Famous actor Emile Hirsch admitted to channeling Spongebob in his effort to find inspiration to play a cold-blooded killer in “Walden.”
In the new thriller, Hirsch was tasked with playing the role of a court stenographer named Walden Dean who sought revenge against criminals who evaded the justice system. The actor explained that he “had no idea how to play” his character and sought inspiration to fulfill his role, according to The New York Post (NYP).
“I had just finished watching six seasons of ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ with my friends. And there was just something so funny about SpongeBob and Squidward and Mr. Krabs,” he told the outlet.
Hirsch explained he turned to the 2005 drama “Capote,” and his prior experience in “Milk” and extracted some character influence. Ultimately, Spongebob’s character helped him seal the deal by embracing his creative spirit. (RELATED: ‘Absolutely Psychotic’: Dakota Johnson Reflects On Working With Blue Screen For CGI Effects)
“In certain moments SpongeBob’s unrelenting positivity, which is kind of like Flanders and kind of like ‘Milk’ and not so much the ‘Capote’ element,” he told The NYP.
“But those were kind of loose inspirations and not even necessarily inspirations in a sense of like, ‘Oh, I want to sound like that.’ It was more like, ‘Look at these bold choices these actors have done and more drawings and actors have done at times and how they really work,'” he told the outlet.
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 31: Actor Emile Hirsch attends The Cinema Society And Gents Host A Screening Of Magnolia Pictures’ “Prince Avalanche” at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on July 31, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)
The famous actor explained how he shifted his perspective on transforming into “Walden.”
“And so I sort of was playing around with the radio dials. Listening close, turning to different frequencies. And it was kind of like, all of a sudden, I hit just the right frequency. And Walden was just there,” Hirsch told The NYP.
Just like that, his exposure to Spongebob Squarepants bridged the gap and helped Hirsch connect with his character.
“It felt like a eureka moment because suddenly, suddenly the character made sense to me. The sense of humor that he had, his pathos, his kind of turning into this vigilante who does these pretty, you know, heinous things in a way, even though you’re kind of grimly satisfied that he’s taken out the trash,” he told The NYP.
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 02: Actor Emile Hirsch attends the A+E Premiere Party for “Bonnie & Clyde” at Heath at the McKittrick Hotel on December 2, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for A+E)
Hirsch, who also starred in “Into the Wild,” appears alongside Shane West, Kelli Garner, Tania Raymonde, Steve Coulter, Seth Michaels, Sunny Mabrey and Luke Davis in “Walden.”
His character is part of a number of heinous acts and gruesome murders in “Walden,” which is now available on demand, according to The New York Post.