Pete’s Dragon is in theaters now and is about to enter its second full weekend, and today we have an interview with the Disney Dad from the film, Wes Bentley:
A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, “Pete’s Dragon” is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon. “Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”), Isiah Whitlock, Jr. (“Cedar Rapids”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”).
Wes plays Jack, the lumber mill owner,. He is the father of Natalie (Oona Laurence), and the boyfriend of Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard). He is often at odds with his brother, Gavin (Keith Urban).
“Wes, how did you get this great role?” The question was on all our minds! Turns out Wes had met with Director David Lowery for something else, and then David remembered Wes when this role was available and called him in, with no “further audition required!” Wes was thrilled to be able to be this movie’s “Disney Dad” as he called it.
You may know Wes from his other works, more darker characters. Wes said he was aware that even a certain tilt of his eyebrows could make him look like a bad guy, he was very conscious of this and made every effort to come off the opposite of those dark characters! He was this movies good guy, as are all the Disney Dads!
We were all curious about the larger issues involved here as well. Wes’s character was clearly more interested in following the rules and not just destroying an entire forest, while his brother, Gavin, didn’t seem to care. Wes learned a lot about lumbering and the environmental impact the different ways of cutting down trees can have on the land. Sustainability is key.
Wes had seen the older version of Pete’s Dragon and was a fan, but also knew this would be a very different film. He did enjoy playing the dad to Natalie, who is older than his kids. He also loved New Zealand and was glad that his family was able to spend two of the three months of shooting with him over in paradise!
Wes’s favorite moment was being on a fake dragon with Bryce all day trying to make the best of an awkward time. That is the video outtake that I would want to see on the Blu-ray release! The two actors had great chemistry.
Lastly, we ask everyone about Robert Redford. How was it to work with the legend? Wes felt acting came very easily to Robert, and that he clearly loved the craft. We then spoke about whether one lets the scene create the moment rather than impact the scene. Robert Redford was the old school actor who seemed to always know how to balance the two methods, something that takes great skill.
Get Social With The Movie:
Like PETE’S DRAGON on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyPetesDragon
Follow PETE’S DRAGON on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneypetes
Follow PETE’S DRAGON on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneypetesdragon/
Visit Disney Animation on Tumblr: http://disneyanimation.tumblr.com/
Visit the official PETE’S DRAGON website here: http://movies.disney.com/petes-dragon-2016
Disclosure: Disney invited me on this press trip and paid all of my expenses. No other compensation was received. All opinions are always 100% my own and honest.
I reviewed Pete’s Dragon, please read that as well!
And as always, the celebrity picture with Wes:
The more Iead what you write about the movie the more I want to go see it.
This sounds like a movie our whole family will enjoy thanks for sharing we will add this one to our list of must sees.
I love Wes Bentley. I am a fan of American Horror story and love him in them all.
Great actor.
We haven’t seen this yet. I can’t wait for the Grandkids to see it. I know they will love it. Once, we can get our schedules together for the summer.