'Stranger Things' Broadway star Louis McCartney on why he reads critical Reddit comments
"I also read the Reddit reviews because those (writers) are the real 'Stranger Things' fans," McCartney, 22, tells USA TODAY. "Somebody said that my epileptic fit (in the play) looked too stiff. I can sit here and say, 'No, I worked on that for months and I don't think it is stiff,' but I said, 'What if it is?' I'm always looking for better ways to do it."
McCartney resigns to the fact that seeking feedback and affirmation can be a "double-edged sword" when it comes to acting. He recalls a conversation with his father, Michael, a screenwriter, after receiving a Tony Award nomination for his performance.
"(My dad) was like, 'Great job. So proud of you. But don't take your foot off the pedal,'" McCartney remembers. "'Keep going.'"
McCartney's dream is work with his father on a film that they both win Oscars for. His mother, Ruth, a holistic medium, also encouraged him to pursue acting.
"(My mom) deals with the universe and I'm very spiritual myself," the actor says. "I attribute her to a lot of my personality and the way I approach problems and deal with stress. She's a cool mom."
How the 'Stranger Things' TV cast responded to Broadway show
"Stranger Things: The First Shadow" serves as a prequel to the hit Netflix series. McCartney portrays Creel, the main antagonist eventually known as Vecna. The actor praises the TV cast and crew, including Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays Vecna on the show.
"I literally have never had a moment where I've sat there and been like, 'Oh, you don't like us,'" says McCartney. "These guys have been going for 10 years now. We've been running for two years. It's nothing comparably.
"We feel every right to be like, 'We're part of the "Stranger Things" family now.' And (the TV cast has) catapulted that. They've been really nice, especially Jamie."
"First Shadow" began on London's West End before moving to Broadway. McCartney says he has yet to meet Millie Bobby Brown because she's been "busy Season 5-ing" but "pretty much everybody's came" to see the show.
As for McCartney's next steps, he says he does not make an appearance in the fifth and final season of the Netflix series, which begins streaming Nov. 26. The Broadway gig marks McCartney's first time in the U.S. and he's enjoyed exploring New York City with his girlfriend. Even on show days, the actor will venture out to SoHo, Brooklyn or Ellis Island. He lives near Central Park, which has also proved a nice respite from the hectic city.
"I've been doing watercolor," he adds. "I've been like just trying to wake up and have a good time and have a day before the show, not live for the show."
McCartney says that eventually he makes his way to the theater and "locks in" for his show, which is probably helpful given that he'll eventually read a review or comment about it aferwards.
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Tom's Guide
11 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
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Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What's New On Netflix In August 2025? 12 New TV Shows And Films To Stream This Month
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Tom's Guide
2 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
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"The Life List" was one of my biggest surprises of the year so far, so Netflix's newest romantic drama, "My Oxford Year," is near the top of my watchlist. Based on the novel of the same name by Julia Whelan, it follows Anna De La Vega (Sofia Carson), a driven American student who earns a coveted Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford. However, her carefully-considered plan falls by the wayside in the face of her witty and charming tutor, Jamie Davenport (Corey Mylchreest). As they get to know each other, sparks fly, forcing Anna to question her ambitions — especially when Jamie's hidden secret threatens to upend everything. Like many entries in this genre, it's bound to be chock-full of coming-of-age lessons about balancing the life you've planned with the one you never saw coming. Watch 'My Oxford Year' now on Netflix Doubling as both a prequel and a sequel, the sixth "Final Destination" film injects some new life into the campy, blood-drenched franchise by taking its premise to a haunting new level. I put it right up there with "Final Destination 2" as one of my favorite entries in the series. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Like every "Final Destination" movie, "Bloodlines" kicks off with a jaw-dropping premonition that catastrophe is about to strike. The difference is that this time it plays out decades ago instead of in the present, when a young Iris (Brec Bassinger) foresees the collapse of a luxurious observation tower and restaurant. Though she manages to save a few people from their grisly fate, it sets off a chain reaction that puts their children, including her granddaughter Stefani (Kaitlyn Santa Juana), in death's crosshairs. Watch 'Final Destination: Bloodlines' on HBO Max now Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland popularized the concept of fast zombies over two decades ago with "28 Days Later," and this year brought a long-awaited third installment to the beloved horror series: "28 Years Later." I like how it nailed the gritty spirit and visual style of the original, but it was too all over the place for me. (Ralph Fiennes showing up, covered in iodine, talking about the "magic of the placenta" is as baffling with context as it is without). Nearly 30 years after the Rage Virus turned Britain into a quarantined wasteland, whatever hope remains has long since rotted. A few survivors have carved out a fragile community walled off from the undead hordes on a remote island off England's coast. When 12-year-old Spike (Alfie Williams) embarks on a rite of passage to the zombie-plagued mainland with his father Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), they learn the infected have mutated into a terrifying new threat that's more human than they thought possible. Rent or buy now on Amazon or Apple I have to confess I don't know much about William Tell. I vaguely remember a children's story about him shooting an apple off his son's head, but that's where my knowledge begins and ends. Though after watching director-writer Nick Hamm's new historical action epic "William Tell," which reimagines the story of the legendary 14th-century Swiss huntsman with a cinematic flair, I'm keen to learn more. Claes Bang stars as Tell, a disillusioned Crusades soldier turned huntsman, who refuses to submit when the Austrian Empire, led by evil King Albrecht (Ben Kingsley), marches into his country. To fight back, he joins a burgeoning rebellion determined to reclaim Swiss independence. It's a good old-fashioned tale of folk heroism and hardy underdogs, but I can't help but think it would have worked better as a miniseries than a bloated 134-minute film. Watch 'William Tell' on Hulu now Between its star power, action-packed set pieces, and clever premise, "Edge of Tomorrow" had all the ingredients of a box office hit. But for reasons beyond me, it fell flat when it hit theaters over a decade ago, earning less than half of its $370 million budget. Thankfully, it's seen a well-earned revival on streaming platforms, and now Peacock subscribers can check out this slept-on sci-fi gem starring Tom Cruise. Set in a future where Earth is being overrun by alien invaders, a cowardly major (Cruise) is thrust onto the front lines after being demoted. With zero combat experience under his belt, he doesn't last long — but instead of dying, he wakes up to the start of the same day. He realizes he's caught in a time loop that resets with every death, and he sets out to escape his grim fate. With the help of Sergeant Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), a renowned soldier rumored to have gained similar abilities after experimenting with the alien's blood, the two set out to defeat the alien horde and save humanity. Watch 'Edge of Tomorrow' now on Peacock Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
