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First off, theres no Don.
No, no there is not.
The doll, of course, turns out to be a murderer.
Thats where Brian Tyree Henrys version of detective Mike Norris comes in.
Vulture sat down with Henry, Plaza, and Bateman in advance of the not-quite-apocryphal films theatrical release.
So, how did you guys end up inChilds Play?Brian Tyree Henry: I was leaving L.A.
I dont know where I was going, actually.
Aubrey Plaza: Where were you going?
BTH: What were my dreams?
AP: Paint the picture for us.
What were you wearing?
BTH: I remember getting the script, and I think you were already attached to it.
So, once I heard [Plazas] name I was likeboom!
You were the star power that got it off the ground, Aubrey?AP: I guess so.
BTH: She was just the name they used to get me.
AP: I got Chucky on it also.
I was really happy to get him, because I felt like he brought the whole thing together.
BTH: She was the one that made me want to join.
I regret it now, but yeah [laughs].
The script was great.
It said The Kasdan Project.
It didnt say Childs Playon it.
I was like,Okay, this is really good, and the characters are really great.
[Talking to Plaza] You mean a lot to me.
Thats why I did this.
AP: You mean more to me.
And you, Gabriel?Gabriel Bateman: I just auditioned.
AP: Ill never forget it.
It was a magical day.
GB: Why did you choose me?
Im still wondering to this day.
AP: Cause I wanted to ruin your life.
BTH: She is a smothering mother, though.
Even on set she smothered him.
AP: My boys number one.
Hes going to the top.
GB: She smothered me.
She threatened me, attacked me.
AP: A little tough love.
Like, look at every single person that was inScream.
Everyone was acting their ass off.
At the end of the day, you could get lost behind [a horror movie plot].
Everyone is seeking for somebody to give them some kind of worth, you know what I mean?
And this artificial intelligence thing is happening and its terrifying.
That human connection and getting away from our machines is what matters.
And for bring that story together, youve got to bring some acting chops to it.
What Gabriel especially has to do in this film is really, really difficult.
You have a really great cry, Gabriel.
GB: Its not makeup.
Ive heard that a lot.
You have a real way with sociopathy.AP: Thank you so much.
This is what Ive been saying all along.
But Karen is more of a straight man role than we typically see you play.
So what feels more like its stretching your range at this point?
The stakes are really high, and I think its a challenge to ground something like that.
Its not actually an easy thing to do.
When youre an actor you dont think like,Well this is just a dumb horror movie.
No, you have to commit.
You have to believe that its actually happening, which is actually really messed up.
Who wants to start?
Fifteen to 20 minutes of the film took just as long as everything else.
AP: Day one!
AP: I was bound for a long time.
And were most of the effects done practically?BTH: Oh, yeah.
The way you saw it unfold is how it really happened.
I dont know if you noticed, but Lars likes to really dig in and go for it.
The whole Zed Mart scene, you have all these extras and kids and all these dolls and blood.
It was really a lot.
Gabriel, which scenes do you find yourself enjoying most?
What I really enjoyed filming at the time was all the stunts.
Those were really fun.
Does filming an intense scene give you a little bit of a hangover?GB: Yeah.
For me, specifically, I kind of get light-headed.
BTH: He really digs in.
Brian, you were saying earlier you learned a lot from Gabriel.BTH: I did, actually.
To be so young and be able to have that kind of access to emotion like that.
You know what I mean?
And to carry that and be the anchor for it was really impressive.
That was so much fun!
I was just likeYEAH!But that was the whole thing on set, you know.
What were doing is really crazy and sometimes, often, dangerous.
Like, more often than not dangerous.
But we were with each other and that made it so much more enjoyable.
So, I think it stands, but I have to check with a lawyer.
My plan is to retroactively kind of do that, but lets just see how the movie does first.
But I have it.
BTH: I was a witness.
I was like, look, get your money.
So, now it depends.
If it was something that I felt like was my baby then yeah, Id want to produce.
But if the Coen brothers call me up, Im gonna do whatever they say.
BTH: Just drop that nugget!
AP: I mean, whoever!
Im just saying, you know, theres a time and a place.
BTH: And sometimes its on set!
Right now, with a crayon, holding producers hostage [laughs].
GB: I didnt know this happened.
AP: Well talk about that later.
Just dont sign anything before you talk to me first.
Can you do an accent?
GB: Ive done a Scottish accent.
I think probably just like a drama thats like focused around my range would be nice.
You and Aubrey could do a Coen brothers movies together.GB: That would be awesome.
BTH: Oh, so I cant do it because Im black?
She just wentrightaround me like, You guys can do it!
[Laughs] No, they dont cast black people.
I just wanted you to put that down.
BTH: I want to see you write it down.
GB: I think thats the third thing you told me about yourself.
Okay Ill circle it.
