Adam Brody shares how he first met Kristen Bell

Only a few days have passed since Erin Foster's new Netflix series Nobody wants it debuted on the streaming platform, and it's pretty safe to say the response has been exactly the opposite of the show's title. Both online and in real life, people all over the world seem to be talking, sharing and posting about the romantic comedy starring Kristen Bell as an agnostic podcast host who falls in love with an unconventional rabbi, played by Adam Brody, who has just broke up with a long time girlfriend. fiancée. During the interview with The Hollywood journalist Below, Brody reveals the secret to great on-screen chemistry, the research he did to play a rabbi, and whether he's really as hard to land as people say.

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I read that Kristen Bell was already attached when this thing came to you, and she told Erin Foster that there was only one guy who could play this part, and that was you. Who approached first?

My agent has been my agent for a long time and his wife [Nicole Chavez] she is Kristen's longtime stylist and good friend. We were well through the back channels, so I heard about it through him. I think Kristen reached out, unofficially, early to heat up the stove.

Erin said The New York Times that they wanted you, but to cover the bases, they auditioned “every hot Jewish guy in town.” Were you aware of the competition?

I didn't know they were auditioning. I wanted it. I only received the first episode of the script, but I thought it was charming and a fun role that made me feel comfortable and at the same time a fun, familiar place to play. At the same time, the fact that the character was a rabbi meant that he had a whole other side. I had a lot to learn and study to be able to make an acting role out of it. I should also be so lucky to work with Kristen. She is a phenomenal actress who has an amazing resume. I wanted to do it, but I was content to let it all unfold.

Tell me about that acting stuff. I read that you watched documentaries, listened to podcasts, and attended a Shabbat service. Is this a normal deep dive for you?

I mostly watched and listened to things like books, podcasts, movies, and documentaries. I delighted in the temple. I normally do this kind of thing, but I don't typically have that long of prep time and I don't normally feel compelled to do that much. More than anything, I always read a little for inspiration. Whatever role I play, I will read related materials that appeal to me and help me think about some psychological ideas as well as performative ideas. With this, there's a really real story that represents a real culture and religion, and I felt more compelled to get it right.

I know some people watching might be sensitive to this, and I wanted to make as many people happy as possible. I had the job before the strikes, and when the strikes happened, I had an abnormal amount of time that allowed me to really immerse myself. I learned so much about the history of Judaism and this mythology that has influenced and shaped so much of our culture for millennia, and also so much about people and their journeys throughout history. I knew as much about the Holocaust as the average American, but now I know so much more. It helped me look at the world with a clearer perspective and better context.

As an actor who was going through the strikes, what was it like to have a job on the other side?

It was a nice convenience. It all seemed so suspended in the air. I was pretty sure we were doing it [the show]but I don't think anyone was 100% sure about anything. Having something, even theoretically, to aspire to was a great comfort.

The words that are often used to describe you and Kristen are “charming” and “adorable.” Is there extra pressure to perform when you're paired with someone like her? How did you find the rhythm together?

It's very natural. But, listen, these things could just as easily cancel each other out. If two people are too similar, sometimes they need slightly different chords, different notes to harmonize. I had absolutely no idea how it would work. I know he's a lovely person and really talented, and I knew the writing was really strong. All you can do is go in and do your best. You hope it comes out and, again, I give a lot of credit to the writing. We've been on several shows together and no one has said, “Your chemistry is amazing.” I mean, we had a lot of fun working together and it definitely worked, but this time there's a reason why the show is getting more responses this way. This has to do with the form of writing.

Those previous projects include House of lies and you were both there Screams 4even if you didn't cross paths at all on the screen. Do you remember when you first met?

We also made another film called Some girls. I remember when we met but she didn't. It was 6pm Screams 4 screening. My agent had a two-seater and we would go from the screening to the after party or something. We gave her a ride to the trunk portion where she was stuffed into the back seat of the non-rear portion.

Even in that New York Times profile, I read that you are quite demanding about the roles you take on. Erin Foster said you don't like doing something “unless it really speaks to you,” while Kristen said you're “incredibly demanding and that's part of the charm.” It's not always available to everyone.” How has all this played out in your career?

As I mentioned in that article, I'm definitely opinionated. I think every actor should be. Any professional should be opinionated about what they do, but I think I'm much more pragmatic in terms of what I do. I don't consider myself incredibly picky. I understand the reality of going to work and I enjoy working, and there isn't a very strong correlation between the quality of a project and the joy I get from doing it. It has much more to do with the personalities involved. All this to say that even going to work is a joy. There was a moment early in my career where I think I was more self-aware. But, at the same time, I don't look back on anything I didn't do and think, “wow, did I really miss the boat or I should have done something else.” I'm so lucky to be on the path I'm on career-wise. It's my way. It's so clear to me that there are no regrets.

You're coming off a great year. You acted Fleischmann is in trouble, Shazam: Wrath of the Godswhich perhaps didn't meet expectations but was a great opportunity and in which you played a role American fictiona film that was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. It must all look pretty good…

It's adorable. I've gotten to work with some of my favorite actors and act in things that make me feel very lucky. It was not foreseen. Things happened to me and I would have been a fool not to do them. I was able to participate in things that had real relevance to the conversations we're having as a culture. Seeing them in the mainstream and getting a decent number of people to see them and enter the zeitgeist is its own level of satisfaction and reward.

Nobody wants it is now streaming on Netflix.