Jake Johnson's Self Reliance is now streaming on Hulu, and ahead of its release earlier this month, we were able to sit down with writer/director/star Jake Johnson (New Girl; Jurassic World; Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse) to talk about making his directorial debut with this excellent new film.
In our conversation, he breaks down the type of characters that appeal to him as a writer, his unique chemistry with different actors, and what he prefers in an ending. He also tells me about that very big casting coup and a whole lot more.
Plus, Johnson was more than generous enough to share a little bit of intel about what we can expect from Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse and why he believes it'll be a fitting ending for this beloved trilogy.
The film's synopsis reads, "Tommy receives an invitation to win $1 million by playing a game where he must outwit hunters attempting to kill him. He realizes the hunters can only attack him when he's alone, but none of his friends and family believe the game is real."
In addition to Johnson, the cast features Anna Kendrick, Natalie Morales, Andy Samberg, GaTa, Emily Hampshire, Mary Holland, Boban Marjanović, Christopher Lloyd, Biff Wiff, and Wayne Brady.
Watch our full interview with director Jake Johnson below and/or keep scrolling to read the full transcript! Plus, please remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more exclusive content!
ROHAN: You're a very likable, very relatable actor, especially to me. So, what is it about these characters that are always sort of hard on themselves, still figuring out their stuff, and incomplete that appeals to you so much as a writer and actor?
JAKE: I think that's a big struggle in life, to try to find your place as you're kind of going through different adventures. It's something that I relate to. I don't seem to like people who think they have it all figured out. I mostly think they're full of crap and don't. So, in terms of a character like this, I would want to play, this was premise first. So, I really liked the big premise. I liked the idea of a guy playing a game where he's trying to survive, and I like that his family doesn't believe him, and then, with the idea of playing it myself, I wanted somebody I could relate to and comedicly, I knew where all the bits were going to be.
ROHAN: What sort of unique challenge did directing yourself present?
JAKE: Yeah, I mean, even more so than just directing myself, all of it felt like a challenge, you know, technically, it's really more intense than I even expected, even though I knew it was going to be intense. So, I had to rely on a lot of people - the DP Adam Silver, which was a huge help, the AD Anna Borden was a big help, and then, having a great cast so that I didn't have to worry about people's performances. If you're a first time director, someone like me, and you don't have it all figured out, it's really important to fill the roles with people who are really talented. So, that was something that was really important to me when I built this group.
ROHAN: The film has such a great cast and you have fantastic chemistry with Anna Kendrick, but you also have phenomenal chemistry with Biff Wiff and similar older actors as we've seen you excel opposite Ralph Ahn in New Girl and J.K. Simmons in Ride the Eagle as well. So, when did you realize that putting you on camera with an older actor would make movie magic?
JAKE: Thanks, man, I feel the same way. I thought Biff is the star of this movie, and I thought Ralph Ahn was probably my favorite guy to act with in New Girl, and it's a weird thing to say because he didn't talk, but, that connection was really great. And, J.K. Simmons is obviously a different beast. He's just the best. He's a pro's pro. But I like characters a lot, and I like people who naturally bring a lot to the table even before they have to say anything where their energy is a big part of their character. There are certain actors where they're very good at creating a character and they're great at that. I like when it's really just oozing out of the person and the person comes across on the screen. That's the thing that excites me more and Biff Wiff is a perfect example of that. I wouldn't be interested in seeing Biff Wiff playing like, you know, the President of the United States, unless that President is very similar to Biff Wiff, but I could watch Biff in every movie ever made. I'd like to see Biff Wiff do Hamlet. *laughs*
ROHAN: I'm not going to give away the ending, but I did want to touch on the romantic subplot. Your arc with Anna Kendrick's character has an open-ended conclusion, similar to your arc with D'Arcy Carden's character in Ride the Eagle. Is there something you like about leaving the door open with an optimistic ending? Like, we don't necessarily have to see you get the girl, but we are left hoping you do.
JAKE: I don't think, at least for me, and the things that I like to watch, I don't need everything finished and tied to a bow and being totally done. I like to see a character grow and change, and I like the idea of potential optimism, but I don't think the movie needs to say it was a happy ending, and everything worked out. I just like to know that the character you watched for a while was in a different spot, in a better spot than they were when the movie first started.
ROHAN: I'm a huge NBA fan and am well aware how awesome Boban Marjanović is. Can you tell me about casting him and what it was like working with him?
JAKE: Incredible! So, I had written the part with him in mind. I had seen him in, I think, a Skittles commercial where he was so good at it, and so, I just reached out to him, I think on DM from Instagram, and then we went back and forth, and then, the casting people sent him the script and he was as nice and charming as imaginable. The whole crew fell in love with him. I just actually had him on the podcast. He's on the episode today, of ‘We’re Here To Help,’ and he even charmed everybody there. He's just as likable a guy as you're gonna get, and in the movie, I think he does a phenomenal job.
ROHAN: I know you're not allowed to say much, but what do you know about Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse and how they're planning on ending this trilogy?
JAKE: What I know that's happening is that Phil and Chris, I know, and Dave Callaham, the writer, are all really deep in it. I don't know the actual stage they're at, but Phil and I have talked a bunch about the character and the world that they're building or that they've already built for the third one. I know it's all going to start wrapping up, and I think it's going to be from - I personally think it's going to be the ending everyone was kind of hoping for. I know they're not going to quit until they land the plane, and so, I know there might be some frustration that people want it now, but there's a great gift coming. I think when they finish this one. I think it's been a beautiful franchise and the work they're doing is great, and everyone's busting their ass right now to kind of land this plane.
Tommy receives an invitation to win $1 million by playing a game where he must outwit hunters attempting to kill him. He realizes the hunters can only attack him when he's alone, but none of his friends and family believe the game is real. Watch Self Reliance on Hulu, January 12!
Self-Reliance is now streaming on Hulu!