For the third feature in our War of the Worlds coverage we speak to Sherlock’s Rupert Graves, who plays Frederick. Nick Joy joined him in his tent to talk about Martian invasions, Sherlock and filming in Liverpool.

How’s it’s being going so far?

I’ve been in and out [of the shoot]. Craig [Viveiros – director] is really brilliant. It’s difficult on a BBC budget to do something like War of the Worlds and it requires incredible planning and vision. I think that Craig has got that, and the set is a really nice atmosphere too.

Was it an easy sell for you?

The name – WAR. OF. THE. WORLDS – you can’t say no. It just sounds so cool!

Are you a fan of the Wells original?

I’d read the book a long time ago and forgotten a lot. Then I reread it [for the part]. But we’re not doing an exact copy, the book is more reportage style and this is less of a diary of events with more human interest. This story is given two main characters Amy and George which the rest of the narrative structure is hung on.

What can you tell us about Frederick?

If George and Amy represent the new age then Frederick represents the established orthodoxy of the time. That obviously creates a rift in ideology between the two brothers, but the idea of the Martians invading democratises everybody and puts them in the same position as potential victim unless you fight. So our characters come closer together in our escape from the Martians.

Do you think it important that it’s set in Britain, per Wells’ story?

I think one of the interesting things about the modern age is that our cultures are weaving more together. The mark of a good story is that you can set it anywhere because there’s a human truth to it, and you can set it any time. Creating the aesthetic of modern sci-fi monsters into an Edwardian setting is really interesting. You don’t have to make them steampunk, you can just make them modern. The clash is really interesting.

Have you had any challenges from an action perspective?

No, I’ve had nothing to do like that. Getting the character right is the challenge normally, and this one is challenging because… I think they miscast me! (Laughs) Don’t tell them that! Actually, I’m already in the can… I’m not going to get fired!

Have you seen the aliens yet?

Yes, Craig has shown me some mock-ups, and they look great. The idea is to make them organic mechanical. Tripods can look a bit clunky – they’re dustbins with legs – but these look more like sinew and muscle cabling. The original pictures do look amazing, but they are very old-fashioned. These are a modern variant.

Have you interacted with them yet?

It’s going to be CGI, so we’re just reacting to empty space, which I find quite hard because you don’t know specifically what they’re going to do. The monster’s leaning in and you have to react the right way. I’ve only done a tiny bit and we’re going to do some today I think.

Have you enjoyed filming around Liverpool?

I love Liverpool as a city. We’ve been lucky enough to film in a lot of the big civic buildings, which are just stunning. There’s a sequence where Amy, George and I escape via tunnels from the original monsters that come to London, so we’ve been using this original series of tunnels – they’d make a great art gallery or something.

I don’t think I’d be forgiven if I didn’t mention Sherlock. Would you be up for another series?

I would, yeah, but I genuinely don’t know. Nobody’s put the final full stop on it and they’ve always said they’re open to potentially doing stuff, but I haven’t heard anything for ages.

As an actor, does a recurring role in something as popular as Sherlock open new doors for you, or were those roles always there?

Yeah, if you’re in a successful thing then people watch it and are interested in a little bit of that in their own thing. It’s a business and it helps sell it I guess.

Will people find a little bit of Greg Lestrade in Frederick?

The body is the same, but the hair is different, and the voice is different. I think there is something… Greg Lestrade, for all his oafishness, is a moral person. Frederick, although he’s establishment, is horribly right-wing by modern standards. There is a sense of duty and earnest goodness in him.

Do you have any familiarity with the Jeff Wayne concept album?

No I don’t, and I’ve been meaning to. If I could pick up an old vinyl copy then I certainly would have a listen.

How do you feel about the ending of The War of the Worlds? Some people see it as a bit of a cop-out?

I don’t see it as a cop-out. You have to end it that way or else everything on Earth is dead, which is another cop-out in a dark way. There’s a red weed which takes over the planet, which is interesting… I don’t really know what else I’m allowed to say. I think it’s an interesting idea that the smallest of things, bacteria, can kill the biggest of things – it’s a genuinely neat and clever idea. How else do you end the story? We’re used to a big ‘Bang, pow!’ ending but maybe for them the event was enough. Martians landing on Earth, destroying London and potentially the planet, Edwardians probably thought that was a big enough story. Do you think he ran out of puff or something? I didn’t get that feeling. It’s a ‘green shoots’ ending of optimism.

Follow Sci-fi Bulletin’s coverage of War of the Worlds, with a set location report, an interview with actor Rafe Spall, director Craig Viveiros, writer Peter Harness and Visual Effects Producer Angie Wills.