Where can we go when we are falling asleep? For young Nemo (Marlow Barkley), it’s a dream world called Slumberland, the official title of Netflix’s latest adventure film. After losing her father, Peter (Kyle Chandler), Nemo moves in with her uncle (Chris O’Dowd), but fails to connect with him and her new classmates as she would rather live in Slumberland. With her spirits low, Nemo’s luck turns around when she meets Flip (Jason Momoa), a half-man/half-monster, in Slumberland.
Nemo helps Flip find Peter’s secret treasure map, and in exchange, Flip brings Nemo on the quest. Nemo can see her father if they find a magic pearl near the end of their journey. Nemo has to avoid nightmares and Agent Green (Weruche Opera), who will stop at anything to capture Flip. Directed and directed by Francis Lawrence, Slumberland is a sci-fi fantasy adventure about the purity of childhood and how you’re never too old to dream.
In an interview with Digital Trends, O’Dowd, Opia, and Chandler marvel over Barkley’s talent and share why Slumberland This will appeal to both children and adult.
Note: This interview was edited to be more concise and clear.
Digital Trends: Marlow’s talent will be the biggest talk point in this film. I couldn’t believe this was her first feature film. Chris, what’s one thing that stood out to you about Marlow?
Chris O’Dowd: She’s very present, and I know that’s something that you hear a lot. She’s listening, not in that active listening way where people are nodding, but not really taking anything you’re saying. But that gorgeous thing of, “OK. I’m going to be aware and be able to react to whatever just happens.” So I found that refreshing because you don’t find that in a lot of grown-up actors. [Laughs]
At such an early age, she already has this. Kyle, as a father, has played the role of a father in movies and television shows. What secrets do you believe are the keys to building a great relationship with your child?
Kyle Chandler It’s a two-way street. What you do with it [motions to O’Dowd] just said about her performance, she’s also someone, and you get this early on, she’s very independently minded. She’s not afraid to express her thoughts.
O’Dowd: It’s all good!
Chandler: She’s nobody’s fool on top of it. It was easy and she was a pleasure to work with. It was almost seamless. It was wonderful.
Weruche, it was a pleasure to spend time with Jason during your scenes. His charisma is evident on the screen. What was it like working with him?
Weruche Opia: It was great fun. Jason is full of energy. He is always ready to rock and roll and is very friendly, which is great to see on set. Marlow was a great actor, and he kept the energy up throughout our long days. Marlow is an energy-bubbler that keeps you going. So it was great having them in scenes. It was full of laughter, jokes and TikTok dances I couldn’t do. It was great to be surrounded by people having fun and working. It was great.
Slumberland It is an incredible special effects movie. Weruche, many of these scenes involved you, particularly the chase in the middle. This presented a new set of challenges to you as an actor.
Opia: It worked initially but I eventually learned to concentrate on what the character was doing. I started to think more about the performance than the VFX. And I thought that because that’s all I could be responsible for at that point. I was like, “I’m going to just focus.” I trusted Francis and the whole VFX team because I was like, “Yeah, this has to be good.” So I was just going to mind my business and focus on giving the character as much as I can. It was amazing, as we can see. It did more than my imagination did, so it’s good times.
The movie appears to be aimed at children. There are messages of resilience and grief that will appeal to adults, however. What can everyone of any age take away from this? Slumberland?
O’Dowd: Keep the adventure going. Age is not a barrier to climbing.
Opia: Swim when you feel the life-giving floods.
Chandler: [Laughs] Yeah.
I’m going to have to steal some of these quotes.
Chandler: [Laughs] That’s three coffee mugs right there.
Slumberland premieres November 18 on Netflix.
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