Exclusive Interview: Cary Christopher on Making His Feature Film Debut in Zach Cregger’s ‘Weapons’

This summer, Cary Christopher is making his big-screen debut in one of the most highly anticipated blockbusters of the year. Starring in Zach Cregger’s Weapons, Cary is a name everyone will be talking about—and for good reason. With a role that puts him at the center of a chilling mystery, he’s stepping into the spotlight and proving he’s one to watch.

Weapons centers on a shocking mystery: every student in a single class disappears at the exact same time—except one. Cary plays Alex Lilley, the lone child left behind, whose experience becomes a key to unraveling the truth. It’s a gripping setup for a film that blends suspense and emotion, and Cary rises to the challenge with subtlety and strength. Surrounded by an acclaimed cast and guided by Cregger’s bold vision, he brings depth to a story that’s as unsettling as it is unforgettable.

Pop Culturalist caught up with Cary to talk about stepping into his first leading role, what it was like working with some of the industry’s biggest names, and how Weapons made him rethink scary movies.

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting and storytelling?
Cary: I live in LA, so I started out doing print modeling jobs as a baby and toddler. I only remember it being fun, and I’m told I was very good at being patient and listening. Fun fact—I’m still on the box of a Little Tikes tee-ball set! I saw it again recently at Target, and I think it’s funny when I spot it at a friend’s house and they don’t realize it’s me on the box.

I got into acting when I was three. My agent, Kathy, encouraged me to try auditions for film and TV. At first, my parents weren’t sure if I’d be able to memorize lines, but my dad turned the audition sides into comic books, and we’d read them together like a story. I used to memorize bedtime stories and act them out, so they figured I could learn scenes the same way. And it worked! We still read scripts like stories, and that’s how I prefer to learn my lines—by hearing them out loud.

When I think about acting, I think it’s cool to get to play pretend with other people. Storytelling is important because it helps people understand each other. Making art, acting, telling stories—they all help people connect and feel things. It’s fun and meaningful, and I’ve made a lot of friends on set.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Cary: My dad is my acting coach and has supported me so much. I also have a really great manager, Sandra, and an agent who help get me amazing opportunities. Both my parents come with me to set when they can, but for longer projects, it’s usually my mom who stays with me.

I’ve also learned a lot from working on Days of Our Lives since I started when I was really young. I’ve been on the show for a little over five years. Daytime television moves really fast and covers a lot of material in one day, so you have to be super prepared and have strong memorization skills.

I really look up to Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio—I think their work is amazing.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a moment that stands out?
Cary: So many! I’ve been lucky to have a lot of cool experiences so far.

Weapons is my first lead role in a feature film, and I had the best time working on it. The crew was super nice, and I was so lucky to work with Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Zach Cregger, and everyone involved!

Being nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for work I did when I was six and seven was also awesome. I got to dress up and go to the ceremony, and Billy Flynn—who played my dad on the show—was nominated that year too. I won’t forget that experience. And on Days, Drake Hogestyn was always really nice and would talk baseball with me and my dad. He played in the Yankees organization when he was younger and gave me some batting tips that he said came straight from Mickey Mantle.

I’ve been lucky to work with so many amazing actors who have been kind and incredibly talented. People always get excited when I tell them who I’ve worked with. Last fall and winter, I got to work with Nicolas Cage in Spider-Noir. He was so nice and great to work with. That show is going to be so cool—but I can’t say much more than that! I also have a couple of other projects coming out that I wish I could talk about, but I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to say. I guess I’ll just say: keep an eye out! I’ll be back on screen soon—with some really cool film legends.

PC: You’re starring in the highly anticipated Zach Cregger film Weapons. What can you tell us about your character, and what attracted you to the project?
Cary: I can’t say much about my character, Alex Lilley, except that he’s the only kid in his class who doesn’t go missing. I thought that was such an interesting idea. I really connected with the character and was excited to be part of a project filled with mystery and thrills. When I met Zach on Zoom, he was so fun and easy to talk to, and I just knew I wanted to be part of it.

PC: Were you a fan of the horror genre before joining this project? Has working on Weapons changed your perspective?
Cary: No, I was not! I didn’t like scary movies at all. I didn’t even like the scary parts in non-horror movies. When I was little, my dad kept trying to get me to watch Bolt because it’s about a cute dog and acting, so he thought it would be right up my alley—but I didn’t like the scary bad guy!

After working on Weapons, though, I think I can actually enjoy scary movies now. Acting in one was really fun and exciting. When something scary happens on screen, I can remind myself that it was created by a fun guy with a wild imagination and a big crew of talented people bringing it all to life. I got to see the makeup artists, the prop makers, the stunt team—everyone doing their part. So I’m really excited to see it all come together on screen.

PC: You’re sharing the screen with some heavyweights in Weapons. What did you learn about your craft by working alongside them?
Cary: The best of the best are always really well-prepared, and they’re also kind and easy to work with. I can’t name all the specific actors I worked with because of spoilers, but I can say that Julia Garner plays my teacher, so I have scenes with her—and she’s a great example of that. The real pros are not only amazing at what they do, but they also make you feel comfortable and confident. And when that happens, everyone is able to do their best work.

PC: What scene are you most excited for audiences to see?
Cary: I definitely have scenes in mind that were so much fun to work on, but I can’t say anything more just yet. This movie is a wild ride! There’s so much to be excited about, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it in theaters. It’s definitely a must to experience on the big screen!

To keep up with Cary, follow him on X and Instagram. Weapons opens in theaters nationwide on August 8th.

Photo Credit: Benedict West