Pop Culturalist Chats with Gabriel Bateman

Gabriel Bateman is one of the best and brightest young actors in Hollywood, consistently delivering unforgettable performances time and time again. This month, he’s starring in not one, but two exciting new projects. The first, Benji, is a heartwarming story about a family who overcomes a recent tragedy thanks to the help of a four-legged friend, and is now available on Netflix. The second, The Dangerous Book for Boys, is an adventure-filled tale about three brothers who discover a gift left to them by their recently deceased father about how to navigate life. Pop Culturalist spoke with Gabriel about both projects, how he becomes each character he plays, and why it’s important to always be true to yourself.

The Dangerous Book for Boys Questions

PC: Tell us about The Dangerous Book for Boys, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Gabriel: The Dangerous Book for Boys follows a family dealing with the recent death of their father. Early on, they discover a book that he left for his three sons to help them navigate life. The book sparks the imagination of the youngest boy (my character), Wyatt, and he begins to have adventure-filled fantasies. Wyatt is very sensitive, creative, and observant, and although he’s the youngest, he does his best to keep the family together. I was drawn to this project because it was unlike anything that I’ve done before, and because Wyatt has so many fantasies, it’s almost like playing a new character each time. When I got the offer for this Amazon Prime show, I also had a different offer on the table for another amazing project, but phone calls with Bryan Cranston helped seal the deal.

PC: Were you familiar with the book before you signed on for the project and why do you think this story lends itself for a television adaptation?
Gabriel: My brothers read it growing up, so I had seen it on the book shelf, but we are a family of readers and there are so many books that grab my attention, so I never really read it cover to cover until recently. The book itself is a how-to guide for young boys (and girls, too) describing fun things that kids like to discover from how to tie knots to how to make go karts, with no story actually attached. So, Bryan Cranston and Greg Mottola thought up the story based on things that inspired them as parents.

Photo Credit: Amazon Prime

PC: It’s a heartwarming tale about a family overcoming loss. Was it difficult for you as a young actor to get into that mindset and did you draw on any personal experiences?
Gabriel: No, not really. I feel as an actor you don’t have to relate to a character to become them. It is an art form—acting. I have never suffered that level of loss, but I feel the pain Wyatt does because in those moments, I am Wyatt.

PC: The boys experience many cool adventures along their journeys; which was your favorite and why?
Gabriel: I would say the Roman fantasy because I love Roman history and mythology. Our wardrobe department was amazing, and every time I put on a different outfit, I felt almost instantly transported to that fantasy.

PC: How did you, Drew, and Kyan build your brotherly bond?
Gabriel: Acting is great for bonding because you’re very vulnerable when you become a character. Also, I think just hanging out on and off set helped a lot. Our three characters worked together so often and for so many hours, so we couldn’t help but bond. We all had an idea of having our own walkie-talkies with a bunch of secret codes to communicate while working, but the production department was afraid that it might interfere with their walkie-talkies. [laughs]

PC: Wyatt and his brothers learn a lot of life lessons throughout the story; which one resonated with you the most and why?
Gabriel: I would say the lesson that I connected to the most was to be yourself because I think that a lot of people, especially kids and teenagers, pretend to be someone they’re not, whether it be because they want people to like them or because they’re embarrassed of their own personality. It’s important to remember to always be yourself.

PC: If you could adapt another book for a television series, what would it be and why?
Gabriel: I would want the Percy Jackson books to be turned into a TV show! I would love to see the characters come to life accurately, and there is too much story to fit into a movie.

Benji Questions

PC: You’re also starring in Benji, which came out this March on Netflix. What can you tell us about this project?
Gabriel: Benji is also a heartwarming film about a struggling family who recently lost their father. My character, Carter, finds a dog that saves the day when Carter and Frankie get kidnapped. It’s a lot of fun, and you can’t help but fall in love with Benji (just like we did on set) when watching this movie. I think Brandon Camp [director] did such wonderful homage to his dad, who wrote the book.

Photo Credit: Netflix

PC: How challenging was it to work alongside your furry scene partner?
Gabriel: For the most part, working with Benji was very fun and easy. He always lightened the mood on set and was very well-trained, however, there were a few scenes where he wasn’t doing exactly what we wanted, but it actually made for great moments. For example, there was a scene where he needed to pull this blanket off me, but he was much more interested in other things, so we ended up being there for a while. So, when you watch the scene and Carter seems desperate for Benji to pull that blanket and the ropes, it wasn’t acting! I really was desperate. [laughs]

PC: What do you hope fans take away from seeing this film?
Gabriel: I mostly just hope that fans are not just entertained, but also inspired. I think our generation needs a Benji just like our parents had and this movie is very much a heartwarming story of the love of a family and their dog.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Gabriel: Tokyo Ghoul

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Gabriel: The Princess Bride

PC: Favorite book?
Gabriel: The Alchemist

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Gabriel: Hamilton

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Gabriel: The Gorillaz

PC: Favorite social media platform?
Gabriel: Instagram

PC: Last person you texted?
Gabriel: My friend, Patrick Fugit

PC: Hidden talent?
Gabriel: Archery

Make sure to follow Gabriel on Twitter and Instagram, and check out Benji on Netflix today and The Dangerous Book for Boys when it hits Amazon Prime on March 30th.

Photo Credit: Jeff Vespa // Styling: Darryl Glover // Groomer: Melissa Walsh