Go Behind the Scenes of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and Meet Magnus Bane

Steve Barton   |  

Feb 26, 2013

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We’re still several months away from the August release of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, which gives us plenty of time to become acquainted with the characters. On tap today we meet Magnus Bane, played by Godfrey Gao.

MTV News visited with Gao on set on his first day of shooting — a party scene which found the 28-year-old sans pants. “It’s really cold,” he told them. “…I’m just hanging out with my boxers on and everyone sees… I have great legs. But it’s very fun to play Magnus Bane, as you can see.”

The actor understands the great responsibility he’s undertaken portraying the fan-favorite character from Cassandra Clare’s series about the secret world of the demon-destroying Shadowhunters. “There’s actually a really big pressure because I know there are a lot of fans out there, and everyone loves Magnus Bane, and I love Magnus Bane,” he said. “So I just wanted to play a sort of cool-looking Magnus Bane, but I also wanted to bring out the flamboyant side, the party side of Magnus Bane, so hopefully everybody can enjoy what I bring to you on screen.”

No kidding everyone loves him; in fact, an extra Magnus scene was written into the screenplay that didn’t originally appear in the book. “It is really cool,” Gao said of the bonus moment. “This whole ride has been amazing. I’ve really got to thank everybody… This is my first English feature. I’m actually pretty nervous doing this interview now. I never do any interviews in English, it was always in Mandarin before.”

Related Story: More Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Stills Erected

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is an adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s young adult fantasy novel and has a release date of August 23, 2013.

Kevin Durand, Robert Maillet, Elyas M’Barek, Lily Collins, Robert Sheehan, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jemima West, Kevin Zegers, Lena Headey, Jared Harris, Godfrey Gao, and Jamie Campbell Bower star in the film helmed by Harald Zwart. Jessica Postigo and I. Marlene King wrote the script.

Synopsis:
Set in contemporary New York City, a seemingly ordinary teenager, Clary Fray (Lily Collins), discovers she is the descendant of a line of Shadowhunters, a secret cadre of young half-angel warriors locked in an ancient battle to protect our world from demons. After the disappearance of her mother (Lena Headey), Clary must join forces with a group of Shadowhunters, who introduce her to a dangerous alternate New York called Downworld, filled with demons, warlocks, vampires, werewolves, and other deadly creatures. Based on the worldwide best-selling book series.

For more info visit the official The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones website, “like” The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones on Facebook, and follow The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones on Twitter (@MortalMovie).