Best known for his roles as Ricky Fitts in American Beauty (1999), Seneca Crane in The Hunger Games (2012) and Doyle in Interstellar (2014), Wes Bentley plays Jack Magary in Pete’s Dragon, the (2016) fantasy adventure film directed by David Lowery. Bentley stars alongside Bryce Dallas Howard, Oakes Fegley, Karl Urban, Oona Lau-rence and Robert Redford in this story of an orphaned feral boy who befriends a dragon. Excerpts from an interaction —
What is your view on the film?
The movie is magical, and it has the dragon. I love the family stuff, the fact that it is not afraid to be emotional and tackle the emotions that are a part of life, and what children go through. It’s a beautiful film, David Lowery has such a vision, and he is such a great guy
Has your son seen the movie? Who was his favourite character?
Has to be the dragon. Because he came down during the shooting of the film to New Zealand and every time we came on set he asked about the dragon since he had heard about it but not seen it. I had to tell him that Elliot the dragon is invisible when he doesn’t know someone, and it will take a long time, so you will have to wait to see him on the screen.
How does Elliot help Pete with somewhere to come from?
That’s a good question! I think Elliot provides Pete with somewhere to come from. Being five years old is a very important period in our lives, as we’re just beginning to form memories and know what we are and where we come from. Pete almost lost that and to have Elliot step in and create that home and security and playfulness that a boy needs, gives Pete a history and childhood. A lot of times, children lose their childhood when they face such harsh realities so early in their lives.
How was it working with Oakes Fegley as Pete in the movie?
Oakes is the wild child we wanted to see on-screen. He has crazy body control, flops his body around like an animal and is really interesting to watch. He’s a boisterous, lively boy and that’s so great, as when
you get him right there and focused on the moment, a lot of crazy good things come out of him.
What is Jack’s relationship with his girlfriend Grace like?
Jack has a relationship with Grace, who is a forest ranger, and they have an interesting relationship, because though they are seeing each other, they are at odds with each other trying to find a middle ground into where they can cut into the forest, and how to be environmentally conscious.
Karl Urban plays Gavin in the film. How was it working with him?
The way Karl plays Gavin is spot on, as his character is enigmatic in nature and Karl brings those qualities in his acting. He is very funny, but can also be intimidating and pulls off this thing that can be difficult, of being bold and wrong without being boring at all. He is a blast on set and a good friend.
What is your view on Disney films like this?
With films like this and often with Disney films, it’s a lot to do with our childhood. For example, here it’s about a boy who loses his family and makes a friend in a dragon, but it might be time to move on and have a family — that’s something we share across the world. There are children like that everywhere and the film beautifully touches on that.
Pete’s Dragon premieres on Star Movies Select HD on Aug 19 at 9 pm