Fan Expo Dallas: Finn Wolfhard opens up about his roles in Stranger Things and It

From Stranger Things to It, Finn Wolfhard has shown the world that he can give us intense performances within the horror and science fiction genres. At Fan Expo Dallas, he opened up about both experiences.

With Stranger Things 3 set to hit Netflix on July 4 this year, and It: Chapter Two debuting in theaters on Sept. 6, 2019, this is a busy year for Finn Wolfhard. And while we all want to know more about both of these projects, we also find it interesting when actors look back at their career and past projects. During Fan Expo Dallas, the actor took part in a question and answer panel, where fans got the chance to ask Wolfhard anything they wanted.

Throughout the panel, the actor opened up about everything from his pre-Stranger Things plans and what he would have done if he had not become an actor, to some of his favorite scenes (both to film and in general) for both It and the Netflix series. This was our chance to get to know Finn Wolfhard, and it truly felt like we did, at least a little. Not only did he seem to have fun interacting with the fans, but he wanted to make sure everyone was enjoying themselves throughout the panel.

Note: Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.

One of the first questions that the actor was asked, was how he got his role on Strangers Things. And while this might seem like a straightforward question, Wolfhard did a bit of a deep dive here.

“At the point where I got the audition for Stranger Things, it was called something else, and I was considering quitting acting. I was probably going to school for film and directing stuff. I wanted to be a professional improviser at comedy clubs. So I considered quitting. And then Stranger Things the audition came and I liked it, I just did it. Then they were like the guys who wrote it and created it want to do a Skype call with you,” Wolfard told the Fan Expo Dallas audience.

“It was a 10 minute call about movies and then the Duffer brothers said to come to L.A. and we will put you with a bunch of kids to read for the role,” he said. “And then I didn’t hear anything for a summer and then I got a random call on my phone and it was like hey this is Matt Duffer and we got our location and we are shooting in Atlanta and we want you to be our Mike. And from then on it was so surreal. So, it was a few month exploration into if this acting thing would work out. And it did.”

As a follow-up to the question about how he got the role in Stranger Things, the panel moderator asked Finn Wolfhard about his improv and if he is still doing that. To which he said that he is still doing improv, at least when he can. He said that he likes doing it, but “I have a good thing going.”

A fan asked Wolfard which traits of his character, Mike, did he find the most relatable.

“The traits that are my favorite or that are most relatable about Mike is that he is not afraid of fighting for his opinion,” Wolfhard said. “He is very stubborn, but in a great way. He is a leader. He is pretty fearless and he is not afraid of getting his point across. And my favorite trait of his is that he is just kind of a bratty teenager, which I love and I love to play it. And the Duffers love to see me play it because I get flustered in real life and it makes the writing process for them way easier because I write myself into the character. I get to play a version of myself.”

Wolfhard was then asked what he was most excited for fans to see in season 3 of Stranger Things and his character arc with Eleven. And while he didn’t really answer the question about his character arc, we can appreciate what he wants people to see in the new season.

“I am excited for people to see season 3 because it is set in the summer, and this is going to sound really nerdy, but it has a different color palette I guess,” Wolfhard said. “it has a different aesthetic and it is more colorful and I am excited for people to visually see that. But also it is also the best season ever for action and action sequences in general.”

From Stranger Things, fans moved on to It and what it was like working on the horror movie, with one of the first questions asked being what it was like to actually film the movie.

“It was probably one of the best experiences of my life. It was three to four months in Toronto with a bunch of kids I didn’t know,” Wolfhard said. “And then we became best friends all in a week and then spent every day and every waking hour with each other.”

He added, “It’s a bunch of crazy 13-year-olds on set together. We are all best friends. It sounds like a nightmare when I explain it because you don’t want to see a bunch of 13-year-olds running around. It was the best and they are still my best friends.”

Another question that popped up in regards to It was what Finn Wolfhard’s favorite scene in the movie was.

“I like the scene where Eddy falls through the floor and breaks his arm. Because I am a sadist.”

Beyond his favorite scene in the movie, Wolfhard was also asked about the scariest scenes to film in both Stranger Things and It. And while he had a harder time answering the question about Stranger Things (although he did have an answer to this one), the scene in It that he discusses is certainly one we agree with him on in terms of being scary in general. (I will admit right now that I covered my eyes for the scene he found the scariest to film, so I now feel like I am in good company.)

“What comes to mind in It was when we were in the basement of that house and it was the first time we really saw Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise and he was really attacking us,” Wolfhard shared. “That was actually scary. Bill is a nice guy and I felt conflicted because I was like I don’t like you right now and when I saw him out of his makeup wow I don’t know how to feel about you.”

As for which Stranger Things scene Wolfhard thinks was the scariest?

“I guess the scene where I jump off the cliff because it was scary to think about. Because it’s not like Mike knew Eleven was going to come and save the day so he was just going to die. And I asked the Duffer if Eleven wasn’t there, and they said, ‘oh no you die,’ so alright cool, action.”

While there were certainly other questions asked, one of the final fan questions was about who Wolfhard looked up to before he began acting. And while this seemed to be a hard one for him to answer, his answers were actually quite interesting.

According to the actor, he not only looks up to directors, but also “Natalie Portman as an actor.” He also mentions being inspired by Scarlett Johansson‘s role in the movie Under the Skin. Although he does point out that it is a dark movie that may not be suitable for younger people to watch, including himself, he has seen it and thinks her part in the film is amazing.

Honestly, I am all for the fact that the people Finn Wolfhard looked up to before getting into acting were two strong women who’ve had incredible acting careers.

Listening to Finn Wolfhard answer fan questions was truly a fun and fascinating experience. From It to Stranger Things, the actor has the horror and suspense genres covered and it is nice to get his thoughts on both projects. Of course, we can’t wait to see what he does with the third season of Stranger Things and Part 2 of It, as well as his other upcoming projects including the new Ghostbusters movie (which he mentioned himself as an upcoming project).