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| Cary Elwes Is the Latest ’80s Hero to Star on ‘Stranger Things’ | Cary Elwes Is the Latest ’80s Hero to Star on ‘Stranger Things’ |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Netflix’s “Stranger Things” returns Thursday for another season of the Upside Down, paranormal pyrotechnics and, of course, ’80s nostalgia. And as in the first two seasons, the creators Matt and Ross Duffer have given a supporting role to a well-known actor from the era. | Netflix’s “Stranger Things” returns Thursday for another season of the Upside Down, paranormal pyrotechnics and, of course, ’80s nostalgia. And as in the first two seasons, the creators Matt and Ross Duffer have given a supporting role to a well-known actor from the era. |
| Following in the footsteps of past “Stranger Things” guest stars like Matthew Modine, Sean Astin and Paul Reiser is Cary Elwes, who in Season 3 plays Larry Kline, the fast-talking mayor of Hawkins, Ind. Elwes starred in hits like “Saw,” “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” “Glory” and “Days of Thunder,” but he acknowledges that he is still most recognized for one of the most beloved films of the ’80s: Rob Reiner’s “The Princess Bride.” | Following in the footsteps of past “Stranger Things” guest stars like Matthew Modine, Sean Astin and Paul Reiser is Cary Elwes, who in Season 3 plays Larry Kline, the fast-talking mayor of Hawkins, Ind. Elwes starred in hits like “Saw,” “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” “Glory” and “Days of Thunder,” but he acknowledges that he is still most recognized for one of the most beloved films of the ’80s: Rob Reiner’s “The Princess Bride.” |
| A longtime fan of “Stranger Things,” the actor recently discussed what joining the show meant to him, what Netflix is doing to the industry and why “The Princess Bride” is “the gift that keeps on giving.” Here are edited excerpts from the conversation. | A longtime fan of “Stranger Things,” the actor recently discussed what joining the show meant to him, what Netflix is doing to the industry and why “The Princess Bride” is “the gift that keeps on giving.” Here are edited excerpts from the conversation. |
| How did you get involved with “Stranger Things”? | How did you get involved with “Stranger Things”? |
| It was the only show I binge-watched with my wife. I wasn’t somebody who did a lot of bingeing. But that show was so gripping that we actually canceled a lot of plans that we had because we just couldn’t stop watching it. And I don’t think I was alone in that experience. So when I got the call from the Duffers — that they wanted me to come in and meet on it — I was obviously very excited. | It was the only show I binge-watched with my wife. I wasn’t somebody who did a lot of bingeing. But that show was so gripping that we actually canceled a lot of plans that we had because we just couldn’t stop watching it. And I don’t think I was alone in that experience. So when I got the call from the Duffers — that they wanted me to come in and meet on it — I was obviously very excited. |
| Have you ever experienced that kind of serendipity in your career before? | Have you ever experienced that kind of serendipity in your career before? |
| Coppola. [Francis Ford Coppola directed “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.”] Coppola is someone who I dreamed of working with. I had studied his work very carefully. So when we met, I think I talked his ear off for about an hour. He was very sweet about that. I’ve had a wonderful career really. | Coppola. [Francis Ford Coppola directed “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.”] Coppola is someone who I dreamed of working with. I had studied his work very carefully. So when we met, I think I talked his ear off for about an hour. He was very sweet about that. I’ve had a wonderful career really. |
| How secretive is the production of “Stranger Things”? How much did they tell you about how and where you would fit in to the overall story of the season? | How secretive is the production of “Stranger Things”? How much did they tell you about how and where you would fit in to the overall story of the season? |
| We discussed the character and explored his past and nuances in great detail. I was allowed to base the character on a number of politicians that I like, and they were agreeable to that. They could only tell me what my character would be doing for this season and not any further than that — simply that he was one of those politicians more interested in getting the constituent’s votes than in the community as a whole. [Laughs.] | We discussed the character and explored his past and nuances in great detail. I was allowed to base the character on a number of politicians that I like, and they were agreeable to that. They could only tell me what my character would be doing for this season and not any further than that — simply that he was one of those politicians more interested in getting the constituent’s votes than in the community as a whole. [Laughs.] |
| Without spoiling whether it’s a possibility for your character, would you come back to the show if the opportunity presented itself? | |
| It would obviously be a great honor. I had so much fun doing it. They’re terrific folks. I was obviously a little nervous about joining this cast because they’ve been working together for a long time and I was the “new guy.” They all made me feel very, very welcome. It’s a very familial atmosphere on the set. The Duffers are very talented at creating that atmosphere. | It would obviously be a great honor. I had so much fun doing it. They’re terrific folks. I was obviously a little nervous about joining this cast because they’ve been working together for a long time and I was the “new guy.” They all made me feel very, very welcome. It’s a very familial atmosphere on the set. The Duffers are very talented at creating that atmosphere. |
| Did they discuss any of the influences on the show with their cast? For example, this season feels very John Carpenter and James Cameron. | Did they discuss any of the influences on the show with their cast? For example, this season feels very John Carpenter and James Cameron. |
| Sure, sure. They want everybody to know what their influences are per season and sometimes per episode. For this season, it was some Stephen King, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” a couple others. They’re very influenced by this period and by the films and pop culture of this period, and their attention to detail is phenomenal. When they create an atmosphere on a set, you feel it. For an actor, that’s a great thing. Half your work is done for you when you have filmmakers or showrunners that create a life that’s so real that you don’t have to use much of your imagination. | Sure, sure. They want everybody to know what their influences are per season and sometimes per episode. For this season, it was some Stephen King, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” a couple others. They’re very influenced by this period and by the films and pop culture of this period, and their attention to detail is phenomenal. When they create an atmosphere on a set, you feel it. For an actor, that’s a great thing. Half your work is done for you when you have filmmakers or showrunners that create a life that’s so real that you don’t have to use much of your imagination. |
