Ben Stiller has starred in a number of hit films such as Zoolander, Dodgeball, The Royal Tenenbaums and Night at the Museum. Although the comedy veteran has been involved in a number of projects as a director and producer, he is returning to acting with the upcoming film Nutcrackers after a seven-year hiatus. During the film’s premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the actor revealed that his absence from lead roles in films was a deliberate decision.
“I decided a couple of years ago that I would only do something if I really liked it,” he told the audience during the premiere. So, what makes Nutcrackers so special? Stiller recalled that when director David Gordon Green pitched him the idea, the holiday comedy hit him on an emotional level. He remembers getting an email from Gordon Green and reading it immediately.
“Intuition struck me—there’s something special about this movie. I want to make this movie, I want to meet these kids,” he explained. The script felt like something he wanted to do, and the opportunity to work with David was another factor that made the decision easy. “It was a very organic, emotionally real place to be,” the actor said.
The film also stars Homer, Ulysses, and the twins Atlas and Arlo Janson, who received a standing ovation at the TIFF premiere alongside Stiller and Green at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall. According to the official synopsis, the film is inspired by real-life events and tells the story of four siblings who, due to an unexpected turn of circumstances, find loving shelter in the most unexpected places.
The synopsis states, “This endearing comedy-drama takes inspiration from real events and crafts a gripping story that brings everyone together.” Stiller had the chance to work with four kids who had never acted in movies before, and yet they managed to impress the veteran actor. “I think they’re incredible,” the Zoolander star said.
He decided to shoot on the Jansson family farm in Ohio, which felt like the most organic choice. “I thought, OK! There’s something very surreal about making this film. It was different than any experience I’ve ever had,” he said.