Last week, I had the opportunity to interview Madison Wolfe, the star of the new movie I KILL GIANTS, in select theaters and On Demand now. I was not compensated in any way for this post. Amazon affiliate links are included.
About I KILL GIANTS
From the acclaimed graphic novel by the same name comes an epic adventure about a world beyond imagination. Teen Barbara Thorson (Madison Wolfe, The Conjuring 2) is the only thing that stands between terrible giants and the destruction of her small town. But as she boldly confronts her fears in increasingly dangerous ways, her new school counselor (Zoe Saldana, Guardians of the Galaxy) leads her to question everything she’s always believed to be true. I Kill Giants is an intense, touching story about trust, courage and love from the producers that brought you Harry Potter.
Based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Joe Kelly and Ken Niimura
From the producer of Harry Potter, Chris Columbus
Academy award-winning director, Anders Walter
I Kill Giants is in select theaters and On Demand, plus you can find it on iTunes. Available on Amazon, too!
Meeting Madison Wolfe
When Madison joined our conference call, it was difficult to remember that she was only 15 years old. Her responses were so well put together. I left the call wishing she could come hang out with my teens (I think they’d get along great!).
If you’re not familiar with the story, I Kill Giants addresses the issues of dealing with loss, the power of friendship, the value (and pitfalls) of using imagination to escape problems, and the effects of bullying. Barbara’s on-going battles with giants and titans mirror what is happening to her internally (I’ll stop there to keep this interview as spoiler-free as possible).
Question: What the biggest challenge would be in portraying Barbara and the most fun part about portraying her?
Madison Wolfe: “I think that the biggest challenge for me I knew was going to be that Barbara has so many layers. On the inside she’s really vulnerable, but on the outside she’s super, super tough. That was definitely the biggest challenge. And funnily enough, it was also the best part of it. I love a good challenge, so it was really fun.”
Question: “What do you hope young viewers, especially teenagers, take away from the film?”
Madison Wolfe: “I just hope people take away the message that they’re stronger than they think. It’s one of the last lines that Barbara says, and I think it’s a really common theme throughout the novel and the movie as well. I think that if young teenagers, or really anybody, just keeps that in mind in times of struggle that they’ll be able to get through it.”
Question: “What made you initially excited to work on this film?”
Madison Wolfe: “I think I was really excited because I knew it was going to be a challenge. I knew that it was going to surprise people, because when you see the trailer or if you hear about the storyline, it doesn’t really do the actual movie justice, in my opinion, because it’s so much more than just Barbara and her imagination and her giants. It’s about a teenage girl who has so many struggles and just is so tough and is able to get through those struggles.”
Question: “Did you relate to Barbara at all, or did you see yourself in her character, and how?”
Madison Wolfe: “Yes, definitely. I think that, despite kind of looking like an outcast, Barbara is a very relatable girl, you know? Everyone faces struggles in their life, whether they be big or small. I’ve had struggles in my own life, and I feel like I was tough enough to be able to get through them. And I think that she’s a great character to show that.”
Question: “How do you think Barbara’s character is a good role model for girls today?”
Madison Wolfe: “I think that she can definitely be a role model because in a way she doesn’t really care what other people think. She dresses how she wants. And even though everyone is telling her you’re crazy for believing in these giants, she still continues to do it and do what she really believes in and kind of stand up for herself. I think it’s a really beautiful kind of arc during the film, because in the beginning she’s just completely in denial of what’s really going on. And by the end, it’s a learning process for her. And she really grows up and kind of gets through all of her struggles.”
Question: “Barbara’s friendship with Sophia and her relationship with the guidance counselor play big roles in helping her overcome her “giants.” What do you want other girls to learn about how they can help others that might be dealing with something bigger – their own giants?”
Madison Wolfe: “Absolutely. The relationships that Barbara develops is such an important factor in her being able to overcome her “giants.” I just hope that it brings awareness to the fact that you never really know what people are going through. And if you just take a second to talk to them and break through their shell, you might end up really, really building a strong friendship with them and really, really helping them in the long run.”
Question: “Do you have anything that you do personally to alleviate stress in your life? Any tips for other teens?”
Madison Wolfe: “Whenever I’m really stressed, I really like to just play my guitar, my piano or something, and just do something that I find comforting. And just talking to my friends and playing music and just taking a second to breathe really helps me, I think, whenever life is stressful.”
That’s some advice that we can ALL use!
I just loved the message of I KILL GIANTS – we are all stronger than we think. We can get through hard things…but we don’t have to get through them alone. I think it’s a fantastic movie for parents and older kids/teens to not only watch, but also discuss together. Find I Kill Giants in a theater near you, or get it On Demand and watch it at home. You won’t regret it!
Connect with I KILL GIANTS: Instagram | #IKillGiants #IKillGiantsMovie #StrongerThanWeThink
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Sounds like an amazing movie! I’ll be taking my 11 year old to see it.
This interview looked so good. I wished I’d been able to join! Thanks for sharing!