this, I had the opportunity to take part in great projects for two years. But at the end of this process, I realized that I was really tired and exhausted; the balance of work and private life is very tiring. I called my manager and said I’m taking a break from acting for a while (laughs). He said okay. I said I’ll be gone for a month, I’m going to Morocco. My family lives there. By the way, all Moroccans love Turkish TV series (laughs). I know my mom watches five series at the same time. They are a great series. Anyway, I said I would be gone for a month, I went down to the beach, and I was lying down. My phone rang. My manager said you need to check your e-mail. I said, Please leave me alone, but he insisted. I read the character, the script, and the project. I could only say, “My God!” (laughs). I was no longer on vacation, I fell in love instantly. I returned at once and began to work, obviously.
Have you read the novels that the Wallander character was inspired by after agreeing to the project? How do you feel about the adaptation of a cult novel character in today’s world to his 20s, when he was never written?
Charles Mnene: I haven’t read the novels, to be honest. But of course, in this project, we are talking about the history of a character, and it is very important to learn about this character. Mankell is a very popular writer all over the world. I can say that I approached Kurt Wallander with a fresh perspective and an equally deep respect.
Yasen Atour: I knew the series, I knew Mankell’s novels. I tried to approach the whole story and the character from a fresh perspective because it’s a very different job from the previous ones. I was aware of that from the very beginning. I tried not to compare it to previous works or novels. Because this series brings a whole new perspective to the character of Wallander.
Yasen Atour, you portray Wallander’s closest and perhaps only friend, Reza. Reza is a policeman, and he is attacked during the protests of racists and nearly dies. How did the character of Reza make you feel?
From a family perspective, there are many points where I identify with this character. Because I also have children. I am also familiar with the characters’ world. So it was an honor to play such a character. I put a lot of myself and my own experiences into the role.
Charles Mnene, you play Bash, a gang leader. The Bash-Wallander relationship, which starts tense after he learns that his neighbor Wallander is a policeman, turns into a trusting friendship over time, and they try to save Ibra together. How did the character of Bash make you feel?
Charles Mnene: Yes, when looked at from the outside, Bash can certainly be perceived as a gang leader. This is actually a defense mechanism. When you get to know the character, his story, and where he came from, you realize that there is much more to Bash than that. He is a very intelligent character. He has built up a pretty good life for himself in Sweden. He doesn’t want to go back to the past, and as he interacts with Kurt, you see the layers of the character. The choices he makes and his relationship with Kurt turn into a friendship based on trust, but Bash is not someone who trusts people easily. This stems from his past, which makes him who he is. At first, you see that he is quite reluctant, but then you realize what he can do for the people he loves.
In Young Wallander, the issues of anti-immigration and racism are at the forefront. What do you think about the current situation in the world, anti-immigration in Europe and America, the rising racism, and the police violence that develops in parallel to these?
Yasen Atour: I think we still have a long way to go, but I believe we are on the right path. The George Floyd incident and dozens of examples before it affect us deeply. We need change as a whole world. We all need to contribute to this. I believe that you cannot fix the world without fixing your own circle.
Charles Mnene: We have a lot to work on. Young Wallander is a project that provides criticism of society. The situation of immigrants, discrimination… We all experience it. As a society, we have to take responsibility for this and change.
Were you a fan of crime series before Young Wallander?
Charles Mnene: I like them a lot. I watch a lot of documentaries and fictional crime series.
Yasen Atour: I’m like Charles. I watch every work that takes me into a fictional world with pleasure, but crime series have a special place. For example, there is a series called Young Wallander; I am looking forward to it (laughs).
Do you have a message for the viewers in Türkiye, what would you like to say?
Charles Mnene: They will watch an exciting, action-packed series. There is much more to it than that, too. They will see things that have not been told about a fictional character. They will learn a lot about Wallander.
Yasen Atour: Other than that, it’s a very good conundrum story. I hope they like it. Honestly, I can’t wait for the sequel.
