Rhys Darby walked around Hamilton, Ont., learning lines for 'Relax, I'm from the Future'

The star of the brilliant comedy series Our Flag Means Death, Rhys Darby, brought his talent to the Greater Toronto Area to film the movie Relax, I'm from the Future (now available on VOD), from Canadian filmmaker Luke Higginson.

"It was in and out, but I really enjoyed it," Darby told Yahoo Canada about filming in Ontario. "I had a really great time actually, in little Hamilton."

"I learned a lot about the town, being a historic steel ... town, and I enjoyed parts of it, going for a wander around. I did lots of walks, just as one of the routines I do as I learn my lines. Actually, I think the Canadian version of the Super Bowl was on while I was there. So I even sort of rooted for the local team, who unfortunately didn't win. But I had a great time there."

Buy or rent: Relax, I'm from the Future

What is 'Relax, I'm from the Future' about?

Darby plays Casper, a time traveller from the future who is stuck in the past unprepared. No money. No food. No place to stay. That's when he meets Holly (Gabrielle Graham), who offers him some food and is intrigued by Casper's charming personality, and odd outfit, and ends up inviting him to a PUP concert.

The two develop a friendship when Casper is able to prove to Holly that he's from the future, by foreseeing the future in ways that win her money, like the lottery and sports betting.

So Casper makes Holly a deal, he'll continue to help Holly make a lot of money if she promises to essentially be anonymous for the rest of her life, not making an impact on the world at all. While this is a far cry from her previous life as an activist, Holly agrees.

Casper also introduces Holly to Percy (Julian Richings), who is destined to be a famous cartoonist in the future, with a few caveats.

But Holly doesn't really know everything about Casper, as Doris (Janine Theriault), a sort of future police officer, is on the hunt for the time traveller.

Would Rhys Darby want to know his future?

When it came to what interested Darby in being part of this movie, the New Zealand actor was particularly attracted to being part of a film based on time travel.

"It was simply being the lead in a time travel movie," Darby said.

The actor explained that what he believes is so attractive about time travel stories is "the idea of doing something that we can't do."

"We're in such control of our lives, for the most part, but with time travel you get to do a redo, where you get to travel out of your world, but stay in the same world, ... and see how things are different," Darby said. "It's just the impossibility of it that I think is so alluring to people."

Buy or rent: Relax, I'm from the Future

Darby revealed that Higginson's approach to the film also made the actor want to be involved.

"I had some chats with him ... over the internet and he's just a lovely guy," Darby said. "Once I got up there, and we connected and we went through things, I found his direction to be really quick, which actors love."

"He knew what he wanted. He didn't do a whole bunch of takes, but he let me do extra stuff if I wanted to. His demeanor was always chipper and it really helped get us through, because a lot of it was freezing cold, if I remember correctly. There were some very snowy scenarios, but he made the whole thing an easy get."

So if given the opportunity, would Darby want to know what his future holds? The actor said he wouldn't be on board.

"I think it would be weird knowing, because then you know you have to get to that point," Darby said. "Rather than you going through your life hoping to get somewhere, knowing that you are going to get there, I think you would sort of take your foot off the accelerator. I know where I'm going, so you won't try so hard."

"I don't think I would want to know the future, because I think I would spoil it for myself."