How Rebel Wilson Plans to Keep the Spirit of Pitch Perfect Alive
Rebel Wilson is in denial. As she prepares for the December 22 release of Pitch Perfect 3— the third..
Rebel Wilson is in denial. As she prepares for the December 22 release of Pitch Perfect 3— the third and final installment of the highly successful franchise, which follows an all-female a cappella group—the actress is not ready to say goodbye to her star-making role.
“I don’t know if it’s the end of Fat Amy. I don’t feel like it’s over personally, because I love playing her so much. I love who she is and what she represents,” Wilson told Vanity Fair at the film’s Hollywood premiere at the Dolby Theatre Tuesday night. “She’s so confident and she’s so comfortable in her own skin. She’s really fun to play because she’s very similar to me! Even though there are some hard aspects, like me doing all my own stunts in the film, I still love Fat Amy.”
The Australian actress says that playing her scene-stealing character has been “life changing.”
“When we filmed Pitch Perfect 1, I was not known internationally at all. It’s created so many opportunities. I get to do what I love to do. I just produced two movies that we just finished shooting. One is Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Anne Hathaway. It’s crazy!”
Elizabeth Banks, who directed the franchise’s second installment and produced all three films in the series, adds that she’s “very proud” of the franchise—and optimistic that its success will open doors for other filmmakers who want to create female-driven stories.
“What I love most about this movie is it stars a diverse, interesting group of women who are empowering and live their dreams while being true to themselves,” said Banks, who also reprises her role as the inappropriate a cappella commentator Gail in Pitch Perfect 3. “They don’t make a lot of movies like this in Hollywood anymore, and I’m very, very proud of the legacy of this movie, especially in this climate we are living in. This is the third movie and it’s proof that people want to see these types of movies. A movie about a group of women makes money! My hope is that we can continue to make more stories about women and have women’s voices be heard.”
In the third installment, Wilson, Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, and the rest of the Barden Bellas find themselves unhappy with their lives and jobs after graduating from college. The girls reunite for an overseas U.S.O. tour to sing together one last time. As in the series’s previous films, there’s an abundance of madcap moments as well as a strong message of friendship at its core.
“The main message of the movie is you’re going to grow up. You’re going to have to move on with your life. You have to chart a course for yourself, but you’re always going to have your friends at your back,” said Pitch Perfect 3 director Trish Sie. “They can’t hold your hand through everything, but they’ve got your back. We all are struggling with this no matter what age we are.”
Regardless of whether Pitch Perfect 3 will really be the end of the Barden Bellas, Wilson has snagged a few souvenirs from the set to remember her time on the films—and also to make some extra cash.
“I take so much! I have taken a lot of the costumes, and I also design some of the clothes that I wear in the film, so I took them back,” Wilson admitted. “I have also taken a lot of the Pitch Perfect memorabilia, like CDs and DVDs. I get the girls to sign a lot of the memorabilia, because it’s like a collection—and someday it could be worth money. So the entrepreneur in me is really coming out!”
Get Vanity Fair’s HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Because nothing says horror like a 1920 German Expressionist film. This classic about a murderous hypnotist is inspiring now for its groundbreaking cinematography and sheer artfulness, more of a gorgeous film noir than a real horror story.Photo: From Everett Collection.
Dracula
The original cinematic adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel is a must-see for film fans. It’s the mother of all vampire movies, featuring an indelible performance by Bela Lugosi and some really lush cinematography. (This scene alone of Dracula’s wives awakening is a thing of pure beauty.) Plus, it’s from the 1930s—there’s no way it’ll scare you.Photo: From Everett Collection.
Psycho
Ah, yet another classic that all film fans should have in their back pocket. The seminal Alfred Hitchcock thriller shocked audiences in 1960 with its jarring shower scene and ultimate plot twist, but it won’t horrify modern viewers the same way. Hitchcock was more about suspense than jump scares, even if Pyscho still gives you a healthy bout of chills.Photo: From Paramount/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock.
Carrie
Speaking of old movies that aren’t scary-scary by modern standards, Brian De Palma’s adaptation of this Stephen King novel about a bullied high-school girl with a zealous mother is yet another standard-bearer that scared people at the time of its release. Now it’s got a sort of hokey 70s aesthetic that won’t spook viewers more accustomed to sophisticated special effects.Photo: From United Artists/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock.
Paranorman
This stop-motion kids comedy is a joyful story about a boy who sees dead people. (For the scary version, go stream The Sixth Sense.) It’s more of a delightful coming-of-age tale with genuine laughs, and some spooky animated creatures for good measure.Photo: From Focus Features/Everett Collection.
What We Do in the Shadows
Much like Shaun, this 2014 mockumentary flips a genre on its head, poking fun at the wild and sexy lore of vampires. Written and directed by New Zealand’s finest, Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, who also star, the film is about a trio of vampires just living everyday life—splitting house chores, trying to get invited into nightclubs—which takes a turn when they have to take in a new 20-year-old vampire.Photo: From Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock.
