Tony Revolori
Tony Revolori
Tony Revolori, best known to me as Flash Thompson from Marvel’s Spider-Man films, has been on our screens for years in projects like Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “The French Dispatch”. His upcoming project Willow on Disney+ is a fantasy series set many years after the original film of the same name. Willow is now streaming. Tony and I sat down to have a chat about that project and ended up talking about therapy, reading, and productivity. Thank you to Tony and his team for making this conversation possible. ◇ 2022
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Cariann Bradley: I'm going to go ahead and apologize in advance. I'm a little brain-foggy today. I haven't been getting much sleep, so I'm so sorry if I am slow to articulate myself. But I'm so excited to talk to you, meet you. And Dimitri told me the shoot went great.
So, I told Amanda [Tony’s publicist] that I love Flash so much. I'm such a big Marvel nerd. Huge. So I'm so excited to be talking to you and I kind of want to talk to you about what you're working on right now. What's been top of mind for you?
Tony Revolori: Well, right now, mostly, I'm doing press for Willow, this Disney+ show based on the original Willow, the same name that came out back in '88. It's a sequel series, so it's set around 20-ish years later. Beyond that, I've been working on my own stuff, writing and producing, which has been wondrous and great.
Cariann Bradley: What have you been writing?
Tony Revolori: Well, mostly just screenplays here and there. I have a writing partner and we get together and we write whatever comes to mind. We recently did a short film that we wrote that he directed and I acted in. We've submitted to festivals, so, we'll see. Fingers crossed and everything. But beyond that, just writing features here, TV shows there, and trying to get them made, which is the hardest thing in Hollywood.
Cariann Bradley: Yeah, I would imagine. Actually I was a writing major in college, but fiction.
Tony Revolori: Oh, cool.
Cariann Bradley: I did more narrative stuff and then my thesis senior year was nonfiction, but in the last year I've kind of tried to start screenwriting. It's been such a beautiful opening to my... I feel like I got so burned out after school and the way I can see it visually through screenwriting has just been so healing. I just feel like I'm finding my way back to myself by writing screenplays, even though I'm not great at it.
Tony Revolori: Yeah. No, it's a beautiful thing. And there is a massive difference than journaling and whatever, because you almost see it played out in your head and you can almost, for lack of a better way of explaining it, play God to the characters that you put on screen or on page. And therefore, whether it's a bad breakup or just a fantasy you have in your head, you can live it out and write it, and see it in a potential way that other people would be able to relate to it as well, which is beautiful. So, I'm glad you're doing it. That's awesome.
Cariann Bradley: Yeah, it's been so fun. I also have a writing partner that has helped me with l'Odet for years. Her name's Kass, she lives in LA, and we've been working on something just for fun, but it would be so exciting for it to go somewhere. The most fun thing to write ever. It's the source of joy in my life right now.
Tony Revolori: Aww, I love that. That's great. I mean, I'm hoping. I'm hoping it happens.
Cariann Bradley: Fingers crossed.
Tony Revolori: I've got all my fingers crossed for you.
Cariann Bradley: I was looking at Willow stuff and I don't know too much about it, but the poster design was really giving me Roswell, New Mexico vibes. I'm not sure if you've seen that show.
Tony Revolori: I haven't seen the show, but I know which one you're talking about.
Cariann Bradley: What's different about it from the original?
Tony Revolori: Well, first and foremost, we're a TV show now, so we have more time to develop different characters and this and that, explore new places in the world that you wouldn't have been able to in the original film. Beyond that, it's not that it's much different. It's more that it's modernized and our writers, I can't remember their names right now, so apologies, but John Kasdan, who used to write on Dawson's Creek and a bunch of other things, is our showrunner. He was able to figure out a way of keeping the magic of the originality or of the original movie alive, while also just modernizing it in a way that was relatable to people our age and younger so that they may feel like this show is about them, which is absolutely wonderful and kind of amazing.
“Everyone needs to protect themselves. I think people have gotten to a point of, what's the right way to phrase this, of understanding their mental health in a new, kind of, safer way. It's really interesting and being able to admit that to yourself is empowering.”
Cariann Bradley: That's cool. I'm excited to watch it. When does it come out?
Tony Revolori: It comes out November 30th.
