Gaten Matarazzo Discusses Life Beyond Stranger Things and His New Pizza Movie
After being part of one of the most renowned shows globally for almost a decade, Stranger Things actor Gaten Matarazzo is eager to embrace a new challenge — launching into his latest stoner comedy, Pizza Movie.
“I’m keen to dive into something distinctly different [after Stranger Things], but there’s a bit of a tug-of-war,” Matarazzo, 23, shared exclusively with Us Weekly while promoting his new film. “When you embody a role for such a long time, it’s easy for creators of new projects to think, ‘I see your past work; I can envision you fitting into my idea.’”
He further elaborated, “So I can’t fault anyone who walks into audition rooms and thinks, ‘Oh, this character resembles [Dustin] from Stranger Things. That’s a reasonable expectation. It’s just not the direction I personally want to pursue.”
Matarazzo, known for his role as the ’80s teen genius Dustin Henderson in the Netflix phenomenon over five seasons spanning a decade, is acutely aware of the “rare” opportunity to resist being typecast.
“This industry is incredibly competitive,” he explained. “I’m in an exceptionally fortunate situation where, after being involved in a monumental project like Stranger Things, I can choose the paths I want to take. I’m lucky to make decisions that align with my interests.”
That conflict is precisely what led him to Pizza Movie. This quirky buddy comedy, penned and helmed by SNL veterans Noah Kocher and Brian McElhaney, revolves around two college roommates who unwittingly consume a hallucinogenic substance — while hungry — and then embark on a wild quest to find their pizza.
Still, the film doesn’t entirely stray from his Stranger Things roots. Matarazzo may have graduated from high school — his character, Jack, is a college freshman dealing with a nightmarish RA (played by the comedic Jack Martin) — but he continues to navigate familiar territory as an outsider. Much like Dustin, Jack endures constant pursuit, ridicule, and bullying.
“I’ve always enjoyed portraying characters who feel like outsiders,” Matarazzo shared. “In comedies, the desperation of not wanting to be left out often drives the humor. Jack’s entire existence hinges on how he is perceived in public, which can be quite a comedic scenario to explore.”
This theme connects with him on a personal level, acknowledging that in acting, scrutiny from the public often plays a significant role in one’s career.
“My career heavily depends on public perception,” he revealed to Us. “It can lead to a toxic mindset, worrying about whether people will appreciate my work. However, it’s fascinating to create a character rooted in that toxicity and bring humor to it.”
Matarazzo is also familiar with the dynamics of a buddy comedy. After forming a beloved duo with Joe Keery on Stranger Things, he shares a similar rapport with Sean Giambrone — this time as two friends who may be a tad too attached.
“Connecting with someone like Sean is effortless, just as it was with Joe. They both possess an incredible charm, kindness, and talent, making it easy to grow close to them as individuals,” he noted. “It simplifies my role, especially when the aim is to portray genuine friendship.”
For Matarazzo, what sets Pizza Movie apart is its nuanced take on male friendships. Instead of progressing towards emotional openness, these characters start from that place and begin to unravel.
“They’ve already established the ‘Hey buddy, I love you’ dynamic. Hugs have happened. They’re not overly concerned with expressing those feelings. We kick off from that point, allowing their conflict to be more intricate,” Matarazzo explained, emphasizing that much of the friction arises from their somewhat “codependent” relationship.
Gaten Matarazzo from Stranger Things has an unexpectedly grim request for the show’s fifth and concluding season. “It might sound dark, but we should consider killing off more characters,” Matarazzo, 21, suggested during a recent panel at MegaCon Orlando, as reported by CBR. “The series would elevate if the stakes were raised significantly…”
“Initiating from that place is both novel and enjoyable to execute,” he stated while further commending Giambrone. “[Everyone involved in this movie] unanimously describes Sean as the immediate MVP of the team. He’s an absolute pleasure to work with.”
Even as he ventures into new artistic territories, Matarazzo understands he won’t completely evade the character that brought him fame — and he’s fine with that.
“Maybe after doing [a college film], casting agents will consider me less for teenage roles, but I doubt that’s the case,” he chuckled. “I feel I’ll be portraying high school characters for a long time. The stereotype persists: it’s typically thirty-something actors playing teenagers in films. As frustrating as that might be, I’ll gladly take on those roles if they come my way. It has certainly been enjoyable.”
Pizza Movie is currently available for streaming on Hulu.
