Opening in theaters on November 7th is the new coming-of-age drama ‘I Wish You All the Best’, which is based on the book by Mason Deaver and was written and directed by Tommy Dorfman (’13 Reasons Why’).
GtJEzI7HgGBveEJsPw09j4The film stars Corey Fogelmanis (‘Girl Meets World’), Alexandra Daddario (‘The White Lotus’), Cole Sprouse (‘Lisa Frankenstein’), Miles Gutierrez-Riley (‘Smile 2’), Amy Landecker (‘Transparent’), and Lena Dunham (‘Girls’).
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Alexandra Daddario about her work on ‘I Wish You All the Best’, her first reaction to the screenplay and why she wanted to be part of the project, her character’s relationship with her sibling, working with Corey Fogelmanis, collaborating with director Tommy Dorfman’s on set, and what she hopes audiences learn from the movie.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Daddario, Corey Fogelmanis and director Tommy Dorfman.
Related Article: TV Review: ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay, what spoke to you about the material and why you personally wanted to be part of telling this story?
Alexandra Daddario: I thought it was a wonderful screenplay. I was very impressed by Tommy and speaking to her made me really want to do the film. I loved the role. I wanted to be a mother for a very long time, and I felt that there was something I really related to in the role that really drew me to her. I wasn’t a mother at the time, and now I am, but I think being that person that can guide younger people through growing up, while staying calm and trying to figure everything out and just be that light to the extent that they can be. That’s what I want to be for my child and that’s what I think being a mother is all about. So, I was really drawn to the role for that.
MF: Can you talk about Hannah’s relationship with her sibling, Ben, and the way she lovingly excepts them and helps them on their journey?
AD: I think there you have their parents that didn’t do everything exactly right. I think you have two people who have wounds because of that, but they’re these two wonderful people, Hannah and Ben, and they’re trying to find their way through the estrangement, because Hannah hasn’t seen her brother in a while, which is very sad. Then being able to finally be there for them and help them feel supported in a way, where they did not feel supported at all before is such an incredible thing that every young person needs and not every young person gets. I felt that was one of the reasons I was drawn to the role because I want every young person to have someone like Hannah.
MF: What was it like working with Corey Fogelmanis and creating that relationship with him on screen?
AD: Well, he’s just incredible. Corey is a wonderful actor and has a bright future ahead of him. I think being able to come again to this set that was so well run where we could all be artists and we could all be open and connected. You know, actors come to step with their guard completely down and we were so ready to tell this story. So, it was a beautiful, open, loving environment.
MF: What was your experience like working with director Tommy Dorfman and was there one piece of direction that she gave you that really helped your performance?
AD: You know, I don’t remember specific direction, I think, because we shot it so long ago, but I do remember the overarching thing is Tommy is an incredibly confident director and makes it look easy when it’s not easy. That confidence spills into our performances because it makes us feel confident. Her notes made me feel like I did a great job, which I think makes you have an even better take next time because you feel so great about what you’re doing. That’s a very hard thing to do, to make a bunch of insecure actors feel confident to do the best work that they can do. So, I was lucky to have her.
MF: Finally, what do you hope audiences take away from watching this movie and learning about Ben’s story?
AD: I hope that they are touched, I hope that they’re entertained, and I hope, if they don’t have a non-binary person in their life, that they learn something.
What is the plot of ‘I Wish You All the Best’?
In this refreshingly modern coming-of-age story based on the best-selling book by Mason Deaver, a high school junior (Corey Fogelmanis) comes out as nonbinary and is thrown out of their family’s home. With nowhere else to turn, they move in with their estranged older sister (Alexandra Daddario) and her husband (Cole Sprouse). After enrolling in a new school, they find support from an eccentric art teacher (Lena Dunham) and form an unexpected bond with a kindhearted student (Miles Gutierrez-Riley). With the help of their new relationships, they navigate the awkward hurdles of young adulthood in this sweetly funny journey of self-discovery that celebrates the power of being true to yourself.
Who is in the cast of ‘I Wish You All the Best’?
- Corey Fogelmanis as Ben DeBacker
- Miles Gutierrez-Riley as Nathan
- Alexandra Daddario as Hannah DeBacker
- Cole Sprouse as Thomas
- Lena Dunham as Ms. Lyons
- Amy Landecker as Brenda DeBacker
- Lexi Underwood as Meleika
- Lisa Yamada as Sophie
- Judson Mills as Mr. De Backer
List of Alexandra Daddario Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘The Squid and the Whale‘ (2005)
- ‘White Collar‘ (2009-2014)
- ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief‘ (2010)
- ‘Hall Pass‘ (2011)
- ‘Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters‘ (2013)
- ‘Texas Chainsaw 3D‘ (2013)
- ‘San Andreas‘ (2015)
- ‘Baywatch‘ (2017)
- ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle‘ (2019)
- ‘Songbird‘ (2020)
- ‘Die in a Gunfight‘ (2021)
- ‘The White Lotus‘ (2021-2025)
- ‘Wildflower‘ (2023)
- ‘Mayfair Witches‘ (2023-2025)
- ‘I Wish You All the Best‘ (2025)