It's a fun one. It's one of those things that I was a big fan of the original movie when I was a kid, so to be part of this one is phenomenal. It's just a fun vibe and I think people will like it. There's a lot of fantasy shows out there right now with Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings, which both of those shows are incredible, but we get to operate in a more fun space and make jokes of the clichés and meatiness of all of those kinds of shows. I think that's what'll make us fun and that's what makes us different from those kinds of things. Not that we're better or anything like that, but just we get to have a little bit more fun.
Cariann Bradley: Yeah, it's a little bit lighter. Every time I watch House of the Dragon I'm like, all right, this is serious. I'm strapped in.
Tony Revolori: Yeah, no, it's wonderful. Kudos to all of them for making that show as wonderful as they did. But wow, is it just hectically dark?
Cariann Bradley: Yeah. What kind of stuff do you watch when you're working on a show like this or promoting it? Do you find yourself watching other kinds of shows and films to kind of escape?
Tony Revolori: Some of my favorite films to watch or genre films are usually comedies, rom coms, things like that, just because it's an easy way to shut your brain off — like popcorn movies. Don't get me wrong, I love drama movies and think pieces and psychological thrillers and things like that just as much, but you have to put yourself in the right mental headspace. And when you're doing something like this, when you're going through press or filming, sometimes you need to come home at the end of the day and just relax. So, it's either throwing on reruns of a favorite show like Parks and Recreation or New Girl or finding some fun new movie that is just kind of an easy shut your brain off, just lay on the couch with a blanket and a glass of wine and going to bed.
Cariann Bradley: Definitely. I did that this weekend. I watched Holes. I was like, for personal reasons, I will be watching Holes tonight. Thank you.
Tony Revolori: Fantastic. But also, Holes holds up. I was literally, Amanda could tell you, not three hours ago, was talking about Holes and how it holds up. Was I not, Amanda? I know you're not allowed to talk during the interview, but whatever.
Amanda: He was raving.
Cariann Bradley: I quote Holes all the time.
Tony Revolori: Same.
Cariann Bradley: I love that movie.
Tony Revolori: It's wonderful. I mean that rap from Shia LaBeouf is incredible.
Cariann Bradley: Zero was like my first crush.
Tony Revolori: Zero. Wow. I mean, Khleo Thompson, Thompson? Thomas? Whatever it is. I get it, I get it. He digs holes, he's great.
Cariann Bradley: Then it was Bernard the elf, from The Santa Clause.
Tony Revolori: Interesting!
Cariann Bradley: Interesting journey I went on as a child…
Tony Revolori: Really? I want to dive into that. But no, listen, Holes is a great movie. Patricia Arquette, Sigourney Weaver. I mean, oh God, what a great movie. What a great movie.
Cariann Bradley: Yeah. I have a sticker on the back of my laptop that is that one scene. And it's like, “I'm tired of digging, Grandpa.” And he's like, “well that's too damn bad.”
Tony Revolori: “That's too damn bad!!” You keep digging. Someday you'll thank me. You'll see.
Cariann Bradley: I quote that daily.
Tony Revolori: Same, same, same.
Cariann Bradley: Classic. Yeah, so I watched Holes this weekend. Freaky Friday is also a go-to as well.
Tony Revolori: Yeah, The Holiday is a good one for me.
Cariann Bradley: Oh, that's such a good one. Jack Black in that movie is so good.
Tony Revolori: Jack Black can get it. Jack's got that movie.
Cariann Bradley: School of Rock was my shit growing up.
Tony Revolori: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Same.
Cariann Bradley: It's how I found the Ramones. It's how I found Led Zeppelin. I had merch. I had signed memorabilia from the cast as a sixth grader. But I loved seeing him in a kind of love story role in The Holiday.
Tony Revolori: Yeah, same. He deserves it and he killed it! But also, do you know how they got Led Zeppelin on School of Rock?
Cariann Bradley: Yes. They made a personalized video. You know that I know!
Tony Revolori: I know you know. But it's good for the readers to know.
Cariann Bradley: Yeah. It's like I know I can never write a Zeppelin song into a screenplay because I would have to sell my soul to them.
Tony Revolori: Well, I think now it's just the amount of money because the amount of people who've used Immigrant Song in every single one of their trailers and Thor: Ragnarok and stuff like that. I'm like, okay, I think you guys enjoy getting the money from this now too, which is understandable. And I get it, but oh, School of Rock did it first and did it best.
Cariann Bradley: Yeah, so good. Yeah, I actually just ordered a shirt off of Etsy that says, I pledge allegiance to the band of Mr. Schneebly.
