APPOFENIACS star Sean Gunn dives into AI, deepfakes, cosplay culture, and horror thrills ahead of the film’s North American premiere.
APPOFENIACS is set to make waves at its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest, and for good reason. The film dives headfirst into the terrifying potential of modern technology, telling the story of Duke, whose reckless spree of deepfake creations spirals into deadly consequences.
With just a few taps on a phone, Duke fabricates convincing, malicious videos that destroy reputations. The chilling premise underscores a timely reality: in an era where digital deception is only a click away, the line between truth and manipulation has never been thinner.
Sean Gunn is one of the stars of the film. He is a versatile actor known for everything from Gilmore Girls to Guardians of the Galaxy and Peacemaker. In our conversation, Gunn opened up about what drew him to the project, how APPOFENIACS tackles the dangers of deepfake technology, and his love for practical effects that keep horror grounded in reality.
We also chatted about his career balance between massive blockbusters and intimate indie films, the surprising ways cosplay culture weaves into the story, and even his memorable Peacemaker cameo.
Why Sean Gunn Joined APPOFENIACS
Mama’s Geeky: This movie is so much fun. I love every second of it. What was it that drew you to this?
Sean Gunn: You know, I really appreciated Chris’s script. I knew that I’ve known Chris for a little while. Knew that he was making this movie. And asked him if I could take a read. It’s really interesting to me. It’s obviously very topical. The whole idea of what could happen with deepfake technology and other sorts of AI-generated technology. It does what a great horror movie is supposed to do, right? It borrows from real life. And it’s terrifying. And I really felt that when I read it.
Mama’s Geeky: Yeah, absolutely. Because so many horror movies, they have a Michael Myers or a Fred Krueger. This guy’s just a dick.
Sean Gunn: Exactly. And that makes it so fun. The villain isn’t some unstoppable monster—he’s just an asshole. And that’s terrifying in its own way because it feels real.
What the Film Says About AI and Deepfakes
Mama’s Geeky: What do you hope people realize about AI and deepfakes by watching this?
Sean Gunn: I think there’s good and bad to it, but the scariest thing is we can’t always trust our own eyes anymore. That’s a terrifying way to move through the world and even watch the news. We need safeguards, and people need ownership of their own likeness. Stealing someone’s face to make them say things they never said should be illegal. It seems obvious, but it really needs to be policed.
The Power of Practical Effects in Horror
Mama’s Geeky: I love that this film uses so many practical effects. Without spoilers, you are a big part of that.
Sean Gunn: Totally. It was wild—and so cool. I had a front-row seat for some of the craziest practical effects, and that always makes things more fun for the audience. With indie horror, you don’t get many takes when blood and effects are involved, so the fact that it looks this great on a smaller budget is impressive.
Mama’s Geeky: Your character has a fun cosplay connection too.
Sean Gunn: Chris knew I’ve done well over a hundred conventions in my career, so I know that world and those fans. I’ve met so many people who put incredible detail into costumes, and that was fun to bring into the role—even if the movie takes it to dangerous extremes for the sake of the story.
Balancing Indie Horror and Blockbusters
Mama’s Geeky: APPOFENIACS is so much fun to watch. How fun was it to be a part of?
Sean Gunn: It was a blast. I love bouncing between huge-budget films and smaller indie projects—it’s all about telling a great story. APPOFENIACS is exactly the kind of story worth telling, and it’s the perfect Fantastic Fest movie. I can’t wait for audiences to see it and talk about it.
Sean Gunn on Peacemaker and Maxwell Lord
Mama’s Geeky: Well, thank you so much for your time, Sean. I do want to real quick tell you that Peacemaker—you had me dying in that scene.
Sean Gunn: That scene was so fun to shoot. I love Nathan and Isabella, and being able to do more work with them was great. Seeing John is always incredible too—he’s such a good guy. It was honestly one of the most fun days I’ve had on set in some time. We’ll be seeing more of Maxwell Lord.
With APPOFENIACS making its North American premiere at Fantastic Fest, Sean Gunn once again proves his versatility – balancing indie horror thrills with blockbuster projects across the Marvel and DC universes.
Whether he’s exploring the terrifying potential of deepfakes, bringing practical effects to life, or stealing scenes in Peacemaker as Maxwell Lord, Gunn continues to deliver memorable performances that resonate with fans. Horror lovers, comic book enthusiasts, and festival audiences alike will want to keep an eye on APPOFENIACS – a film that feels both timely and terrifying.
Be sure to watch the full interview with Sean Gunn here.
NEXT: Steve Agee On Peacemaker Season 2, Multiverse, & Insane Final Episodes
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.