By Leah MarieAnn KlettDeputy Editor Tuesday, November 12, 2024

“Indiana Jones” and “Lord of the Rings” star John Rhys-Davies believes that a great, enduring story like Tolkien’s classic trilogy has two elements: right versus wrong.

“A good story is one that challenges us to the fundamental conflict between right and wrong and shows us the redemptive power of change,” the 80-year-old actor told The Christian Post.

This is exactly what pushed the master actor to tell the story. “SCROOGE: A Christmas Carol,” An audio drama from screenwriter PG Cuschieri and creator-producer Mark Ramsey that reimagines Charles Dickens’ classic tale for the holiday season.

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Presented by Hope Media Group and Compassion International, the four-part adaptation brings Dickens’ timeless message of transformation and compassion to life with an all-star cast, including Rhys-Davies’ “Rings” star Sean Astin as the miser. Ebenezer Scrooge.

According to Rhys-Davies, whose career spans decades, “Scrooge” reveals the potential for good in every individual, even if they carry the burden of past mistakes.

“I think it’s all about that time of year when we re-evaluate ourselves and re-evaluate our lives, where we see how much we’ve failed, but there’s still hope. “This confirms hope and confirms the possibility that we can change,” he said.

After its stellar 2023 debut, which garnered accolades like Christian Music Broadcasters’ “Podcast of the Year” and an Ambie nomination for “Best Performance in Audio Editing,” this reimagined game christmas song It will be released on podcast platforms on November 22.

The podcast’s immersive format is enhanced by soundscapes that capture the iconic clang of Marley’s chains, the eerie footsteps of Christmas spirits, and poignant moments that hint at Scrooge’s inner struggle.

“It has all the wonderful trappings of a Gothic story: the clatter, the heavy stamping of feet on the ground, the sounds of chains, the chains we create in our own lives, the chains we will have to carry,” says Rhys. -Davies said. “And these are the chains you will carry as long as you don’t change. And this change, of course, includes other people, our relationships with other people, our desire to be compassionate, our desire to see where there is a need and meet that need. And the story really works because it’s about redemption. “It’s about hope, it’s about the belief that no matter how bad we’ve been this year or last year, we still have a chance to be saved.”

The actor, who plays the dwarf Gimli in “The Lord of the Rings,” told CP that both Scrooge and Gimli’s journeys underscore timeless themes such as transformation, redemption and the capacity of the human heart to transcend prejudice and embrace compassion.

“In some ways the most human character is Gimli the dwarf,” he suggested. “He is the most human among us. He has some of our bad habits. The enemy is aggressive, xenophobic and insecure. He is a bigot. He’s right in his own way: ‘Never trust an elf.’ But he also has the virtues we desire; capacity for friendship, being protective, knowing the difference between right and wrong, willingness to be brave.”

Inside A Christmas Carol, Scrooge’s path is to gradually open his heart to the needs of others, transforming from a stingy man into a warm and generous man.

This change, catalyzed by encounters with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come, is not too different from Gimli’s transformation in “The Lord of the Rings,” according to Rhys-Davies.

“Gimli too carries his own chains,” he said, referring to Scrooge’s haunting visions of chains of selfishness and cruelty. “He starts out distrustful of others, especially Elves, but through friendship, courage, and his own sense of honor, he eventually breaks free of his own shackles… And the parallel is clear in the end.”

Rhys-Davies, who told CP that he aims to “defend the values ​​of Western European Christian civilization” through his work, said Ebenezer Scrooge’s story reminds listeners of the essence of what it means to be human while delivering the Gospel message.

“None of us are good enough; “Not all of us are kind or generous enough,” he said. “We all make snap decisions. We all say hurtful things. But next year or now, actually today, tonight, after the experience of that night, I still have a chance to get out of bed and be a human being, a decent man. It can be changed through love.”

This year, The World’s Largest Small Band “In A Christmas Carol” also releases a free companion track. SCROOGE: A Five-Day Devotional It is based on the story. The research invites people to think about choosing joy, embracing contentment, and expanding compassion. The place of worship created for families also includes activities for children.

watch trailer Below for Scrooge.