Tony Revolori: Nice. Mike White, man. He's hit after hit after hit. Going through...
Cariann Bradley: I know, but listen, I tried to watch The White Lotus and I don't really, I don't think I get it.
Tony Revolori: Okay. Interesting, interesting.
Cariann Bradley: Do you like it?
Tony Revolori: I'm going to be completely honest, I haven't watched it.
Cariann Bradley: Okay. Totally valid. Because that's Mike White and it's just so different.
Tony Revolori: I know. It's very different. I think he's just evolved, but to me, he will always be the original Schneebly. And I love that. You've set me on a path. I now want to rewatch School of Rock, so thank you.
Cariann Bradley: And if there's anything I can leave you with, I would hope it would be that.
Tony Revolori: Yeah, that and Holes. And also, Amanda, we'll watch Holes tonight.
Cariann Bradley: Oh my God, that's so great.
What's been top of mind for you outside of work other than writing projects?
Tony Revolori: I travel so much for work and it's usually never in LA, so when I go home, that is my vacation. So I never want to leave LA because, well, I'm almost never there. But recently, I've been kind of staying in LA a little bit more and wanting to travel for fun, wanting to travel for me has been a big new development and priority in my life, which I've been feeding a little bit. Beyond that, just a kind of creative hobby, artistry, I'm very into film photography. There was a moment in my mind where I was like, I could make this a career, and I could be a photographer. Now I'm like, nope, you know what? I'm happy letting this just be my little hobby and I think it needs to stay that way for it to be my escape.
Beyond that, just hanging out with friends and reconnecting, again, I'm gone most of the time. Being in LA and staying there as a now older individual not in a pandemic, makes me want to rediscover myself in a way of, okay, what do I like? What don’t I like? What did I like then? What do I not like now? Things like that, just always being introspective. Beyond that, outside of the writing and everything and business, yeah, mostly just that.
Cariann Bradley: Yeah, I feel that. I feel like over the past year, I've really isolated. I just went straight back into social life and stuff after the pandemic, after lockdown. I just felt like a dried up sponge or something and I needed to self-protect again. This summer I just locked in and didn't go out, only hung out with my two closest friends and just wrote every single day. But now I'm feeling like I'm also very motivated by introspection and trying to better myself, so I'm going back to therapy this week. I haven't been in several months.
Tony Revolori: That’s amazing.
Cariann Bradley: Which is kind of embarrassing to admit.
Tony Revolori: Not at all. Sometimes a break is needed.
Cariann Bradley: I think I'm going to do a reiki session with this woman today that I've worked with before. I'm just trying to get myself right again so that I can be there for other people because I feel like the past several months I've just been so self-protecting. It's been really interesting.
Tony Revolori: And that's fair. Everyone needs to protect themselves. I think people have gotten to a point of, what's the right way to phrase this, of understanding their mental health in a new, kind of, safer way. It's really interesting and being able to admit that to yourself is empowering.
Cariann Bradley: Yeah, it is. It's really scary too.
Tony Revolori: Absolutely.
Cariann Bradley: But it's been nice being home and not really traveling and stuff like that. I totally get the stay-cation energy because I never leave my house. I love it here.
Tony Revolori: I'm sure. I'm sure it's phenomenal.
Cariann Bradley: Yeah. And I also get, as a creative person, trying really loving something and wanting it to be a thing, but wanting to keep it fun. Kind of like your film photography. It's like...
Tony Revolori: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Cariann Bradley: I could do this. I could make this profitable, make this... But it's like, okay, in order to keep it special, I have to not do that. I feel like as millennials we're so pushed to productivity.
Tony Revolori: Completely. We were labeled the Lazy Generation when in all honesty we're probably the most hardworking generation, but there's just no job opportunities for us. There's a wonderful book and I can't remember the author's name, but it was called Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation, and it really kind of goes into detail about how, we got ourselves and, the generations before us put us in a situation that led us to have so much anxiety, so much pressure on ourselves. It was really eye opening to just get that visual or reading that and being able to take a macro view of what is happening there and why our generation and therefore myself feel the way I feel in some small way.
Cariann Bradley: I just wrote that title down. I really want to read it. I love reading.
Tony Revolori: Yeah, it's great.
Cariann Bradley: We've been pushed to our limit as millennials. I just feel like all of us are out here just buzzing with stress all the time.
