Interview: Zooey Deschanel & Lil Rel Howery on Harold and the Purple Crayon

As a lifelong fan of children’s literature, I am beyond excited about Sony Pictures’ upcoming family comedy, “Harold and the Purple Crayon.” Having grown up with this beloved classic, it is a dream come true to see it brought to life on the big screen.

Tyler Treese, Editor-in-Chief of ComingSoon, recently had a chat with stars Lil Rel Howery and Zooey Deschanel about Sony Pictures’ upcoming family comedy film, “Harold and the Purple Crayon.” During their conversation, they talked about collaborating with Jemaine Clement, their roles in the movie, and various other topics. The movie is set to premiere exclusively in cinemas on August 2, 2024.

In the story, our protagonist Harold (Zachary Levi), who has an extraordinary talent in his book, can bring anything to life by merely drawing it. As he transitions from a drawn character into reality as an adult, Harold discovers that real-life lessons are far more challenging than he ever imagined. His reliable purple crayon might lead to more amusing mishaps than expected. When the ability to create limitlessly with imagination lands in unsuitable hands, it’s up to Harold and his friends to use their collective creativity to protect both the physical world and his own. The movie adaptation of “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” a cherished children’s classic that has captivated young readers for generations, is now available.

Zooey, you’re maintaining a straightforward character amidst the wildest, almost implausible situations. Everyone around you is so exaggerated and outlandish. Given that everyone else seems to be losing their minds, how do you manage to stay grounded when everything else is spiraling out of control?

Zooey Deschanel: In every scenario, it seems necessary for someone to serve as a sort of beacon for the audience. I believe this role is crucial in comedy. It’s not ideal for everyone to be overly enthusiastic, especially when there’s a lot happening. That’s why we need that person who looks confused, because the audience often does too.

Essentially, what made New Girl stand out for me was its versatile cast, able to portray both the serious and humorous roles with ease. I enjoyed the freedom to swap between these contrasting characters frequently.

In this film, I take on a role similar to a straight man character, while Lil Rel portrays a moose that exists in the real world but seems to be thinking like one. A young boy named Harold and a porcupine named Tanya are also part of the cast. It’s crucial for me to stay true to myself, as my character experiences everything with a touch of skepticism, while Ben’s character is filled with awe and wonder. I, on the other hand, have to be drawn into the realm of creativity and imagination. Each of us embodies aspects of the audience that the storytellers aim to engage. Performing in this unique setup was really enjoyable for me, as I got to witness my co-stars deliver hilarious performances. Overall, it was a fantastic experience.

Hey there! What served as your inspiration for developing the character of Moose, given that he seems quite anxious? Was there a particular moose you observed that influenced this trait?

Lil Rel Howery: Well, I watched a lot of videos trying to understand the cool demeanor of a moose, and surprisingly, they’re quite laid-back animals. Despite Moose appearing anxious during tense moments, generally he was all about taking things as they come. That’s why my favorite scene showcasing Moose’s moose-like nature is when he saw another moose on the screen, put on his headphones, and relaxed amidst all the chaos. He was just chilling because that’s what moose prefer – tranquility. Moose aren’t looking for trouble; they want peace, some greenery, and to tend to their own affairs.

Zooey, did you have a chance to work with Benjamin Botney who portrays your son in the film? I was wondering if you could share some insights about that experience because, as you mentioned, he seems to embody the character of Wonderman quite well and he’s genuinely entertaining throughout the movie.

Deschanel: Indeed, he was exceptional in the film, and we’ve been raving about him all day as if he was the epitome of professionalism. He truly embodied the term ‘pro’. He’s incredibly kind and a delight to work with as a young, promising actor. I believe he has a bright future ahead.

Howery: So funny. So, so funny. Great timing.

Hey Lil Rel, I’ve got an interesting question for you! This role you’ve taken on is quite special because it begins animated and then transitions into live-action. That means you get to do voice acting and then bring the same character to life through performance. Could you share your experience of merging those two art forms and showcasing your versatility in this project?

User: The experience was entertaining. It seemed not overly challenging. It was quite amusing. Essentially, it resembled minor incidents. For example, when I get frightened, Moose transforms back into a moose. So, we were on an airplane, and the landing took place. I had to determine the level of fear I should display to prompt him to transform back into Moose. At times, I had to tone down his fear somewhat, but I needed to figure out what would make him so frightened he’d turn back into a moose. It was peculiar trying to find that balance, but it was enjoyable overall.

Deschanel finds the idea intriguing; it’s not something he had considered before. He ponders, what would be Moose’s approach in such a situation?

In certain instances, I needed to be certain about something. At times, I found myself overdoing it. The difficulty levels in Moose were reminiscent of the most formidable challenges during gameplay.

Hey Zooey, I’m quite a fan of Flight of the Conchords, so it’s quite enjoyable to see Jemaine Clement portraying the antagonist in this production. You’ve got some pretty cool scenes together. From what I gather, his character is fixated on yours. Could you share your experience working with Jemaine?

Deschanel: Goodness gracious, he’s fantastic! He’s incredibly humorous and exceptionally skilled at improvisation. He was saying things that had me laughing out loud. Honestly, he’s hilarious. He’s also very laid-back. It was a pleasure to work with him, and I would wholeheartedly recommend him.

Howe: Gosh, it would be great to have a collection of outtakes, you know? He’s such a hoot! The humor was abundant, especially in that library. I believe it was one of the early days I worked with him, and we spent the entire time laughing about all sorts of random things.

Deschanel shared a moment with him deep within the forest, a whimsical scenario reminiscent of his imagination, which left her in fits of laughter.

Thank you to Zooey Deschanel and Lil Rel Howery for graciously sharing their thoughts on Harold and the Purple Crayon.

2024-08-01 23:20

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