Pop Culturalist Chats with Colin Critchley

At only 13 years old, Colin Critchley has already established himself as an actor to keep an eye on. He’s worked alongside Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, and Louis Gusset Jr. And, he’ll next star as Noah in Nickelodeon’s highly anticipated adventure film, Legends of the Hidden Temple. Yes, you read that correctly. They’re re-making the classic game show into a motion picture film. And, we can’t wait! Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with this rising talent about the project and his career.

Legends of the Hidden Temple: The Movie

PC: How did you get involved with the project? And, what was the audition process like?
Colin: It was a whirlwind. I auditioned at Nickelodeon in NYC and they asked me to come back the following day. Then they called me that very night and asked me to fly out to California for a chemistry read with some of the other boys that were auditioning. That’s where I first met Jet. We had instant chemistry from the first time we read together. I found out a few days later that I had booked the role of Noah and the rest is history!

PC: Were you familiar with the game show before you auditioned?
Colin: Not really. But once I started the audition process, I looked it up and watched tons of old episodes on YouTube. I loved the game show and was so excited to be involved in a movie edition of it.

PC: Tell us a bit about your character and his role in the film.
Colin: Noah is the middle sibling and he is OBSESSED with the Legends of the Hidden Temple. He has studied everything about the temple and its secrets and it is his ultimate dream to be able to go into the temple. Through some impulsive behavior (which often gets him into trouble) he ends up in the temple fighting for his life and the lives of his siblings. He realizes he must use his knowledge of the legends and the help of his two siblings to get them out alive. Through this adventure he learns a lot about himself and becomes more bonded with his siblings.

PC: Was it easy or difficult to adapt a game show into a film?
Colin: We had an amazing set designer, director, and writers who really took the game show and built it on a much grander scale. We all knew how important it was to make sure that the movie contained references to the game show which would be easy to recognize for fans of the game show. I think they did an amazing job turning it into a movie and I think audiences will agree when they see the realistic sets, live animals, stunts, and special effects.

PC: If you were to go on the game show, who would be your partner? And, how do you think you would do?
Colin: I would definitely choose Kirk Fogg, the original host of Legends of the Hidden Temple, as my partner. Who has more knowledge and experience than Kirk? Also he’s a lot of fun and really nice guy. I would feel comfortable facing the dreaded guards with Kirk by my side. I know that Kirk would be a huge help in solving the puzzles and riddles in the temple in order to get us out in record time.

PC: What do you hope fans take away from seeing the film?
Colin: I hope that fans of the game show will appreciate how we kept true to the show’s roots and included so many of the things they loved about the show. I also hope that new fans, who have never seen the show, have a fun, adrenaline-pumping wild ride through the temple with us.

Watch the trailer for Legends of the Hidden Temple below:

Career Questions

PC: How did you get started in acting? Did you always know you wanted to be an actor?
Colin: I always loved performing and I remember going to see The Drowsy Chaperone at my school’s upper school and I was hooked. I started taking acting classes at the Lee Strasberg Young Actors Program and began working from there. I really worked mostly in theater for the first few years in shows like Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Kinky Boots and Waiting for Godot on Broadway.

PC: What is it like performing on stage versus film? Do you like one better than the other?
Colin: Performing on stage is a bit like walking on a tight rope. You have one chance to do it right but you also get the instant feedback of a live audience. On film, you have the ability to play with the material and try it different ways. I really love both. I love the energy of the audience in live theater but I also love the chance to try different approaches on film.

PC: If you could be in any Broadway show what would you be in?
Colin: There is a show that Hugh Jackman did called the Boy from Oz. I never personally saw it but my parents have played the soundtrack so many times that I know the music by heart. I have watched some clips of it on YouTube. Hugh Jackman is an incredible triple threat — he sings, acts and taps and I would love to have the chance to reprise that role someday.

PC: If you could only do one thing – tap dancing, singing or acting – what would you do?
Colin: Acting. It gives me the opportunity to be so many different people and to really challenge myself with each new role.

PC: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from doing stage work?
Colin: That sometimes things will inevitably go wrong whether it’s with the equipment, sets, fellow actors mixing up lines but not to let it stress you out and to just stay calm and trust yourself in that situation. Often the audience has no idea that something is wrong and won’t if you keep your wits about you and keep smiling.

PC: Do you have any upcoming projects that you can talk about?
Colin: I wrapped 2 other films this past year in addition to Legends. One is called Breaking Brooklyn and I had the opportunity to tap dance in it which was awesome. I was lucky to be able star opposite Oscar winner, Louis Gossett, Jr., in that film and he is an incredible actor and person. The other project is more of a coming of age film called Life Now, Life Then about a group of boys whose lives are forever changed by events they experience together. I had so much fun shooting with those boys and I got to play a really great character named Sal.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show/movie?
Colin: The Office which I binge watched and Impractical Jokers.

PC: An artist/band that people would be surprised is on your playlist?
Colin: Queen

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Colin: School of Rock is my current favorite.

PC: Favorite book?
Colin: The Outsiders

PC: Hidden talent?
Colin: Impersonations (which I use to prank call my unsuspecting grandparents).

Make sure to follow Colin on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Photo Credit: Michael Creagh