Tony Revolori: Always. I think it happens to the older millennials and the younger millennials. I think it's all kind of the same, but it's weird that it kind of limited itself to that generation while the next generation have done wonderful at being able to just let it roll off of their shoulders and just let it go. It's incredible resilience.
Cariann Bradley: Yeah. Yeah. I'm so proud of our generation. And I don't know much about Gen Z, but I find them very interesting.
Tony Revolori: You and me both.
Cariann Bradley: I sound old, I'm like, “I don't know much about those kids, but they seem cool.”
Do you read often?
Tony Revolori: I do. I do. I'm dyslexic, so it's never a quick read, but it is a thing. The first book I ever read was The Odyssey, fully. I mean, besides children's books, of course.
Cariann Bradley: Damn, you really went in.
Tony Revolori: Right? I was always obsessed with Greek mythology.
Cariann Bradley: Were you a Percy Jackson fan?
Tony Revolori: Huge. Love it. I want to play a character in it so badly. I'll be patient, and hopefully I get the right one that I want, but I'm a big, big fan, and I'm excited for this new TV series.
Cariann Bradley: Are they bringing Logan Lerman back or no?
Tony Revolori: No, no. They got the kid from the Adam Project, the Ryan Reynolds one. Which I'm like, oh, he's wonderful. He's a wonderfully talented young man.
Cariann Bradley: I do love Logan though as Percy.
Tony Revolori: He was good. I think he was a little too old for it, but fair enough. I think they needed to do the Harry Potter model and get someone... Anyway, but yeah, no, to answer your question, I'm a big reader. My favorite thing to do is actually go to bookstores and just the smell of new books and everything. I bought a book on the photoshoot with Dimitri at Skylight.
Cariann Bradley: What'd you get?
Tony Revolori: It was called The Boy, the Horse, the Dog, the Fox? Something in that order. Oh, God. I can email you exactly the title, but it was something like that. I actually got this hat at Skylight. Yeah, no, I just adore book stores and reading. Actually, one of the features that I wrote with my writing partner, I found in this wonderful little bookstore that I cannot ever remember the name of. And, as you can see, you might not be the only one with brain fog today.
Cariann Bradley: No worries.
Tony Revolori: But it was on, maybe, Lafayette and Spring in New York. They categorize their books in this interesting way, which is Asia and Latin America and whether it's someone from Latin America who wrote the books or it's set in Latin America, that's kind of where they had it. I remember I bought maybe sixteen books that I was interested in, and I had read five of them before I found the book that made me want to make that into a movie. And we'll see, maybe I will one day. And yeah, no, I read often and voraciously, just very slowly. Currently, actually on my way here, I bought two books. I bought the new Paulo Coelho, The Archer.
Cariann Bradley: Okay.
Tony Revolori: I read about half of it on the plane, and then I was like, I got to save it because it's very interesting and I want to pace myself. And then Klara and the Sun by...
Cariann Bradley: Ishiguro.
Tony Revolori: Yes, yes, yes, yes.
Cariann Bradley: Yeah. I love reading. I haven't as much over the last several months because I've been writing so much but... I love reading. I love autofiction and literary fiction. And yeah, one of my favorite books I read last year was called, No One is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood. Have you heard of it?
Tony Revolori: I've heard of Patricia Lockwood. I haven't heard of this book.
Cariann Bradley: It was so phenomenal. I think her writing style is maybe not for everyone, but I love books like that. There's another book called Detransition Baby by Torrey Peters that came out last year that I really love. Literary fiction stories like that with more serious through lines.
Tony Revolori: Yeah. I love a good thriller. I'm not like, I don't know, Peterson, or anything like that, but I love just a story that is gripping and engaging in a thoughtful, meaningful way that dives kind of deep into the psyche of a human being, to me, is just is a wonderful character kind of piece to even just not even to think about making a movie or anything like that, just to indulge in another person's personality like that. And, in fact, I think that's kind of what actors do. I wouldn't say that's my… what do they call it? My method! It's not my method or anything like that, but it's always fun just to gain new experiences and understand new things and kind of get a new perspective on things. It only helps.
Cariann Bradley: Yeah. It's like I also got burned out on reading after college. And when I came back to it I was like, God, I wish I had never stopped this because it's so necessary to exercise that muscle of empathy by putting yourself in someone else's shoes. It's so necessary.
Tony Revolori: Absolutely.
