Better Nate Than Ever is an inspiring love letter to Broadway and being yourself. During the press day, the cast and creator shared some Better Nate Than Ever fun facts.
Better Nate Than Ever is coming to Disney+ on April 1st and it is an inspiring love letter to Broadway and theater kids. This film is jam packed with star power, and is based off of the book by the same name. Author Tim Federle is also the director and screenwriter for this movie, and you might already know him from High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. During the Better Nate Than Ever press conference, the cast and creator dive into all of the fantastic things about this movie, as well as all the fun they had behind the scenes.
Participating Talent:
- Lisa Kudrow (“Aunt Heidi”)
- Joshua Bassett (“Anthony”)
- Rueby Wood (“Nate Foster”)
- Aria Brooks (“Libby”)
- Tim Federle (Director / Screenwriter)
Better Nate Than Ever Fun Facts
One thing is very clear when looking at these cast members interacting, an that is they had an absolute blast while filming this movie. There are some friendships that were formed for life. During the press conference, the Better Nate Than Ever cast shared a lot of fun behind the scenes moments and adventures they had, as well as the importance of this film and bringing it to life.
From Book To Film
Better Nate Than Ever started out as a book, but it is now a Disney+ film. When Tim Federle was asked how it feels to be taking his words from the pages to the screen, he says it is a dram come true. A lot of Nate is based off of him — he is a theater kid from Pittsburgh who dreamed of getting out of his hometown and dancing on Broadway. When he wrote the book he never dreamed of turning it into a movie — and the cast of the film brought it it to life in a way he could only have imagined.
“Better Nate Than Ever started as a book almost a decade ago. It was a big dream, but it was small scale in the sense that just getting published was a big deal to me. I was a former dancer. I never studied writing, and that alone was so big that to get the call from Disney saying, ‘We want to make this a big movie,’ was absolutely thrilling and scary and exciting. And then, when the cast comes together and you’ve got Lisa Kudrow, Rueby Wood, Aria Brooks, and Josh Bassett, you really sit back and let them do their thing.” – Tim Federle
Joshua Bassett On Why He Wanted To Be A Part Of This Film
Joshua Bassett is no stranger to Tim Federle, as the two work together on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Federle says that Bassett was the first person to be cast in this film, to which Bassett says that once he read the script he knew he had to be a part of it. While filming season 2 of HSMTMTS, Tim pulled him aside to let him know they were making the movie, and that he would love for him to consider the role of Anthony.
“Normally, it’s hard for me to read scripts. It takes me weeks. I literally sat down in a coffee shop, and in one go, didn’t get up, just read the whole thing, and I picked up the phone immediately. I was like, ‘Tim, how the hell can I be a part of this film? Like, I need to be a part of this.’ From then on it was an honor to work with him on figuring out who Anthony is and being the vehicle for this beautiful story. Every step of the way was a joy. It’s so wonderful to be waking up every day and going into work, knowing that you’re putting your time and your energy into something that’s gonna help a lot of people and change a lot of lives. It was really an honor and I couldn’t be prouder.” – Joshua Bassett
Adventures While Filming
Not getting into spoilers, but there are certainly some adventures in Better Nate Than Ever. So of course we had to find out from the cast if there were any adventures they went on while not filming. It turns out that Rueby and Aria were in the same hotel, so they were always handing out, walking around New York City, and going to do things together. They also had brunch with Joshua and Tim a few times, and they all got very close, to the point where they all feel like family. “We just had a blast during shooting and while we weren’t shooting.” Rueby adds.
Aria completely agrees, and says she had a lot of fun. One time her and Rueby were on the same hotel floor and would just go and see each other all the time. “We were very close. Always hanging out, even if we were doing absolutely nothing. Lisa Kudrow said earlier, we were all in the same room. So, we talked a lot, and we had a lot of fun.” She adds that they were musical when not filming as well. “Whenever there’s a piano anywhere in the jurisdiction that we’re filming, [Joshua] finds it. We’re always singing, and he’s playing, and it’s just so much fun.”
