Ben Barnes Crowned Prince Caspian

May 15, 2008— -- For Ben Barnes, the remaining days of anonymity are now few: He probably has just two left.

Last week The New York Times declared him "an unknown actor, on the brink of certain global fame."

This Friday when "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" opens in theaters around the world, his life is sure to change, and even he says the anticipation is "palpable."

"It's a very surreal position for me to be in, with my face plastered on every building site in New York and every bus stop in L.A. ... It's very, very strange," the 26-year-old British actor told "Popcorn With Peter Travers" on ABC News Now.

Barnes, a life-long actor and musician, says he got the call to star in Disney's $200 million Narnia sequel at 4 a.m., sending him running around the house screaming with excitement.

"Not only has your dream of playing the lead in a Hollywood film come true, but also for it to be books you read when you were 8 years old and that you remember conjuring this magical utopia for yourself, now to be a part of creating that for the next generation is a privilege and a treat," he said.

Before this, his closest brush with fame came from a stint in a British boy band that Barnes says he completely regrets but can still be seen on YouTube.

To read Peter Travers' Rolling Stone Review of "Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian", click here.

Three years after "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," the four Pevensie children from the C.S. Lewis series have returned to Narnia to help Prince Caspian (Barnes), the rightful heir to the throne, in his struggle against his evil uncle King Miraz (Sergio Castellitto).

"The villain of this movie is human. He's fueled by very, very human emotions of ambition and lust for power," said Barnes, who described the sequel as "much more human ... darker and scarier than the first movie."

One thousand years have passed in Narnia time since the end of the last story. After having a son of his own, King Miraz no longer had use for Prince Caspian and drove him from the castle. The prince is then forced to rally the magical creatures that make up the Narnians. An epic struggle ensues, leading to what Barnes calls "the pinnacle of the emotional story" when Peter and Miraz duel.