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Our Flag Means Death's Rhys Darby says fantasy stories give us a place where “we can all love each other.”

Rhys Darby reflects on the importance of fantasy stories in the world today

Still image featuring Rhys Darby in Our Flag Means Death — Image credit: Nicola Dove/Max

Features by Jim McDermott, Contributing writer

Published on Fri Nov 10 2023

At this year's Rhys Darby, Con O’Neill, Nathan Foad, Vico Ortiz, Kristian Nairn, and Matthew Maher Spotlight panel at NYCC, actor Rhys Darby called on fans to put the real world aside from time to time and live in the fantasy worlds that nourish them.

"I think it’s important to find a place to take yourself away from the real world upon occasion," Darby told the audience, to great applause. "Because the real world is shit right now."

Darby continued his spiel by adding, "All the people here love fantasy worlds. That’s why we’re here, and it’s elevating, it’s great, it’s fun. In those worlds we can all be the same and we can all love each other and use kindness."

Darby ended his statment on the power of fantasy by saying, "The most important thing is to create those fantasy worlds and to keep believing in them," he urged listeners. "I hope they happen in our lifetime."

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