This September, Jett Klyne could be seen playing Freddie across all episodes of Phantom Pups, which can currently be streamed internationally on Netflix, and the series features Freddie’s family moving into a haunted mansion, where he meets the phantom pups. Having played Tommy Maximoff in the 2021 Marvel mini-series WandaVision, Jett reprised his role for the 2022 release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which saw him reunite with the cast for the red carpet premiere. Previous projects for Jett include working on films such as Z, Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas and The Boy, and he has recently been filming for The Boy in the Woods. Jett answered our questions about playing Freddie in the new Netflix series Phantom Pups, filming as Tommy Maximoff in Marvel’s WandaVision and reprising his role of Tommy for the feature film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Can you tell us about the new Netflix series Phantom Pups and about your character Freddie?
Sure! Phantom Pups is a great story about a boy named Freddie who moves to a new town and into a haunted mansion, that his parents plan on renovating. Turns out there’s a lot of secrets and in turn adventures to be had.
What was Freddie like to play and how was it being part of the cast?
Playing Freddie was a lot of fun, he had some really great moments and was a joy to play. The cast is amazing, all of them, I made some lifelong friends there. The crew too. They were equally amazing. This is one of my favourite things about working in film, it’s not the glamour, it’s the people. We feel very lucky to have the opportunity to make such wonderful connections on different projects.
How does it feel now Phantom Pups is released internationally on Netflix and what was it like watching the completed series for the first time?
It’s honestly pretty cool to have it be released to so many viewers, I’m pretty proud of it because we worked so hard on creating it, it’s nice to have it out there on such a massive platform. Watching it is… hard. I’m not a big fan of watching my work, but I loved seeing everyone else. We laughed a lot and it brought back a lot of great memories.
Do you have any stand-out highlights from your time filming for Phantom Pups and who do you think the series will appeal to?
I love being on wires and shooting green screen stuff, which I did a lot of on Pups, so that definitely stood out. I’d say this show will definitely appeal to younger kids and families, ages four to 11 maybe? My little bro has watched it four times or more and I don’t know if it’s because he loves me or the show more – I think it’s the show lol. He’s eight.
You play Tommy Maximoff in the TV mini-series WandaVision, do you remember how you felt finding out you’d booked the role of Tommy and how was it joining the Marvel franchise?
Ohhh yes! My mum cried and I couldn’t speak. We had been working at this my whole life, and my mum was in film before she had me and given up a lot to support my dream. I told my manager when I was seven, after she asked me if she could help me get any role I could dream of what would it be, I told her I wanted to be a superhero.
So she let my agent tell me that I had booked Tommy and had powers. It was an incredible moment of all of my dreams colliding and I couldn’t speak, I just squealed after a moment… When I was younger, I dressed up all the time as every superhero, all year long, my entire room was Marvel, so it truly was a dream come true in every sense.
Earlier this year, you reprised your role in the feature film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, what was this like to work on and how was it attending the film’s red carpet premiere?
Multiverse of Madness was a dream to work on. I absolutely love Lizzie (Olsen) so seeing her again after doing WandaVision was great. She’s one of the best humans I’ve ever known, so beautiful on the outside but even prettier on the inside, if you can believe it – I’m really grateful to work with her as my Marvel mom. Also Xochitl (Gomez), she is the sweetest, and meeting her was a total highlight, even though we didn’t get to work together too much. And working with Sam (Raimi) was so cool, he is an amazing director who allows a lot of creative liberty, which was a cool dynamic to have. Also, he’s Sam Raimi, so…
The premiere was wild. Marvel know how to do premieres, so being there was amazing. The energy of the fans, seeing everyone again, and getting to see the film was incredible. I was just so grateful to be there, I love being in the MCU, it’s not something I’ve ever taken for granted and try and squeeze the moments and sit in them, and this was a moment I’ll treasure for a lifetime.
How did you find the experience on set of both WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and was there anything you enjoyed most about playing Tommy?
The experience on both was fantastic. Both shows were very different, but it was great to go straight from WandaVision into Multiverse of Madness because the story was so fresh.
Definitely my super speed AND my twin Julian Hilliard, I love working with him and he’s a really great person, actor and friend.
What are some of your favourite memories from filming as Joshua in the 2019 feature film Z?
Ohhh, Z! That film had some great moments. I’d say most memorable would be the scene where I get pulled through the door, that was fun. And again, the people. The director Brandon Christiansen is the greatest guy, the chillest director and was just all-around awesome to work with. I loved my castmates and the crew on that show. We shot it in Calgary, Alberta, so was cool to be out there and explore a part of Canada I hadn’t worked in. Z was a great experience.
Can you tell us about some of your other projects, which has seen you work on Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, The X Files and The Boy?
Yeah, for sure! All of those were earlier in my career but great roles and franchises to be a part of. Each one I have great memories from. The Boy was interesting because I didn’t have much dialogue but was really central to the story, so that was cool in terms of the specificity of my wardrobe and who my character is. Also, Brent Bell is an awesome guy and I loved getting to know him a bit.
We understand you have recently been filming The Boy in the Woods, what did you enjoy most about being on set of the production?
Yes! We actually just wrapped up filming on that one. It has been hands down the toughest work of my career so far. I’ve had to pull from places I didn’t know I had in me. But the story is so close to our hearts and my mum’s grandma survived WWII. I realllly wanted this role, so it’s been a true honour and privilege playing Max. I met him and he gifted me a painting, it was an incredible experience.
The director, Rebecca Snow, is a beautiful person and working so closely with her brought us so close. There isn’t anyone else who could do this story justice the way she has. The entire cast and crew from producers to PAs were amazing to us and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
Where does your love of acting come from and is it something you always wanted to do?
My mum. She is an amazing actor and my coach. She started talking acting to me before I could walk, but it wasn’t her who started me in the business – it was my dad. He thought I was a cute baby so called my mum’s friend who was an agent at the time. Long story short, I ended up booking my first job as a Gerber baby, so I guess my dad was right, I was a cute baby lol. But my parents really supported me and I love to be on set and I love the craft of acting.
Do you have any favourite TV shows and films to watch?
I love anything Marvel, always have. My dad has been taking me to all the films since I can remember.
I also enjoy all of the classics from fantastic actors. My mum and I watch timeless films together, with the greats, she calls it research. Sometimes she gives me titles to watch and they end up slaying me, like Leonardo DiCaprio in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. But I love to watch amazing talent on screen.
How do you like to spend your time away from your career?
Mostly hanging out with my friends. I play baseball and box, so those take up a lot of my time. I also enjoy going to the gym and I try and go with my best friend almost every weekday when I’m home. Oh, and my cat, Leroy, he’s my bestie so I like to chill with him.
What are you hoping the upcoming year brings for you?
Ohhh… I’m really looking forward to The Boy in the Woods coming out and we have a couple of cool things on the calendar. I’m hoping to get in the mix on some more good stories and really just enjoy each moment as it comes, because after all, that’s all we have.
I’m so grateful for all the past 13 years have given me, I’m sure this next year will be just as wildly unpredictable but fun. We’ll just keep saying yes and being kind and watch the next doors keep opening.
Thank you so much for having me!
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Categories: Film & TV, home, Interview, Young Performers