‘Space Cadet’ Interview: Emma Roberts and Tom Hopper

(L to R) Emma Roberts and Tom Hopper talks ‘Space Cadet’.

Premiering on Prime Video beginning July 4th is the new comedy ‘Space Cadet’ which was directed by Liz W. Garcia and stars Emma Roberts (‘Madame Web’), Tom Hopper (‘The Umbrella Academy’), Poppy Liu (‘The Afterparty’), Desi Lydic (‘The Daily Show‘), Gabrielle Union (‘Strange World’), and Dave Foley (‘A Bug’s Life’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Emma Roberts and Tom Hopper about their work on ‘Space Cadet’, their first reaction to the screenplay, their characters’ relationship, singing karaoke together on screen, and working with director Liz W. Garcia.

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Emma Roberts in ‘Space Cadet’. Credit: Eric Liebowitz//Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

Moviefone: To begin with, Emma, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay, and what was it like playing a character who has such a positive attitude?

Emma Roberts: I love the script for ‘Space Cadet’. I read it and immediately fell madly in love with the character of Rex, and it was fun to get to play someone so optimistic and upbeat and also a little bit tiring.

MF: Was it emotionally draining playing a character as upbeat as Rex?

ER: I mean, a little bit, but also it was fun. I’ve been doing a lot of much darker stuff the last few years, and so it was fun to play someone that I felt like the audience will connect to and feel uplifted by and inspired by, because I just feel like we’ve all been through a lot these last few years. So, to do a movie where there is no real darkness, it really is light and fun and something you can watch with your family and friends and siblings and not be embarrassed that you’re watching it with them, was fun.

(L to R) Tom Hopper and Gabrielle Union in ‘Space Cadet’. Photo Credit: Eric Liebowitz//Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

MF: Tom, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and your approach to playing Logan?

Tom Hopper: First reaction was that it’s very fun. I read a lot of scripts, and there’s very few that make me laugh and make me think all at the same time, and then also have a character that is compelling and that I would have a good time playing. So that was my first reaction, and certainly one that I took into wanting to have the meeting with Liz Garcia. Then in terms of Logan, for me, someone like Logan is an example of what I think a lot of people end up doing, which is they become their job. They identify purely by their job rather than who they really are as a person, and they fit into that mold. That’s what’s happened to Logan. I think he’s very much by the book. Then, I think there is a more human side and more fun side of Logan that is then brought out by Rex and that’s why he’s so compelled by her, but also scared of her as well, because she represents the thing that he’s kind of shut down and pushed away. So, he is kind of fighting that thing to bring that back to life, which I think is kind of a lovely message of the movie that the Logan character brings, is that we should all kind of try and do that sometimes.

MF: Emma, how would you describe Rex’s friendship with Nadine?

ER: We were channeling our ‘Romy and Michele’. I loved that duo. I remember when Poppy and I were walking into the high school reunion and we were like, “It’s ‘Romy and Michele’”. We had to. It’s one of my favorite movies.

Emma Roberts in ‘Space Cadet’. Credit: Eric Liebowitz//Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

MF: Emma, can you talk about Rex’s relationship with Logan, what she sees in him, and what was it like for you working with Tom?

ER: Tom Hopper is a literal joy. He is the real Rex. He comes to work every day and is just the happiest guy there and just uplifts everyone. But he was so fun, and I loved Rex and Logan’s relationship because obviously it’s super unlikely and I especially love their karaoke scene together. I think people are going to love it because I know when the Counting Crows comes on, I lose my mind. So, I think people are going to love that little throwback that they give.

MF: Tom, how would you describe Logan and Rex’s relationship, why he’s attracted to her and what was it like for you working with Emma?

TH: I think it is an unusual match. But like I say, underneath it, they’re probably more similar than they realize. But I had a great time working with Emma. I think from what was on the page to what it became, I think I’m really pleased with how it turned out. Emma was a great scene partner. She brought her A game every day, and she’s just so full of life. She comes to life on set and on screen, and it’s very easy to work with.

(L to R) Emma Roberts and director Liz W. Garcia in ‘Space Cadet’. Photo Credit: Eric Liebowitz//Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

MF: Was it fun shooting the karaoke scene and singing Counting Crows’ ‘Mr. Jones’ with Emma on screen?

TH: Yeah. We started rehearsing that the hour after I landed in New Jersey. We went and rehearsed that straight away, along with two other songs, because we didn’t know which song it was going to be at that point, because they were still figuring out the rights for the song. But when it turned out, I was pleased it turned out to be that song, because that was my favorite one of the three. But yeah, it was an experience. We just sort of dove in head-first together, and it was a lot of fun. It was a good way to get to know each other quite quickly.

MF: Finally, Tom, what was your experience like collaborating with director Liz W. Garcia on set?

TH: Liz is wonderful as a director. She’s so collaborative. I knew from the first meeting I had with her that we were going to get along. Her manner and her energy were perfect for this movie. Plus, she’s the writer as well, right? So, when it came to suggesting stuff on set, she had full reign to be able to just move things around and say, “Oh, say this, or say that.” For me, I love that. When a director is just going to get their hands dirty, and comes in and you collaborate and you say, “Oh, what about if I did this?” Or “What about if I did that?” I think that’s when comedy particularly is great, because you get to just play, and you get this sort of synergy with the director. She’s great for that. She’s amazing. It’s always super helpful having the writer as the director, for sure. Sometimes you get that leeway with a director that’s not the writer, because they’ve been given free reign of the script to move it around on the day. They don’t have to go and check with the writer. But it’s always amazing when it’s a writer/director. They’re not married to their words, and they’re very open to you to come with suggestions and make it real for you. So, if they’re fully behind that, then that’s a match made in heaven. That’s great.

“Houston has a new problem.”

Tiffany “Rex” Simpson has always dreamed of going to space, and her “doctored” application lands her in NASA’s ultra-competitive astronaut training program. In over… Read the Plot

What is the plot of ‘Space Cadet’?

Tiffany “Rex” Simpson (Emma Roberts) has always dreamed of going to space, and her “doctored” application lands her in NASA’s ultra-competitive astronaut training program. In over her head, can this Florida girl rely on her quick wits, moxie and determination to get through training and into the cosmos before she blows her cover?

Who is in the cast of ‘Space Cadet’?

• Emma Roberts as Rex Simpson
• Tom Hopper as Logan O’Leary
• Poppy Liu as Nadine Cai
• Kuhoo Verma as Violet Marie Vislawski
• Desi Lydic as Dr. Stacy Kellogg
• Gabrielle Union as Pam Proctor
• Dave Foley as Rudolph Bolton

(L to R) Andrew Call), Desi Lydic, Josephine Huang, and Yasha Jackson in ‘Space Cadet’. Photo Credit: Eric Liebowitz//Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.

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