Ben Stiller returns in front of the camera for a starring role in Nutcrackera family drama from director David Gordon Green, best known for horror. He plays Mike, who travels to Ohio to care for his sister’s four children after she tragically passes away in an accident. He plans to place them with a foster family and return to work in Chicago as soon as possible, but plans change when he starts caring for the boys.
This charming holiday film marks the first acting role for the four boys, who are brothers in real life. Nutcracker in fact, it was filmed on the family farm as well. This is Ben Stiller’s first leading role in seven years, as he has spent a lot of time behind the camera on projects such as Termination. Nutcracker begins streaming on Hulu on November 29th.
TelaRant interviewed Ben Stiller, Homer Janson, Arlo Janson about Nutcracker. They discussed what their favorite holiday traditions are, as well as what the biggest challenges were on set. The trio also revealed what they hope viewers take away from this charming Hulu holiday film.
Filming Nutcrackers at Janson Farm provided a warm environment on cold days
“We were comfortable in our house and half the people filming us were our friends.”
Screen Rant: The Christmas couch tradition in this movie is a lot of fun. Do you have a favorite holiday tradition?
Homer Janson: Well, ever since I got my guinea pig, I seem to bring it around. It’s usually a little tradition to bring my guinea pig over for Christmas.
Ben Stiller: The subject is in the film, yes, little Pumpkin, who I held on the bed. Guinea pigs are sweet, but there is a bit of an edge to them. Sometimes they will be a little grumpy. You don’t really know what you’re getting.
Arlo Janson: You know I like toys.
Ben Stiller: Every child loves toys. I love toys. I still love toys.
Homer Janson: Our grandmother usually comes over and we’re all together and we watch a Christmas movie in the morning.
Ben Stiller: We also had a nice gift exchange at Christmas, because we were filming at Christmas, and these guys gave me a beautiful sweater.
Homer Janson: He gave us this beautiful train.
Ben Stiller: I found a cool train shop in Mason, Ohio, I think. It was so cool. I love model trains.
Screen Rant: What was it like filming at your house with your brothers?
Homer Janson: Well, obviously, we were home and there was so much love in the atmosphere that maybe it even felt more welcoming in our own home. It was incredible to be able to film there and to be able to show everyone our little lives that we have lived and take them into our little world.
Arlo Janson: We were comfortable in our house and half the people filming us were our friends. We had smooth sailing the entire time we were filming at our house.
Ben Stiller: I can only imagine what it’s like to have this whole crew coming in, but David works with the same people and they’re all friends, so it was a very friendly, warm, small group, but it was definitely chaotic every day.
Homer Janson: But by the second day we knew everyone’s names and we were in a routine.
Screen Rant: What was the biggest challenge on set? Was it working with all these animals and trying to get them to do what you wanted them to do?
Homer Janson: They were actually pretty good most of the time.
Ben Stiller: For you, maybe. The first day with the pig was a little scary for me. How many cats?
Homer Janson: We had eight during the film, but unfortunately five fell through.
Ben Stiller: Ladd, your amazing dog who passed away, was just incredible. He would be on the couch all the time. He is a giant Irish Wolfhound. The film is dedicated to him. But every day was crazy, chaotic, but fun. And for me, I was having a lot of fun. I was thinking, for you, it must be strange to have all these people in your house.
Homer Janson: I love meeting new people and hosting people. It was very cold outside, but it was still warm around me. I mean, everyone was hugging each other.
Ben Stiller: Lots of hugs on this set, yeah, really good vibes. On the first day we had this little hair and makeup trailer, and on the first day there was a power outage. I remember we got there around 5:30 in the morning. And so, I was doing hair and makeup with a blanket around me in this field in Ohio. I was like, Oh, this is going to be an adventure.
The Nutcracker Cast Hopes Viewers Connect During the Movie
“I think it’s a great Christmas treat that David Gordon Green made.”
Screen Rant: How would you describe this movie to get people to watch it?
Homer Janson: I feel like when I was in the theater and watching this with other people, I felt like everyone was connecting through the film. You can identify with the characters, and it’s very sincere, and I feel like everyone will love it and feel the love that was put into it.
Arlo Janson: When I was watching it in the theater, I thought everyone felt connected while I was watching the movie. Mostly laughing and having fun.
Homer Janson: It was a roller coaster of emotions, and everyone was on that roller coaster together, and everyone was happy and just happy to be together in that moment.
Ben Stiller: I think it’s a very organic, sincere, funny comedy that, for me, harkens back to movies from when I was a kid. I think it’s a great Christmas treat that David Gordon Green made.
More About Nutcracker (2024)
Nutcracker follows puritanical, work-obsessed Mike (Stiller) as he is suddenly forced to care for his orphaned and rambunctious nephews.
Check back soon for our others Nutcracker interviews here:
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David Gordon Green
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Linda Cardellini, Ulysses ‘Uli’ Janson and Atlas Janson
Source: Screen Rant Plus