Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Lovecraft Country’s Chase Brown

Chase Brown is an emerging new face of 2020 who has already nabbed not one but two coveted roles this year. The first was in Tyler Perry’s Oval spinoff, Ruthless, and the second in is the highly anticipated HBO series Lovecraft Country from Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams.

Based on Matt Ruff’s novel (of the same name), Lovecraft Country follows the story of Atticus Freeman as he travels across the US in the 1950s in search of his missing father. The series explores the conjunction between the horror fiction of H.P. Lovecraft and racism in the US during the era of Jim Crow laws.

Chase is a standout as Young Atticus Freeman. We caught up with Chase to learn more about the project.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts?
Chase: I discovered my passion for the arts after my first commercial. I loved it! When I was really little in school, I was always picked to say long speeches. Watching other actors’ expressions was interesting to me when I watched TV. So my parents felt it would be a good idea for me to try acting.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Chase: My family has had the biggest influence on my career. My parents work hard. They encourage and believe in me all the time. They are always ready to travel if I have to go somewhere. My big brother always challenges me. We challenge each other. He was helpful too because it helped me to not give up and to continue to keep going even if things get hard.

Lovecraft Country

PC: Tell us about Lovecraft Country, your character, and what drew you to this role.
Chase: Lovecraft Country is a thriller and a must-see! It’s about Atticus traveling across the United States to find his missing father. My character is the young child version of Atticus in the 1930s. What drew me to the role was the great producers that produced the series and what the story was about.

PC: You’re one of two actors playing the same character. Did you get to collaborate with Jonathan Majors?
Chase: No, I didn’t get to collaborate with Jonathan Majors. Since I am the younger version of Jonathan as a child, I spent most of my time with Michael K. Williams, who plays Montrose Freeman, which is Atticus’ father.

PC: The show is more timely than ever. Did you feel any pressure heading into this project, given that it’s your biggest project to date and the relevancy of the show?
Chase: No, I did not feel any pressure. I was a little nervous because it was my first TV project and I was with such big-name actors. I was glad to be a part of a show that brings more awareness to different issues.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Chase: I don’t have a guilty pleasure show but I like Raven’s Home.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Chase: Not a guilty pleasure movie, but I like the movie Wonder!

PC: Favorite book?
Chase: I Survived Hurricane Katrina by Lauren Tarshis.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Chase: Norris Nuts.

To keep up with Chase, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Watch new episodes of Lovecraft Country every Sunday at 9/8c on HBO.

Photo Credit: Michael Justice