In this episode of The Discourse Podcast, we talk to actor Dylan O’Brien, who you may know from his many stand-out roles in MTV’s “Teen Wolf,” “The Maze Runner” films,” Love and Monsters,” and much more. He’s currently out promoting his latest film, “Not Okay,” from Writer/Director Quinn Shephard (“Blame”).
The film stars Zoey Deutch as Dani Sanders—an “unlikeable,” fledgling influencer working for an online publication called Depravity in New York City. In a desperate move for attention, Dani decides to pose as a victim of a terrorist attack in Paris, creating a whirlwind of events that spins Dani’s life out of control.
READ MORE: ‘Not Okay’ Review: A Cancel Culture Thinkpiece Starring Zoey Deutch & Dylan O’Brien
Dylan O’Brien sat down with host Mike DeAngelo to discuss his role in the film as an influencer named “Weed Boi Colin,” putting together the character together, and more.
“I had sent [Director Quinn Shephard] just like a tape of me talking because I just wanted to make sure it was what she wanted,” O’Brien said of his over-the-top speech in the film. “And then we just started like having fun with him. I was like, ‘I think I should be covered in tat[toos]— like, we can’t hold back!’ And she was like, ‘100%!”
And hold back, they did not. The film is a scathing indictment of influencer culture and the vapid pursuit of fame, while also being a heartfelt character piece about becoming a human with priorities outside your own.
During the conversation, Dylan also touched on the tendency for him to be brought up in superhero fan-casting conversations (Nightwing, Flash, anyone?) and if he’d take on a role like that.
“I don’t actually rule out anything, so it’s not like I wouldn’t entertain it if something came my way and if it was like with a really talented filmmaker that I was desperate to work with and if it was a really cool take on the part.” O’Brien shared. “I do lean towards wanting to find these sort of smaller character roles for myself. Just because, truly, it had been a long time and I hadn’t gotten many chances to do that, so it’s just like, I think just for now at least, more fulfilling to be experimenting like that and challenging myself in that way… I’m definitely not closed off to anything.”
“Not Okay” is streaming now on Hulu. Take a listen to the entire conversation below:
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