Interview: Mike Flanagan and Tom Hiddleston Reflect on the “Magic” Behind Their New Stephen King Adaptation ‘The Life of Chuck’ [VIDEO]
Mike Flanagan, best known for directing modern horror staples like The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep, and Midnight Mass, takes a bold and beautiful turn with his latest project—a poignant adaptation of one of Stephen King’s quieter, more introspective stories. Rather than leaning into terror, this film explores the fragility and wonder of existence. It’s cerebral, tender, and at times cosmic—an antidote to the emptiness of modern life that slowly reveals itself to be deeply, achingly human.
At a recent press day, I sat down with Flanagan and acclaimed actor Tom Hiddleston (Loki, The Night Manager) to discuss the emotional and artistic journey of making the film.
In a story about how one life can ripple through others, Hiddleston reflected on a scene that lingered with him long after filming: a dance sequence that proved unexpectedly profound.
“On the very last day, the fourth day of (filming the sequence), I can’t remember what the setup was but it was a tribute to the old musicals,” Hiddleston shared.
Flanagan clarified, calling it a “head to toe wide shot on a track.” Hiddleston continued, recalling how the team filmed the shot again and something changed: “It was the freest it had been, it was the most precise it had been. It was the most infectious and joyful,” he said. “It was electrifying,” he added. “It was like scoring a goal in the World Cup final or touchdown in the Super Bowl or a home run, it was just like a magical thing.”
“As soon as I heard cut, I ran to Mike and he had this huge smile on his face and Mandy Moore, our choreographer, we all felt it. It was this moment of unrepeatable magic, about joy, about connection, and about freedom,” Hiddleston recalled.
Mandy Moore, the Emmy-winning choreographer behind Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and La La Land, clearly helped shape one of the film’s most resonant sequences. Flanagan, visibly moved by the memory, chimed in to agree: “We spent the whole week saying there’s no such thing as a perfect take, and I had five setups left, listed after this one. But it was a perfect take,” he said. “The actors knew it immediately, Mandy knew it immediately, and we scrapped the other shots.” He added, “It was a pretty incredible moment.”
Flanagan also recalled another unforgettable point during production: “I remember feeling a similar way during Mark Hamill’s monologue in the third act and Benjamin Pajak’s dance,” he said. “I had that feeling so many times at the monitor. You hope that if it’s hitting you that way, it’s going to hit other people.”
Hamill, a legend of genre storytelling thanks to his iconic role as Luke Skywalker, brings surprising emotional depth to the film, while young Benjamin Pajak—best known for his Broadway run in The Music Man—delivers a performance that clearly resonated with the director.
Reflecting on his creative shift away from horror, Flanagan described adapting this more meditative King story as “so joyful.” “When I was shooting the dance sequence, I would say at the end of every day, I just want to be doing this the rest of my career,” he said. “My face hurt from smiling every day on this.”
Watch the full interview and comment with your thoughts. The Life of Chuck hits theaters from NEON on June 6.
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