The Anderson brothers, Tor and Odin, have been a strong fan favourite in the community since the original Alan Wake game. This week, Remedy shared a rare interview with the actors behind the ever-young rockstars, as part of their ongoing series spotlighting the incredible Alan Wake 2 cast.
The five-minute conversation with Harry Ditson (Odin Anderson) and Stuart Milligan (Tor Anderson) is paired with behind the scenes footage, including motion capture recordings. With the actors recast for the sequel, the duo, who are real-life friends, talk about their approach to the established role and what they hope to bring to the version and the chemistry.
If you missed any of the previous videos, Remedy has shared interviews with Peter Franzén (who portrayed both Ilmo and Jaakko Koskela), a joint interview with Melanie Liburd (Saga Anderson) and Ilkka Villi (Alan Wake, Mr Scratch, Thomas Zane), and most recently, a second joint interview with Janina Gavankar and Sam Lake.The actors behind Alan Wake 2 - Harry Ditson & Stuart Milligan Transcript
QUESTION: Describe Tor & Odin?
STUART MILLIGAN: He's a rough, hard-drinking, hard-fighting, takes-no-prisoners type of character, very much like me. I didn't have to travel very hard to, far to play him, and it's a complete joy.
HARRY DITSON: Odin is old and kind of losing it, but like a lot of people who are kind of on the edge of their lives, they're losing their senses; they have moments of clarity. Blinding flashes of clarity, and then they become confused, and they forget where they are.
DITSON: I'm Harry Ditson, and I'm playing Odin.
MILLIGAN: Well, my name is Stuart Milligan. I'm playing Tor Anderson.
QUESTION: What's it like playing Tor & Odin?
DITSON: Fun! It's fun portraying the rock legend Odin, who doesn't really exist, but he does in the game.
MILLIGAN: Yeah, it's great. I mean, this kind of work for actors is, as we were just talking about, is kind of a new area for some people. And you'll always run into people, I have done this kind of work before, it's always different.
DITSON: What I'm impressed by is the attention to detail, because when people pay attention to the details, it usually means they're trying to do good work. They're trying to do something worthwhile. They're not just throwing it together. I mean, they took infinite pains over it. Even our teeth were measured, and, you know, they recorded exactly how our teeth were. So that speaks volumes for the attention to detail.
QUESTION: Describe Tor & Odin's relationship.
MILLIGAN: There's a love and a bond that just cannot be broken, no matter what happens, and these are two relatively decrepit old men. So, they're coming to the end of their lives anyway. So, I think they've seen plenty of road together, and their lust for life and their love for Saga, in this particular story, they're very protective individuals, I think! Yeah.
QUESTION: What's it like playing a beloved character?
DITSON: I guess I have a responsibility to make him as real and believable as possible.
MILLIGAN: Very honoured, but of course what we're doing is we're kind of reintroducing a new kind of character, really. I'm glad that they liked the character before, but I really hope that they like the character that we've, that I've, been able to deliver for them. There are going to be some similarities, but there's also a lot of differences and new things.
DITSON: People have invested time and energy, and they believe in the characters when they're immersed in the game. So, you want to portray him as honestly as you can.
QUESTION: Where did you draw inspiration from?
DITSON: Well, Ozzy Osbourne, of course, is the person you think of, or I think of right away, because he was a badass rocker. And then he just became a kind of sad, lovable old geezer, really, when we see him in that TV series, the reality show.
QUESTION: Describe Tor's state of mind.
MILLIGAN: His state of mind. Well, I think his state of mind is really about getting drunk, getting in fights. He has difficulty with some of the more supernatural elements of our story and is infected by them, and he struggles with that as well. He's not the brightest tool in the box, let's be honest, but he has passion and heart and really represents kind of a yin and yang to Odin, who is much more philosophical, much calmer than Tor. Tor is a real-rushes-in-where-angels-fear-to-tread kind of character.
QUESTION: What's it like working together?
DITSON: Well, we knew each other before, Stuart and I, so it's good fun, really.
MILLIGAN: Oh, it's been great. I've known Harry for years, he and I, and we've worked together before.
DITSON: We make each other laugh, and if you didn't do that, it would be an even longer day. So, it's important to keep it light and keep it fun.
MILLIGAN: We're able to improv together. We're able to have a relationship with each other. That has to be... it's critical that Tor and Odin are very close, no matter what happens. Whatever they're arguing about, whenever they fall out, they always will come back together again, always.
(IN-GAME) ODIN: And I am the All Father!
DITSON: Well, Odin is not finished. Odin has only just begun. He's got a lot more to give, shall wesay, so hopefully I can bring more texture and interest to the character.
MILLIGAN:Well, just as speaking as Tor, what I need now is a stiff drink and a brand new hammer. That's what I need.
