14-year oldStranger Thingsstar Finn Wolfhard opens up about working with Sean Astin and Paul Reiser in the upcomingStranger Things Season 2. Wolfhard has been tapped to host the Strange 80s event, a benefit concert for the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund in Los Angeles, which takes place May 14th at the Fonda Theater. Speaking of the 80s, Wolfhard is also set to star in the upcoming remake of Stephen King’s horror classicITdue in theaters September 8th, 2017.
Wolfhard recently sat down withThe Hollywood Reporterto promote the upcoming event and share some of his thoughts on working withSean Astinand Paul Reiser inStranger Things Season 2. Wolfhard had nothing but good things to say about working with the new additions to the cast.
“Sean Astin was in the Goonies and I get to play with him now in Stranger Things. He is not just a great actor but also a great mentor and really just the highest quality human you could hope for. We also havePaul Reiserfrom Aliens, and he is also the best. Such a pro.”
Though Wolfhard is only 14, he has some roots in the 80s thanks to his parents andStranger Thingscreators, the Duffer brothers. When asked about his research forITandStranger ThingsWolfhard said this.
“I had already seen most of the films that the Duffers referenced in their fake trailer and look book, I just looked at that and a thing they put together covering culture and politics back then. That was pretty much all I did as far as research goes because the stuff that Mike has to deal with - I mean, there’s a really universal thing going on with how he acts and reacts to his situation, and I don’t think the time and setting are as important as who he really is way deep down.”
Theyoung cast of Stranger Thingswere given a list of movies to watch by the Duffer brothers before starting production on the show. The list includedE.T.,Poltergeist,Stand by Me, and of course,The Goonies. Wolfhard also shared his favorite movies from the 80s, which areRaiders of the Lost Ark,Aliens,Evil Dead, andGoonies.
The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund was founded my musician Victoria Williams in 1994. The fund helps provide financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems, which sounds a lot like the artist system in Canada, where Wolfhard is from. Read what he had to say about Sweet Relief below.
“I have lots of friends who are musicians and it is such a huge victory to survive in music, period, but if you get sick or injured and don’t have the kind of coverage we get in Canada, you are doomed. So I thought that it would be really cool to do another show and try and raise some more money.'
The Stranger 80s event will feature performances by Tenacious D, Weird Al Yankovic, Sarah Silverman, OK Go, Taking Back Sunday, members of Velvet Revolver, Steel Panther and more.
The future is looking bright for Wolfhard and 2017 has been his busiest year yet. TheITremake will hit theaters on September 8th 2017 andNetflix’s Stranger ThingsSeason 2 will premiere on Halloween. Tickets are still available for the Strange 80s benefit next weekend, but are moving fast.
