(Left to right:) Cole Sprouse in 2022, in “Lisa Frankenstein”.Photo:getty
getty
Cole Sprouseis letting his inner child out to play in the new movieLisa Frankenstein.
“I always wanted to play a monster,” theRiverdalealum, 31, tells PEOPLE.
So the role of a mute reanimated corpse — known only as “The Creature” — in theKathryn Newton-starring horror-comedy was something of a dream come true for someone whose favorite movies, as both a kid and adult, feature Godzilla.
“It felt like one of those opportunities that I would be able to high-five my 10-year-old self about and be like, ‘Yeah, buddy, we did it!’ ” he says with a grin.
Even the hours of heavy prosthetic application required to transform Sprouse into an undead Victorian-era zombie unearthed in 1989 were part of what made the experience “really fun,” he says.
Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton in “Lisa Frankenstein”.Michele K. Short/FOCUS FEATURES
Michele K. Short/FOCUS FEATURES
“I didn’t really mind the long periods of time in the makeup trailer,” says the self-professed “big geek for practical effects.”
Getting a face cast done to execute all those prosthetics, however, was a little difficult — a “tomb-like experience,” in fact.
“It was a bit claustrophobic,” admits Sprouse. “They basically completely cover your head in a block of silicone except for one nostril to allow you to breathe out of … full sensory deprivation. You do your Zen work and you try as best you can to not have a panic attack.”
Not many actors would agree to such a daunting transformation — or a lead role with little to no lines, as The Creature only communicates via grunts and growls. But Sprouse, who wants “to make the kind of work that I love watching,” isn’t most actors.
Signing on to play The Creature was also a no-brainer considering Sprouse’s longtime friendship withZelda Williams, the daughter of Robin Williams, who withLisa Frankensteinmakes her feature-lengthdirectorial debut.
Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton in “Lisa Frankenstein”.Michele K. Short / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
Michele K. Short / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
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“Zelda and I are friends first and coworkers last,” says Sprouse. He and Newton, an “incredible comedian,” he adds, had also bonded prior to filming when he asked to do a photo shoot with the actress and herpoodles.
Fans of Sprouse should not be surprised to see him continue to indulge his inner kid in future projects, especially coming off the success ofRiverdale’sseven-season run.
(Left to right:) Cole Sprouse, Zelda Williams, Kathryn Newton, Diablo Cody and Liza Soberano at the Los Angeles special screening of “Lisa Frankenstein” Feb. 5.Alberto Rodriguez/Getty
Alberto Rodriguez/Getty
One of Sprouse’s missions as he continues to make inroads in Hollywood: “I would love to see the return of the mid-budget movie as a profitable space for actors and creatives to interact in,” he says.
And, “in the meantime,” he adds, “try and have as much fun as possible doing the work.”
Lisa Frankenstein, which costars Liza Soberano, Henry Eikenberry, Joe Chrest andCarla Gugino, is in theaters now.
Sprouse will next star in the page-to-screen adaptation of Mason Deaver’sI Wish You All the Best, costarring Corey Fogelmanis, Alexandra Daddario, Miles Gutierrez and Amy Landecker.
source: people.com
