New character speculation

[Chipster-roo]

The IMDb cast page for the WD miniseries mentions all characters that should appear.  The miniseries will mark the first appearance (outside the books) of Bluebell, Thethuthinnang, Haystack, Captain Orchis and Scabious.

However, the page also lists several characters who never appeared anywhere before:

• Sainfoin (voiced by Craig Parkinson), all 4 episodes;
  
• Nettle (voiced by Charlotte Spencer), episodes 2 and 3;
  
• Dewdrop (voiced by Gemma Chan), episode 1;
  
• The farmer's wife (voiced by Lorraine Bruce), episode 2.

Does anyone have any idea who they are, and what will be their roles in the plot be?

[CockatielPony]

My guesses are sainfoin is from sandleford
Nettle from Efrafa
Dewdrop sandleford but didn't leave the warren

[Leo-rah]

Sainfoin is a Owsla Captain from Efrafa (neck mark, I guess?) At least this is what I added to his description in my mind map of the structure of Efrafa.
(Can be found in chapter 35 The Grope)

As for Nettle and Dewdrop, I have no idea. I'm curious what their role will be.

[Chipster-roo]

I had forgotten about captain Sainfoin of Efrafa.  It would be rather interesting if it was the same Sainfoin in the miniseries; he would be, along with Woundwort, the only Efrafan character to appear in all four episodes.

Nettle might be an Efrafan, but she does not appear in the final episode unlike Hyzenthlay or Thethuthinnang.  Perhaps it is Nelthilta with a simpler name?

[Acacia Heartstrings]

That's fine though, adding new cast characters. I'm still happy for BLuebell, it will be the first appearance in an animated medium. We have to wait.    

[Vesper]

This Mini-series is getting more and more interesting as we curiously wait for a much bigger insight into this new adaptation of WSD. I'm really looking forward to it and to the stories and characteristics of these very mysterious characters at the moment.   Thank you Chipster for sharing this with us. *Nuzzles*

[Chipster-roo]

An interview with Craig Parkinson.

I voiced a little fat rabbit for Watership Down that’s going to be on Netflix and the BBC at Christmas I think.

I guess this means that Sainfoin will be a "little fat rabbit".  That doesn't really tell us much more though...

Also, looks like we're still waiting for Christmas...

[Acacia Heartstrings]

It seems it will be a lot of characters, for only 4 episodes. I do not think they have much dialogue, unless the series extends to 12 episodes, which would be great.  

[florapaw]

I think that it's interesting that they're adding new characters! I can't wait to see this series - it better be good if it's taken them all this time to make it.

[CockatielPony]

I guess sainfoin might be the replacement for pipkin except chubbier. I wonder if they'll have a hungry character for comic relief.

[Chipster-roo]

Craig Parkinson has been giving some more interviews.

In the first one, he talks mostly about another series he did, and says very little about WD.  He says he is "a big, slow, fat rabbit.  He is a great character", and the Christmas release date is mentioned again.

The second interview is mostly about his experiences working on the series.  He also says that "I don’t think it will be as terrifying [as the 1978 film] but it will certainly touch a chord with people of our age.  I think the young’uns are going to dig it too."

I think that it's interesting that they're adding new characters! I can't wait to see this series - it better be good if it's taken them all this time to make it.

I really hope it will be...

I wonder if they'll have a hungry character for comic relief.

How about Kehaar?

[Magic-Rabbit]

I'm down for that being the case but what if Kehaar is too dry with awful humour?

I really did like the character in the 1978 original.

[Magic-Rabbit]

What about the character of Scabious?

[Chipster-roo]

What about the character of Scabious?

He appeared in the original book.  His role was very brief: he gets killed during Sandleford's destruction.

And then I saw Scabious -- you remember Scabious?  He came out of a hole along the hedge -- one [the humans] hadn't noticed. I could see at once that he'd smelled this stuff. He didn't know what he was doing. The men didn't see him for a few moments and then one of them stuck out his arm to show where he was and the boy shot him. He didn't kill him -- Scabious began to scream -- and one of the men went over and picked him up and hit him.  I really believe he may not have suffered very much, because the bad air had turned him silly: but I wish I hadn't seen it.

He will probably have a larger role in the miniseries, since he has his own voice actor.  I wonder what will happen...

[CockatielPony]

That is one of the saddest scenes in the book to me.
It would be fun to see scabious's character. I don't really like the name of the character since I have the word scab