Apple TV+’s newest original movie, Wolfis set to begin streaming on September 27 after a brief preview run in theaters. The action comedy was written and directed by Jon Watts (Spider-Man: No Way Home), which has a lot of fun with the “lone wolf” trope thanks in large part to its killer cast. The characters are all colorful and memorable, despite not providing as much as their names for audiences to recognize them (which is part of the gag, of course).
George Clooney and Brad Pitt together again WolfThis time playing fixers who see each other as professional enemies – mostly because they consider no one an ally but themselves. They are finally forced to work together when a young man (EuphoriaAustin Abrams, who is known only as “Kid” throughout the movie (overdoses in a politician’s (The offices Amy Ryan) hotel room. Their reluctant duo becomes a trio when the child is revealed to be still alive, but they still need to make evidence of the whole night disappear. Wolf Also stars Poorna Jagannathan, Richard Kind and the voice of Frances McDormand.
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Screen Rant interviewed Abrams about getting to work with Clooney and Pitt WolfHow he handled being out in the cold in his underwear for a key fight scene, and what his key to getting into character was when the script didn’t even give the character a name.
Austin Abrams shares how ‘intimidating’ it was to work with George Clooney and Brad Pitt on Wolf
“I think just being present and focusing on the character is probably the best way to deal with it.”
Screen Rant: People always talk about the chemistry between George and Brad, but it’s a trio now. I feel like the three of you together have fantastic chemistry. Can you elaborate on your character of the child and how his innocence and kindness play in the story of? Wolf?
Austin Abrams: Yeah, he’s a very naive, heart-forward kind of guy, and I think that element helps the two guys warm to him. Because it comes to the point that they have to make a decision to kill him or not, but I think that his heart maybe helps them both warm.
Screen Rant: I met George Clooney once for a junket, and I’m not going to lie, I was pretty intimidated sitting opposite the guy. He’s a legend, so I can only imagine what it’s like for you. Was it intimidating acting alongside George and Brad?
Austin Abrams: Super intimidating, and I can’t tell you how I managed it. I think you manage it as best you can by being present in the moment and not getting to cope about it all because then you’re kind of sad. But yeah, man, it’s intimidating. I was probably as scared as you were.
I grew up with both of them, and you hear their voices and you see their faces, and of course it’s not them. This is like the avatar. When you meet the real person, it’s still really intimidating just in the sense of how smart they are and funny, witty. It’s a challenge, for sure, and I think just being present and focusing on the character is probably the best way to tackle it.
Screen Rant: How did George and Brad make you feel comfortable on set, especially during your first scene together?
Austin Abrams: Yeah, they really were really amazing and welcoming, just really spoke to me. I was an old friend of theirs or something, which is still tough for me and my own sense and overwhelming in a way as well, but they could not have been more amazing and did their best to make me feel comfortable and at ease, And just told me stories and all kinds of things. Yes, they were great.
Austin Abrams recalls one intense nearly naked chase scene and more Wolf memories
“I didn’t fully anticipate how long it would take to shoot this fight.”
Screen Rant: Jon Watts returns to his roots in this film with wolves. Can you talk about working with him as a collaborator and what his directing style added to Wolf?
Austin Abrams: He’s a really, really smart guy. I think he knows what he wants and his writing, especially for that, is very specific. Working on it, you could really just follow it as an actor and use it as a blueprint. But he’s great, man. He approaches everything with a sense of adventure and is very open and excited about what’s going on and what we’re shooting day to day. The energy is really infectious on the set and has great ease and confidence. He is great to work with.
Screen Rant: There is an intense chase scene in the film that is about 15 minutes of the actual film. Can you walk us through how you prepared mentally and physically for the chase scene?
Austin Abrams: Yeah, it definitely is challenging. You’re in your underwear in the cold, and your muscles tighten, and it’s a big challenge physically and mentally. I’m just ready to do whatever I need to do. Also, you’re running for your life in the story, and once your body is going, it’s easy to focus on that.
Physically, I was completely underprepared. I don’t know how long the chase is, but I do know that I’m pretty sure in the script that it was three or five pages or something like that. I didn’t fully anticipate how long it would take to shoot this fight. It was definitely more than I thought it would be.
Screen Rant: Stunt coordinator Dan Brown praised your perseverance in the cold. How did you manage to stay focused and perform at your best despite the harsh conditions?
Austin Abrams: Yeah, you just do what you gotta do. There’s not really anything special to it, you know what I mean? You’re really just happy to be there. I mean, every day I’m just happy to be with the people I work with, Brad and George and Jon and the whole crew. You just focus on just trying to do the best you can. There’s not really any sort of secret recipe to it other than you just get on with it, really.
The unique wardrobe of the child was an integral part of getting into character
“I’m just basically experiencing the feeling of the character.”
Screen Rant: What did you want to bring to the role of The Kid Who Was Beyond the Page?
Austin Abrams: Yeah, I think the heart was important to me, and then also doing the best you can to find specificity with the character and doing the best you can to create a whole person.
Of course, the character doesn’t even have a name in the story, and you don’t see any of the character’s soul except when you visit his father for a second, which might give you a hint, but I mean really make a whole life For the person so that when you see them on the screen, you can hopefully feel that there is life there. I think that was important.
Screen Rant: You have two wardrobe changes in the film. For most of the film, I feel like you’re either in your tight jeans and socks, or you’re in your blouse and pants. Can you tell me how both of these wardrobes helped you get into character?
Austin Abrams: Yeah, they’re both wardrobes that I’m not normally used to wearing at least in front of large groups of people. Immediately, it just throws you into the water or something like that; In a situation that you’re not used to being in, what if something lends itself to the film, because I’m just basically experiencing whatever the character’s feeling.
It’s definitely intimidating, and there are certain feelings around it, but that’s just telling you more about the character and lending itself to the project, I think. But it certainly was intimidating.
Screen Rant: George Clooney mentions that you’re scary talented. How does it feel to receive such high praise from someone of his stature?
Austin Abrams: That’s great, man. I mean, it’s so crazy. It’s so wild, and I’m so grateful. I can’t even tell you. To hear something like that from someone I grew up watching is pretty crazy. Only gratitude is the only thing, really.
Screen Rant: Richard Kind plays your dad in the film. Given his longtime friendship with George Clooney, were there any funny or heartwarming moments you experienced with the two of them on set?
Austin Abrams: Yes, absolutely. Definitely. It was really great to see. They have known each other for so long, and also that Grant Heslow is producing the movie when he was just as long a friend of George. George is an amazing storyteller, and so is Richard, and to hear Richard tell the story firsthand about George giving a bunch of friends a million dollars or something like that was pretty special.
More about Apple TV+’s Wolf (2024)
Global superstars George Clooney and Brad Pitt team up for the action comedy Wolves. Clooney plays a professional fixer who is hired to cover a high-profile crime. But when a second fixer (Pitt) shows up and the two “lone wolves” are forced to work together, they find their night spiraling out of control in ways neither of them expected.