He is a deranged king, driven to madness by the ghost of his father (played by Sello Maake ka Ncube) which haunts him.
Veteran actor Mothusi Magano stars as King Letsha III, the eccentric leader of the Akachi in this epic series that’s expected to be as big as Game of Thrones in its cultural impact.
A fantasy drama such as Blood Psalms has global significance because an epic like it has "never been done before", says Mothusi.
"And there’s a lot of action and romance - something for everybody. Blood Psalms is going to be very entertaining: it’s a heck of a ride. Not only visually, but cerebrally too, and it gives you a thrill as well.
“Letsha is very tragic,” Mothusi says of his character.
“He's driven by fear and guilt. He's done a lot of terrible things that haunt him, and he keeps doing more terrible things.
“He often feels like he carries the world alone; that other characters are constantly trying to manipulate him or the situations around him.
“So he’s a bit of a tortured soul, with some serious daddy issues. I get to go crazy.”
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Alongside other relative industry newcomers such as Bokang Phelane, who plays Zazi, Letsha’s disloyal daughter, is Faith Baloyi, the breakout star of Flatland, who in this Showmax series plays the role of Queen Assili, the Magi of the mystical Uchawi kingdom.
Queen Assili has become King Letsha’s most trusted advisor, but she is concerned about her waning influence now she cannot bring the rains during a severe drought.
To secure her position, she’s arranged for her daughter Thozama (Class Act Season 2 winner Tumie Ngumla from iNumber Number) to marry Letsha.
With the wedding imminent, her son, Teborah (SAFTA nominee Niza Jay from the Oscar-shortlisted The Wound), and husband, Ntuka (Andile Nebulane from Generations: The Legacy, who was Chadwick Boseman’s dialect coach on Black Panther), are on their way to join her at the Akachi citadel
Talking about her character, Faith says, “Queen Assili is the chief matriarch of the Uchawi tribe, but she doesn't dwell with her tribe.
“She currently serves as a magician for King Letsha and the Akachi tribe. However, she is using her powers for her own gain. Not only does she manipulate King Letsha but the Akachi kingdom is also controlled by her.
“She is trying to restore the power that has been lost for her own people and her own kingdom, so a lot is at stake.
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“She will dispose of anyone and use anyone, including our own children. She's a ‘horrible’ human being; viewers are gonna love to hate her.”
Assili is not the only person who does horrible things as rival tribes the Uchawi, the Ku’ua, and Great Nziwemabwe lock horns in the citadel of Akachi ahead of Letsha’s upcoming wedding.
The battle scenes in the rain were hard to do, Mothusi admits. But filming stark naked was even more awkward.
“Honestly, the biggest challenge was probably the nudity. That’s always awkward!”
The epic Showmax Original African fantasy premieres on 28 September 2022.