| With “Stranger Things” and “GLOW” this Summer, Netflix is going to be ’80s dominated again. Why do you think we’re so interested in that era now? | With “Stranger Things” and “GLOW” this Summer, Netflix is going to be ’80s dominated again. Why do you think we’re so interested in that era now? |
| It’s cyclical, I think. I think we’ve explored the ’70s and now it’s time for the ’80s, which is not a bad time even if people have issues with it in terms of fashion. [Laughs.] Myself included. There are some photographs of some jackets I’ve torn up. On the whole, it was a great time for movies. It was a great time for music. By the way, the Duffers are very talented at picking songs for this show. So it’s fun. | It’s cyclical, I think. I think we’ve explored the ’70s and now it’s time for the ’80s, which is not a bad time even if people have issues with it in terms of fashion. [Laughs.] Myself included. There are some photographs of some jackets I’ve torn up. On the whole, it was a great time for movies. It was a great time for music. By the way, the Duffers are very talented at picking songs for this show. So it’s fun. |
| You’ve been in film and TV a long time — how does the Netflix Era feel different to you? | You’ve been in film and TV a long time — how does the Netflix Era feel different to you? |
| Netflix changed the business altogether. They came along and revolutionized everything. Their talent for picking content and picking talent. They have a great knack for having their finger on the pulse of what’s in the zeitgeist, this show being possibly the most important. They’re very hands off, and that attracts more talent. A lot of filmmakers who have done television with network have felt like they had their vision stifled a little bit. Who doesn’t want to flock to a studio where they leave you alone? | Netflix changed the business altogether. They came along and revolutionized everything. Their talent for picking content and picking talent. They have a great knack for having their finger on the pulse of what’s in the zeitgeist, this show being possibly the most important. They’re very hands off, and that attracts more talent. A lot of filmmakers who have done television with network have felt like they had their vision stifled a little bit. Who doesn’t want to flock to a studio where they leave you alone? |
| Where do we go from here? | Where do we go from here? |
| I think you’re going to see the theatergoing experience die out and change altogether. You’re going to have event movies that probably last a day or two. You’ll be able to buy a ticket and meet the stars. You’ve seen a lot more movie theaters now catering food to try and get people out of their houses. “A dinner date and a movie” is slowly disappearing. For me, the moviegoing experience — sitting in the cinema with strangers and the lights go down and we all have an experience together — is a unique phenomenon that you can’t recreate in your living room. But the younger generation really doesn’t care about that. | I think you’re going to see the theatergoing experience die out and change altogether. You’re going to have event movies that probably last a day or two. You’ll be able to buy a ticket and meet the stars. You’ve seen a lot more movie theaters now catering food to try and get people out of their houses. “A dinner date and a movie” is slowly disappearing. For me, the moviegoing experience — sitting in the cinema with strangers and the lights go down and we all have an experience together — is a unique phenomenon that you can’t recreate in your living room. But the younger generation really doesn’t care about that. |
| Is there a way to make them care? | Is there a way to make them care? |
| Probably IMAX or something that can’t be recreated at home. I don’t know what it is yet. Somebody’s going to invent it. I don’t think it will be dead and gone forever, but I think it will be much more limited. We have a movie theater in Pacific Palisades called Cinépolis, and they do retro films. I took a friend to see “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” in a pristine print — not one spot or speck or glitch — and I saw things I had never seen before! | Probably IMAX or something that can’t be recreated at home. I don’t know what it is yet. Somebody’s going to invent it. I don’t think it will be dead and gone forever, but I think it will be much more limited. We have a movie theater in Pacific Palisades called Cinépolis, and they do retro films. I took a friend to see “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” in a pristine print — not one spot or speck or glitch — and I saw things I had never seen before! |
| Why do you think “The Princess Bride” remains so resonant, to the point that it feels as if people talk about it more now than 30 years ago? | Why do you think “The Princess Bride” remains so resonant, to the point that it feels as if people talk about it more now than 30 years ago? |
| I don’t know! Bill Goldman [who wrote the novel and film version of “The Princess Bride”] wrote a book, “Adventures in the Screen Trade,” that says, “In Hollywood, no one knows anything.” And what he meant by that was that if they knew what a hit would be, they would make them all the time. It’s a crapshoot. What I think “Princess Bride” had was that it was cross-generational. It didn’t talk down to its audience; whole families could sit and watch it and find something in it; it was fun; and it was about love. Who doesn’t like that? It’s silly at times. It’s adventurous. It has every element you want. It was one of those unique things you can’t recreate. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. | I don’t know! Bill Goldman [who wrote the novel and film version of “The Princess Bride”] wrote a book, “Adventures in the Screen Trade,” that says, “In Hollywood, no one knows anything.” And what he meant by that was that if they knew what a hit would be, they would make them all the time. It’s a crapshoot. What I think “Princess Bride” had was that it was cross-generational. It didn’t talk down to its audience; whole families could sit and watch it and find something in it; it was fun; and it was about love. Who doesn’t like that? It’s silly at times. It’s adventurous. It has every element you want. It was one of those unique things you can’t recreate. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. |