Get Out
Make no mistake: Jordan Peele’s excellent debut feature is a horror movie through and through, with highly unsettling twists and turns. But the horror doesn’t rely on twisted jump scares or unsightly violence; instead, it’s baked into the film’s brilliant social commentary on modern racism. And if that’s not enough, take it from another wimp—this is a horror hit you can candle.Photo: From Universal/Everett Collection.PreviousNext
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Because nothing says horror like a 1920 German Expressionist film. This classic about a murderous hypnotist is inspiring now for its groundbreaking cinematography and sheer artfulness, more of a gorgeous film noir than a real horror story.From Everett Collection.
Dracula
The original cinematic adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel is a must-see for film fans. It’s the mother of all vampire movies, featuring an indelible performance by Bela Lugosi and some really lush cinematography. (This scene alone of Dracula’s wives awakening is a thing of pure beauty.) Plus, it’s from the 1930s—there’s no way it’ll scare you.From Everett Collection.
Psycho
Ah, yet another classic that all film fans should have in their back pocket. The seminal Alfred Hitchcock thriller shocked audiences in 1960 with its jarring shower scene and ultimate plot twist, but it won’t horrify modern viewers the same way. Hitchcock was more about suspense than jump scares, even if Pyscho still gives you a healthy bout of chills.From Paramount/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock.
Carrie
Speaking of old movies that aren’t scary-scary by modern standards, Brian De Palma’s adaptation of this Stephen King novel about a bullied high-school girl with a zealous mother is yet another standard-bearer that scared people at the time of its release. Now it’s got a sort of hokey 70s aesthetic that won’t spook viewers more accustomed to sophisticated special effects.From United Artists/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock.
Poltergeist
Like many horror movies of decades past, Poltergeist, too, isn’t as scary as it once. But it still has some solid scary moments—do yourself a favor and squeeze your eyes shut when Martin Casella grabs his face in the bathroom scene—so save it for when you’re at your bravest.From MGM/Everett Collection.
Gremlins
The kitschy 1984 horror-comedy is basically about Furbies from hell. Though it’s geared toward a younger audience, there’s some violence that kicked it up to a PG-13 viewing—but it’s still, at the end of the day, a fun little movie about people fighting goofy puppets.From Warner Bros/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock.
The Lost Boys
At the heart of this vampire saga is an emo journey about two dorky teens (Corey Feldman and Corey Haim, the 80s dream duo) fending off a pack of too-cool vampires trying to turn one of their older brothers into a monster. There’s definitely some scary imagery throughout—mind tricks in which the head vampire (an ice-blond Kiefer Sutherland) turns rice into maggots, bloody feeding frenzies—but its youthful spirit, style, and comedy far outweighs the horror elements.From Warner Bros/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock.
Silence of the Lambs
Silence is a perfect psychological thriller, a dive into the life of a green F.B.I. agent (Jodie Foster) who has to interview a captured cannibalistic serial murderer (Anthony Hopkins), then use that information to catch another killer on the loose. The Jonathan Demme classic is disturbing and suspenseful, but also so elegantly told that it won best picture at the 1992 Oscars. Certified wimps can totally handle this prestige project.From Orion Pictures Corp/Everett Collection.
Zombieland
Speaking of zombie fare that’s more funny than scary, this 2009 adventure tale puts together a ragtag group of survivors in a world possessed by the walking dead. It’s like a spunky how-to guide for surviving a zombie apocalypse. And to prove its comedic lean, director Ruben Fleischer tapped a very famous comedian to come in for a perfect cameo—which we won’t spoil for any newcomers.From Columbia Pictures/Everett Collection.
Shaun of the Dead
Edgar Wright’s kooky 2004 horror-comedy takes the piss out of the zombie genre. Be slightly warned: there’s a lot of blood and braaaains and hideous violence, but it’s so smart and jokey that the dread is balanced out.From Rogue Pictures/Everett Collection.
Paranorman
This stop-motion kids comedy is a joyful story about a boy who sees dead people. (For the scary version, go stream The Sixth Sense.) It’s more of a delightful coming-of-age tale with genuine laughs, and some spooky animated creatures for good measure.From Focus Features/Everett Collection.
What We Do in the Shadows
Much like Shaun, this 2014 mockumentary flips a genre on its head, poking fun at the wild and sexy lore of vampires. Written and directed by New Zealand’s finest, Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, who also star, the film is about a trio of vampires just living everyday life—splitting house chores, trying to get invited into nightclubs—which takes a turn when they have to take in a new 20-year-old vampire.From Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock.
Get Out
Make no mistake: Jordan Peele’s excellent debut feature is a horror movie through and through, with highly unsettling twists and turns. But the horror doesn’t rely on twisted jump scares or unsightly violence; instead, it’s baked into the film’s brilliant social commentary on modern racism. And if that’s not enough, take it from another wimp—this is a horror hit you can candle.From Universal/Everett Collection.
The post How Rebel Wilson Plans to Keep the Spirit of Pitch Perfect Alive appeared first on News Wire Now.