Pop-Culturalist.com

Josh Wiggins is no stranger to emotionally charged roles, but in Armor, he takes on a challenge unlike any before. As the lead in his first major action film, Josh seamlessly blends heart-pounding intensity with a grounded, deeply human story about family, resilience, and redemption. With veteran co-stars like Jason Patric and an unforgettable collaboration with Sylvester Stallone, Josh steps into the spotlight as a rising action star while staying true to his roots as a performer who brings authenticity and emotional depth to every project.

In this exclusive interview, Josh opens up about the physical and emotional demands of Armor, the joy of collaborating with his co-stars, and how his journey behind the camera has influenced his craft. He also shares insights into his character’s journey, the impact of filming in extreme conditions, and his aspirations for the future as both an actor and storyteller

PC: Armor is part action, part family drama. I feel like those emotional, dramatic beats are your bread and butter. What was it about this character and story that resonated with you?
Josh: It’s exactly what you just said. It’s an action movie with a lot of heart. At its core, it’s a father-son story about them trying to reconnect and forge their relationship.

PC: You’re also a very instinctual actor. But when your character is in a life-or-death situation that you haven’t experienced, how do you tap into that emotional state? How helpful was it filming in that armored truck, which feels very claustrophobic?
Josh: It was super helpful. Having a great scene partner like Jason Patric and being in that environment makes it easy to tap into. Plus, filming in Mississippi in September was hot. We were in not-very-breathable clothing, sweating a lot, and trapped in an armored truck. When you’re in those elements, it’s easy to reach the places you need to.

PC: You also recently started writing, and you’re looking to direct in the future. How has your work behind the camera influenced the way you approach your work on screen and interpret characters and scripts like this?
Josh: That’s a good question. Growing up, I made home videos, and I was always behind the camera, writing stories. That’s what I always thought I would do. For me, it’s actually the reverse. When I started acting, I viewed it in such a different way than when I was making those home videos. I was in those videos because there were only so many people I could get to be in them. But when I started acting, it opened my eyes to a world I had never really considered before. I fell in love with it and just kept doing it.

PC: You’ve touched on this briefly, but so much of what you do is reacting to what your scene partner is giving you. At the heart of this story is an estranged father-son dynamic and reconnecting. How did Jason’s performance influence your own and vice versa? How did you build the trust to go to those emotional places needed?
Josh: Jason brought it the entire shoot. He was playing such an intense character, so it was really easy to bounce off what he was giving me. It’s funny—often you’ll picture a scene a certain way, but once you actually do it with your scene partner, it can be very different from what you initially had in mind. That’s always awesome because you discover new things. You’re like, “That’s not how I thought you were going to do it,” and it makes you react in different ways. That’s what makes it so fun.

PC: On the flip side of that, what is it like feeding off the energy of a co-star like Sylvester Stallone, who you can’t physically see for most of the film, and building that tension?
Josh: [laughs] It’s funny because, without giving spoilers, there is that one scene where we’re together, but everything else is just us shouting to P.A.s offscreen who are reading lines. What’s interesting is that Stallone has reached such an iconic level in pop culture that just knowing he was going to be playing that character brought a certain intensity and weight to me and Jason’s performances.

PC: You’ve said in previous interviews that any time you get a script, you instantly note the scene that’s going to push you as an artist and storyteller. What was that moment on this project?
Josh: That’s another great question. I can’t say exactly what it is because it would spoil the film, but there’s a moment that’s the culmination of all the emotional arcs happening. It’s not a scene where everyone is screaming or crying—it’s a really quiet, beautiful moment that I really loved.

PC: You have a bright future as an action star. I know this is one of your first big roles in this genre. Did anything surprise you about the experience? What was the biggest takeaway or the most fun moment?
Josh: There were so many fun moments. There’s a lot of water acting in this film, which was really fun for me. The thing I enjoyed the most—and didn’t expect to—was this moment when everything starts going wrong for the characters. I’m screaming into a radio, reacting, and moving my body as the car is swirling. That ended up being way more fun than I thought it would be.

Make sure to follow Josh on Instagram. Armor is out in select theaters, On Demand, and digitally now.

About the Pop Culturalist Contributor, Daniel
Daniel Robbins is a filmmaker known for his gripping narratives in the horror and thriller genres, including the critically acclaimed Pledge. With a knack for crafting tension and exploring human vulnerability, Robbins continues to make a mark as a standout voice in modern genre filmmaking.

Photo Credit: Lionsgate