Director Gore Verbinski discusses the scrappy, DIY spirit of his new film Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die and its star-studded ensemble cast.
Director Gore Verbinski is returning to the big screen with his latest project, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, a film that has already begun capturing the hearts of audiences on the festival circuit.
This was a massive standout as a surprise screening at Fantastic Fest, by many who attended. The movie presents a unique vision of world-saving heroes that trade high-tech military academies for more grounded locales, like a Norm’s diner in Los Angeles. Verbinski’s new work focuses on a “perfect combination of people” who are tasked with saving the planet, blending a distinct sense of character-driven storytelling with his signature visual flair.
Mama’s Geeky sat down with Gore Verbinski, who opened up about the “made by hand” nature of the production, specifically regarding Sam Rockwell’s character’s striking outfit. Despite the film’s ambitious scope, the budget for this key costume was effectively zero. To solve this, Verbinski and his team visited Apex Electronics on San Fernando Boulevard to scavenge for parts.
“We went and picked valves and broken bits of circuitry and all of the items and started taking circuit boards and breaking them,” Verbinski explained.
The original prototype was a massive 200 pounds, which the costume designer eventually refined down to 40 pounds so the actor could actually breathe and move. Verbinski noted that this scrappy process served as a “good metaphor for the whole movie”.
The film boasts an impressive ensemble, including Zazie Beetz, Michael Peña, Juno Temple, Haley Lu Richardson, and Asim Chaudhry. Verbinski likened the casting process to cooking a complex dish, stating, “When you’re cooking… and you’re making a bouillabaisse, you want every ingredient to have its own flavor”.
This independent approach allowed the director to secure his dream cast before financing was even finalized, avoiding studio interference and ensuring every actor was the right “flavor” for their specific piece of the story.
Beyond the talent, Verbinski emphasized the rare chemistry shared by the actors during production. Unlike many large-scale sets where egos can clash, he described this group as getting along exceptionally well.
“I’ve never had a cast that gets along so well… they were just singing in the rain,” he remarked.
This harmony translated into a film that feels both personal and cohesive, proving that the most effective heroes – and films – often come from the most unexpected, “perfect combinations”.
Be sure to watch the full interview video for more details.