played by Naveen Andrews

“I like playing Mubarak. He’s a soldier who proudly served in the Lalita Navy, what he sees as the greatest armed force in the Sector, a link to our roots on Olde Earth. Now he’s a rootless mercenary, his once-proud Navy has been decimated and he’s signed on in this back-water nowhere planet doing very illegal work.

“He’s an honorable man amidst warring factions.”

voice and facial expressions by Ben Kingsley

“Gavani was initially a difficult character to get a grip on. He comes form this world where the technology is so far advanced that it might as well be magic and of course he was made to survive in an underwater environment which is why Deiter calls him, Dr. Fishman.

“He’s a father. That is the grip I have on him. He’s raising 0r10n as his own son to hunt down genocidal evil. Creating an A.I. in this world is really like putting together a child, a very powerful demonic child. Fundamentally, he’s a father, almost a mixture of Frankenstein and Faust.”

played by Danny Glover

“He’s a military man, who believes in what he’s doing and how it will shape his world, allow it to join the stars again. I like him marching towards his possible doom. He’s a good guy and in this story, that is rare.”

played by Lupita Nyong’o

“She’s grown up in this medieval society, knowing that the stars are above and that her people came from starships to hold this demon on the planet. I like that her people want to get back to the stars on her own terms.

“Now she’s thrown in with these mercenaries with very shallow morals. I’m curious to see what she makes of the galaxy now that she’s out in it.”

played by Max Riemelt

“Who doesn’t want to play a cyber-ninja? It is just fun.

“That said, his relationship with Deiter, their brotherhood and love is what really drew me to the role. I like his relationship to his brilliant brother who is clearly on the spectrum.”