Lisa Kudrow jumps in to say how thrilling it was being around so many people with musical talent. She says that absolutely everyone but her could sing and play a thousand instruments. “Josh would sit down and play. He and Aria were working out, a TikTok something, and I just went, ‘This is not happening.’ I picked up my phone and started recording you.” Tim has a lot to say about Joshua too, saying that he is a music man wherever he goes. Joshua wrote a bunch of songs in New York last summer while filming, some of which have been released already, and some that will be releasing soon. Tim adds, “Josh is such an incredible writer and songwriter himself that getting to see him in New York City, come into his own and find some people there and getting a new vibe, that was really cool to watch for him.”
“This was my first time living in New York. I was literally wrapping on 42nd Street and being like, ‘You know what? I think I’m just going to walk home.’ And they’re like, ‘Are you sure? It’s 30 blocks.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, yeah, I’m gonna walk.’ Just being in the city, being with this cast and everything, every day was really an adventure. It was pretty cool shooting in New York.” – Joshua Bassett
Advice From Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Kudrow stated multiple times during the interview how much she loved with the entire cast, and the people involved with Better Nate Than Ever. She says that sitting in the room with nice people was easy, and that the script was so perfectly written from the start. She adds that it was the story that made her want to be a part of it.
In the movie, Aunt Heidi is a bit of a mentor to Nate (Rueby Wood) and Libby (Aria Brooks). When asked if she offered any advice, as a veteran in the industry, to the two young stars, she admits she said a few things, but can’t remember what it was exactly. She adds that they didn’t really need any advice, because they’re heads are on so securely, and they are so grounded.
Tim Federle does remember what they talked about though, and laughs at how it was so very Rueby and Aria. Rueby was like, “I’ve never been on a TV or a movie set. If things get noisy on set, how do I stay in character?” And then Lisa answered beautifully, and then Aria said, “Miss Kudrow, how do you have longevity in showbusiness?” And that is so these two kids and these two
characters.
“It was so them, right? Rueby’s like, ‘If there are noises, what do I do?’ And Aria was like, ‘Which agency do I sign with?'” – Tim Federle
Joshua Bassett On NOT Singing In This Movie
Joshua Bassett is so used to singing while doing a project, and in Better Nate Than Ever his character Anthony doesn’t perform. He says it was interesting, and felt out of place at first. “I was like, Wait. Tim’s here, and this is Disney, but I’m not singing. Something’s not right. But no, it was honestly nice.” Bassett adds that he enjoyed doing that for a beat, and playing the straight character in the film. It was interesting for him to figure out what is different between Ricky (his HSMTMTS character) and Anthony.
“Anthony has a little bit more of a bite. Anthony is a little bit less in tune with his emotions. Although, I guess Ricky isn’t either. It’s a different thing. Ricky doesn’t necessarily try to be cool, and Anthony definitely needs to be cool. Also, having a younger sibling that he’s protective of, but also embarrassed of, is an interesting nuance to play.” – Joshua Bassett
In the end, Bassett says he is very happy with how it all turned out. Be sure to watch him, Rueby Wood, Aria Brooks, and Lisa Kudrow in Better Nate Than Ever when it hits Disney+ on April 1st.
About Better Nate Than Ever
In “Better Nate Than Ever,” 13-year-old Nate Foster has big Broadway dreams. There’s only one problem — he can’t even land a part in the school play. But when his parents leave town, Nate and his best friend Libby sneak off to the Big Apple for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove everyone wrong. A chance encounter with Nate’s long-lost Aunt Heidi turns his journey upside-down, and together they must learn that life’s greatest adventures are only as big as your dreams. Based on the award-winning novel.
BETTER NATE THAN EVER is premiering exclusively on Disney+ on April 1st.
