Gaten Matarazzo Showcases Comedy Talent Post-‘Stranger Things’

Gaten Matarazzo has left Hawkins and the Upside Down for a far stranger assignment. The actor stars in Pizza Movie, a surreal stoner comedy that debuts on Hulu on April 3. Gaten Matarazzo Showcases Comedy Talent Post-‘Stranger Things’ as he takes the lead role in this wild new film.

Film premise and tone

Pizza Movie follows college freshman Jack and his best friend Montgomery. One experimental drug triggers intense hallucinations. The pair must retrieve a pizza to escape a cascade of death traps and surreal threats.

The movie blends graphic visual shocks with absurd humor. Talking butterflies, exploding heads, and frightening resident advisors appear during the trip. Daniel Radcliffe provides the voice for the butterflies.

Cast and creative team

• Gaten Matarazzo plays Jack, the college freshman at the center of the story.
• Sean Giambrone portrays Montgomery, Jack’s loyal friend and co-conspirator.
• Lulu Wilson appears as Lizzy, who joins their chaotic quest.
• Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher wrote and directed the film.

Stunts and the final sequence

The production staged an elaborate final fight where the three leads merge into one figure. They trained extensively on wire work and coordinated poses. Actors reported long hours upside down to complete the sequence.

Shoot nights ran late, with key shots taken near three in the morning. The cast said chemistry and timing made the scene believable. One actor described forming an inverted tripod during the stunt.

Facing fears, on and off screen

During the drug-induced climax, each character confronts a personal nightmare. Jack becomes an elderly version of himself. Montgomery sees a rodent mascot and reacts in terror.

The performers shared their own irrational fears. Lulu Wilson named teenage girls and environments like Brandy Melville as frightening. Matarazzo said groups of teenage boys sometimes overwhelm him when they recognize him from Stranger Things. Sean Giambrone admitted babies can unsettle him, though he insisted he otherwise likes them.

Matarazzo’s move from supporting comic relief to lead

Matarazzo spent a decade playing Dustin Henderson on the Netflix sci-fi series. He described the switch to a full comedy lead as a strange but welcome challenge. He told Filmogaz.com the pressure feels different when the entire project aims to make people laugh.

The filmmakers encouraged the actors to take risks and improvise. Directors allowed failed takes to fall away, letting the funniest moments survive. That approach helped the cast push boundaries and experiment freely.

Pizza Movie promises a chaotic, high-energy turn for its young leads. The film premieres on Hulu on April 3. Filmogaz.com will continue coverage as reviews and audience reactions emerge.