Dylan Sprouse
Stars in
Film
The Duel
Photography | Tyler Patrick Kenny
Creative Director | Deborah Ferguson
Interview | Laasya Gadiyaram
For years Dylan Sprouse has been entertaining audiences worldwide. As he’s evolved in the industry he’s taken on multidimensional roles. In Duel, Sprouse simultaneously stars as a main character and serves as an Executive Producer. The film follows two friends who settle an argument through a duel. As the group of friends embark on the preceding adventure, their relationships and identities are tested under pressure. We discuss inspiration, his artistic process, and his first time producing.
LG: Congratulations on the Duel! How has the process been so far?
DS: Thank you! The process has been great, but it’s such a new experience for me in many ways. Since it’s my first time being an executive producer, I was much more hands-on with this film than I have been in the past, during both the pre-production and post-production phases and it’s been so rewarding.
LG: How did you approach developing Colin as a character?
DS: Colin truthfully wasn’t too difficult to develop due to the fact the character was written for me by my close friend Luke Roberts, who co-wrote and directed the film along with Justin Matthews. It was a pretty seamless transition, though I did add some elements of the beach buddies I grew up with to Colin’s personality, which was fun.
What do you want viewers to know about The Duel before they see it?
DS: I want viewers to know that this is my proudest movie to date. Like I said, it’s a story about friendship, and it has a lot to say, not just about actual history, but personal history as well. The whole process has been a great ride and I’m really looking forward to seeing fan reactions. I think this narrative and the playfulness is going to resonate with our generation and was made with that in mind.
Jacket, Vest , Shirt , Sweater, Pants , Gloves & Boots: Kenzo F24
LG: This marks your first project as Executive Producer. Congratulations! How has the role been treating you?
DS: Generally, as an actor, I stay very much in the actual time period of production, but being an EP forces me out of that box and encourages me to be more involved and make decisions on behalf of the whole project.
Jacket, Vest , Shirt , Sweater, Pants , Gloves & Boots: Kenzo F24
LG: How did you balance your roles as both an actor and a producer?
DS: It’s been a challenge but I have had a lot of great mentors to learn from, so I’m utilizing my years spent in the entertainment industry to make this the best it can be and in service of the craft.
Jacket, Vest , Shirt , Sweater, Pants, & Gloves: Kenzo F24
LG: How do you challenge yourself as an artist? Are there any other genres or areas that you’d like to explore?
DS: I like to challenge myself physically with roles a lot and learn new skills during filming. It’s one of my favorite parts of this industry — transforming into the character. Anything that requires me to do that and really push my comfort zone, I’m always up for it!
Coat , Pants & Boots : Dolce and Gabbana
LG: How has your artistry changed from your earlier works to now?
DS: I have much more agency in my work now than previously and I’m more intentional about the projects I choose to work on. For a long time, I was largely doing what others thought was right for me and my career. After college, I took full control, and it helped me shape the narratives I’m a part of and I’m happy I got more involved that way.
LG: What narratives do you find yourself gravitating towards?
DS: I find myself gravitating towards ensemble projects where I can collaborate with others, and I like stories where there are no clear moral heroes or villains. I don’t necessarily know why haha, maybe because you can have more fun with it.
LG: Your career is expansive, spanning across mediums and genres. What can we look forward to from you next?
DS: I think we can definitely expect more of the behind-the-scenes work from me – I want to help artists create narratives that reflect and empathize with current issues, whether that be within the industry or outside — in between my coffee breaks on my rocking chair of course — God I’m old.
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