Brian stars Randall Park, Edi Patterson, and William H. Macy talk improv and awkward teen years in this interview for the new film, playing at SXSW 2026.
Brian is a movie about why it sucks to be Brian. While he is undeniably smart, funny, and capable, those traits are often buried under the weight of mental health struggles and the shadow of his effortlessly cool older brother. At school, things aren’t much easier; Brian is navigating an unrequited crush on his teacher, Brooke, and a drama club audition that ends in a signature public meltdown.
Mama’s Geeky sat down with the brilliant ensemble cast that brings this chaotic family and school dynamic to life. In these interviews, I spoke with Randall Park and Edi Patterson, who play Brian’s supportive parents, Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Joshua Colley, who portray the classmates navigating the high school social hierarchy alongside him, and the legendary William H. Macy, who plays Brian’s therapist. We dive into the instant fun of their on-set chemistry, the power of improvisation in creating authentic comedy, and why this story of teenage angst is more relatable now than ever.
Randall Park on Finding Personal Connection in the Script
Randall Park, who plays Brian’s father, noted how the writing resonated with his own experiences as a parent.
“I have a daughter who’s on the autism spectrum… there are socialization challenges that really resonated with me in the script. Feeling that empathy as a father and that unconditional love was very real to me.”
Edi Patterson on the Cast’s Instant Chemistry
Edi Patterson highlighted that the presence of her co-stars made joining the project an easy decision.
“Seeing Randall’s name on there as already cast, I was like, ‘Oh, this shit is gold.’ We kind of had instant fun, which was my hope – instant fun and instant ease.”
Joshua Colley on the Film’s Visual Language
Joshua Colley was impressed by how the director, Will Ropp, elevated the script through a specific stylistic lens.
“The direction and how everything came together – the way it’s just even so stylized and the way it’s shot, it’s such a beautiful movie. The cinematography is so gorgeous.”
Peyton Elizabeth Lee on Breaking Stereotypes
Peyton Elizabeth Lee appreciated that the film allowed her to play a character with more depth than the typical “popular girl” trope.
“It was kind of cool to see characters that really broke out of those molds in a lot of different ways and in different kinds of unexpected directions.”
William H. Macy on the Hardship of Being Sixteen
William H. Macy, who shares intimate and funny scenes with Brian (Ben Wang) as his therapist, reflected on the universal struggle of adolescence.
“When you’re 16, especially 16-year-old boys, you’re not comfortable in your skin because you actually don’t fit in your skin. Either your skin is too big and you can’t fill it up or it’s too small and you’re going to burst at the seams.”
Be sure to waatch the full video interview for more behind-the-scenes stories from the Brian set and laughs.
About Brian
It sucks to be Brian. He’s smart, funny, and capable, but his mental health issues make it hard for anyone to see it – especially when compared to his effortlessly cool older brother. At school, Brian harbors an unrequited crush on Brooke: she’s smart, kind, pretty… and very much his teacher. A disastrous drama club audition leads to yet another one of Brian’s trademark public meltdowns.
Thus begins Brian’s search for his new “thing”. On paper he’s chosen the worst possible fit: running for class president. With help from his therapist and the new kid, Justin, Brian launches his high-stakes campaign and sparks a messy, exquisitely awkward journey toward self-acceptance.
Brian plays at SXSW 2026.