NEW YORK ‒ Pete Davidson and Nicholas Hoult are thick as thieves.
As Davidson tells it, they both love “very dumb" jokes, which made it “very easy to hang out” while shooting their timely new crime thriller “How to Rob a Bank” (in theaters Nov. 13).
“I was really blown away,” the “Saturday Night Live” veteran says of Hoult. Right before filming, “he just had twins and did this giant ‘Superman’ press tour. The day he got there, he had this five-page monologue and nailed it on the first take. I was like, ‘That’s a real actor!’ ... But when you yell cut, he’s just being silly. He’s a blast and a very good guy.”
“It sounds like I’ve got a gun to you,” Hoult quips, seated next to Davidson at a Midtown hotel. In all seriousness, “Pete’s really got the
depth and acting ability to [pull] this role off in an unexpected way. People are going to be surprised by it.”
Directed by David Leitch, “How to Rob a Bank” follows a crew of social-media-savvy bank robbers known as the Wolf Pack, who broadcast their feats to the world as a middle finger to corporate exploitation. Driven by personal loss and fury with health-insurance companies, Ryan (Hoult) and Vince (Davidson) soon find the world closing in on them when an FBI sting (led by John C. Reilly and Zoë Kravitz) targets their vigilante group.
Hoult, 36, is a father of four with wife Bryana Holly, while Davidson, 32, welcomed a daughter with ex-girlfriend Elsie Hewitt last December. The actors tell us how they channeled fatherhood into their new movie:
Question: Pete, anyone who's seen "Big Time Adolescence" or "The King of Staten Island" knows what a great dramatic actor you can be. How did you feel going to darker places in this film?
Davidson: Very nervous, only because I want to impress and do right by Nick, Zoë and David. I am starved to do more stuff like this, because it's very fulfilling and fun and somewhat of a challenge. I'm pretty tired of playing the whole "version of myself" thing, so I was super thrilled at the opportunity. It was an easy, “Oh, my God, please.”
Nick, what was your way into this particular story?
Hoult: Not being American, the whole healthcare system is a scary thing. I’ve lived in the States for a while and the care that we've gotten for my kids has been brilliant. But I remember when my first child was born, you’re in this little bubble of love, and someone knocking on the door, like, “Hey, where’s your insurance? How are you gonna pay for this? This is the bill so far.” There’s all these terrifying costs that are out of control suddenly building up. We’re very lucky in England because we’ve got the NHS and you’re taken care of.
Also, being a parent and reading this story, I was like, “Oh, this is something I can relate to.” I’ve had a couple scary moments as a dad where I thought that terrible things were maybe going to happen, and it becomes very easy to understand how that can push you to do things that are, from the outside, perceived as wrong. I think I’m someone who could be radicalized quite easily. (Laughs.)
Pete, you have a very emotional scene of Vince calling his daughter. Were you able to tap into any feelings of becoming a new dad for that?
Davidson: Right before we started filming, I found out I was going to become a girl dad, so it definitely helped. When actors talk about their processes, I'm [usually] just like, “Whatever.” But I understood it because it really happened – I was like, “Oh, you really can channel things from your personal life.” It was a very emotional thing and that scene was pretty rough. Also, crying in front of 50 people? It’s not easy.
What's a movie of yours that you're most excited to show your kids one day?
Davidson: I’m going to show her “Nosferatu.” (Laughs.) No, I have one: “Dog Man.” It’s so sad, I’m trying to sneak it in. She’s obsessed with “The Lorax” and Ms. Rachel right now, and selfishly, I’m trying to get away from that. Not because I hate Ms. Rachel or anything, it’s just … it’s Ms. Rachel. So I’m hoping one day that she likes “Dog Man,” but everything else, I’m going to shield her from.
Hoult: I did a voice in “The Garfield Movie,” so I showed them that. The other day, I was like, “I think they're ready to see ‘Mad Max'!’” My wife was like, “No. There’s very grown-up themes in there.” So I was like, “All right, I’ll wait.” But I feel like that’ll be a movie they’ll enjoy. They were very excited to see “Superman,” though. And then this summer, we got to go back and shoot [the sequel], so watching them get to meet the heroes was pretty incredible.
Davidson: Did they go to set?
Hoult: Yeah, they came and hung out. I'd go to my trailer and have lunch with them, and we’d reenact the scenes together. They’d play Brainiac or different characters, and then I’d be Luthor. It was the best roleplay. I’d go back like, “Can we shoot that scene again? I was just running it with my kids in the trailer and I think I found something!”
In your research, did you discover any YouTube creators similar to the Wolf Pack?
Davidson: I haven’t seen anything close to this. ... The main sort of YouTube I watch is this dude mowing people’s lawns in bad neighborhoods for free. He knocks on their door and he’s like, “Your lawn’s all messed up!” They’re like, “Yeah, we can’t afford it.” So he trims it for them and then I cry. That and Shaboozey are my YouTube algorithm.
Hoult: My algorithm is a bit artisan, like watching someone build a leather handbag. I’m like, “Oh, look at them go!” Just very soothing, slow-paced videos.
Davidson: You ever watch the people cutting soap?
Hoult: No, but cutting soap is very nice. It’s like writing on a banana with a ballpoint pen. Beautiful, very smooth – I recommend highly.
If either of you had a YouTube channel, what would you want to teach?
Davidson: Oh, my goodness. I don't think I'd be good at that. I’m too much of a hater.
Hoult: Maybe you could just do a YouTube channel about “here’s what we hate today.”
Davidson: Oh, we could go to theme parks and rate them! We went to Kennywood in Pittsburgh. Besides my daughter being born, it was probably the best day of my life.
Pete, you and Colin Jost just did a standup show on the ferry you bought together. Any chance you could host a movie premiere on there?
Davidson: We're trying to figure something out for this one. I would love to do anything on it. The thing is, there's a billion things to do in New York City. One of them is not to go on a decommissioned, rickety ferry for an event.
What was your family's reaction to you buying a Staten Island ferry?
Davidson: I got a lot of, "You idiot!" It's something that'll follow me forever, whether it sinks or stays. So we might as well just keep it going.
Hoult: I wish I had a ferry.
Davidson: I would trade it all! I would give you my ferry for one of your credits!
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pete Davidson shares how becoming a 'girl dad' helped him 'Rob a Bank'
