Alden Ehrenreich, even if he werent the guy who literally took over the role of Han Solo from Harrison Ford, is the kind of actor that just looks and feels like a leading man. The swagger that helps define screen heroes like Han, Indiana Jones, Butch and Sundance, and other like them seems to come easy to some people, and Ehrenreich is in that mix, for sure. Thats maybe why its so impressive to see how vulnerable he often has to be in Brave New World, the new series from Peacock based on Aldous Huxleys dystopian novel of the same name.
As John the Savage, Ehrenreich is initially presented more or less as his verison of Han was as an aloof, handsome badass from the wrong side of the tracks, existing in a larger-than-lie world that would give him a lot of fun stuff to do. Quickly, his station changes, and Ehrenreich says that one of the best parts about the show is the way that he has to flex his own creative muscles and the way the story impacts his characters mindset.
This is one of those parts where you quickly had to do a lot of emotional stretching. At this point are you just used to doing that in these big-ass epics, or is that still hard?
When asked whether these larger-than-life scenarios gave him more creative legroom, or whether he had to get up at 4 in the morning to start slapping himself in the face and preparing, Ehrenreich told us, Both. I feel like the last few jobs Ive done, its felt like that. But I think the reason is because Im drawn to big swings. Im drawn to parts where theres a lot going on, and theres a lot to do, and its a challenge. Theres other kinds of roles that Ive come across that seem like, oh, this is a cool thing, in a cool movie or a cool story, but its not attractive. Its almost like I think of it in an athletic sense: you want to push yourself. You want to feel at the end of your capabilities sometimes past it.
Thats more or less how John feels throughout much of the story.
I read the first four episodes before I got involved, so there is this this flashy bro in some ways, but then what I found is these really robust scenes that feel almost like scenes out of a play, and so I saw that its not a 2-dimensional thing, Ehrenreich told ComicBook.com. As to the Han Solo comparison, he added, This character would like to believe hes that, more than that he is that.
The universe constructed in Brave New World can turn on a dime, with scenes of oppression or crushing violence juxtaposed with scenes of wonder and joy. Ehrenreich said thats part of what drew him to the story, and that the indomitable spirit that he sees in John is part of what drew him to the part.
Whats cool about the show is the real confluence of tones that they balance really well, Ehrenreich said. You get a little bit of everything; theres some real humor that has a satirical bent to it and thats in Huxleys voice, I guess. Theres a real deeply felt, intelligent love story at the center of it, and then theres this broad spectacle thing. My characters so baffled and turned around during so much of his introduction into that world that it lends itself to that.
We joked a bit about the idea that delivering a dystopian story in 2020 is a daunting task, but its really that kernel of hope and strength thats at the center of Brave New World that resonates with Ehrenreich, more than the big, broad, sometimes deeply divided world of the show.
I think it is easier for me to relate to that, Ehrenreich explained. Without being self-aggrandizing, I do feel more like that kind of person, who finds some way forward no matter whats going on, and braces for whats happening. As an audience member whos also performing in it, I also am moved by those characters, and believe in their incredible value, especially during dark times. Resignation seems to be the most evil position in certain ways. So Im more turned on by that. When youre inspired by it, its kind of easier to play.
He also noted that in a world where everything seems like its all under control, and everyone is in sync, that playing one of the people out of step with the mainstream is easy because everything becomes intensely personal, and every conflict is visceral. He said another factor that makes performing like that easier is his co-stars, whom he said was the most passionate and prepared cast he has ever worked with.
Theyre such dedicated actors, Ehrenreich said of his co-stars. The thing about this show is, the level of investment, and emotional investment, and preparedness of this ensemble was of a different order than Im used to. It was great; it was inspiring to be a part of it.
And he was able to use that experience to color his interpretation of the role, since he was not especially familiar with Brave New World before taking the job. He said that he read the book after having been sent the scripts, and his experience with Huxley is mostly through essays, and Doors of Perception, not so much his novels. Asked whether he had another Huxley property hed want to take a swing at, he said not yet.
One of my closest friends is reading Island, Ehrenreich said. Theres a talk by Alan Watts, who describes himself as kind of a philosopher/entertainer, and he has a talk about Huxley where he talks about Brave New World as this satire thats saying look at all of the things that are wrong, and Island is what Huxley puts forth as what would be a bona fide utopia, or that this is what he would believe in. So thats on the shelf. Im reading that next.
Brave New World is currently streaming on Peacock.
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