Cariann Bradley: But a thriller that I loved. Have you read, I'm Thinking Of Ending Things by Iain Reid.
Tony Revolori: No, but I have it. I have it on my shelf.
Cariann Bradley: I mean you will finish it quickly. It is so good.
Tony Revolori: Okay. I'll bump it up.
Cariann Bradley: I didn't love the movie adaptation, but the book itself is so gripping. I was on the edge of my seat. I finished it in a day because it's really short and it's so trippy and fun. I definitely recommend that.
Tony Revolori: Okay. I will check it out.
Cariann Bradley: But I also love bookstores. We just got a new one here. I'm in Nashville, Tennessee.
Tony Revolori: Amazing.
Cariann Bradley: We just got a new one that's queer owned, it's called Novelette. And I've probably been seven times and, I mean, I have hundreds of books in this house. I feel like I'm never going to be able to move out because I don't know how I'm going to get them all out of here. Got to airlift me and my books out of this house when I move.
Tony Revolori: Yeah, I mean, good luck if you ever do move.
Cariann Bradley: I've been thinking about moving to LA, actually. I'm not sure if I'm going to, but I've been thinking about it. What part of town do you live in?
Tony Revolori: I'm up in the valley, kind of near Universal in that whole area, which is nice and quiet and a little bit peaceful. But it's a driving city. You go out and you drive everywhere and you make places your own. You have your bookstore, which could be not in your neighborhood or maybe it's right around the corner, who knows?
Amanda: I'm sorry to interrupt. For credit purposes, because we want to support our local bookstores. Tony, the New York one, was it McNally Jackson Books or Housing Works?
Tony Revolori: I think it was McNally.
Amanda: It's on Lafayette and Prince.
Tony Revolori: Yeah, I think that's the one.
Cariann Bradley: I love McNally Jackson. It's my favorite bookstore in New York. I've been there before.
Tony Revolori: Oh, have you? Oh, wonderful. It's got three stories, right? You enter in the middle, and then there's a little downstairs.
Cariann Bradley: There's a downstairs. Yeah.
Tony Revolori: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think that's the one.
Cariann Bradley: Yeah, there was this show on Netflix that didn't get renewed, but it was called The Society and I loved it. It was just such a big ensemble cast of people my age. I mean I think they were supposed to be high schoolers, but they're like my age. And this breakout actor in that show named Jack Mulhern was so great and I got to interview him. We went to McNally Jackson, and he bought eight philosophy books. I was like, this is so accurate for you. It was so great. But yeah, honestly, I don't want to take too much of your time.
Tony Revolori: No worries.
Cariann Bradley: I really appreciate you talking with me, being patient with my brain fog.
Tony Revolori: That's okay, I get it.
Cariann Bradley: I'm so excited to see Willow, honestly.
Tony Revolori: Yeah, thank you. Thankfully the original is up on Disney Plus right now, so hopefully a lot of people can and will watch the original right before the show comes out. You don't need to do it, but it is helpful for the story. It just makes you have a little bit more appreciation for all the little things we add in there.
Cariann Bradley: Okay. If you say I should, then I will.
Tony Revolori: Well, there you go. And you can tell me what you think and how terrible I did.
Cariann Bradley: No, that won't be coming out of my mouth. Promise you that. I'm very excited. And yeah, so great to talk to you. I appreciate you, Amanda, for making this work and...
Tony Revolori: Of course. Yeah, it's my pleasure.
Amanda: I appreciate you for making it happen.
Cariann Bradley: Yeah, it's been a pleasure. Crazy couple weeks, but I really appreciate it, and I really hope that y'all's junket goes well.
Tony Revolori: Fingers crossed, fingers crossed.
Cariann Bradley: And if you read I'm Thinking of Ending Things, you'll have to let me know what you think.
Tony Revolori: Absolutely. I have it written down.
Cariann Bradley: Thank you so much for talking with me and just being chill. I'm so excited for you to be part of l'Odet. Think that everyone will love you.
Tony Revolori: Thank you. Fingers crossed.
Cariann Bradley: Always. And watch Holes tonight, and report back.
Tony Revolori: Will do, will do.
Cariann Bradley: It was so nice to meet you, Tony.
Tony Revolori: Likewise.
Interview By Cariann Bradley | edited by Kass Ringo | design by Madeline Westfall | Photos By DIMitrI TZOYTZOYROKOS