There is so much anticipation for 13 Reasons Why, a new Netflix series executive produced by Selena Gomez and her mother Mandy Teefey, and Celeb Secrets is getting an inside look thanks to Justin Prentice.
Based on the best-selling books by Jay Asher, 13 Reasons Why follows teenager Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette) as he returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) — his classmate and crush — who tragically committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Will Clay be one of them? If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list.
Celeb Secrets had the opportunity to speak with Prentice recently, who plays Bryce on the series. Bryce is your typical A-lister jock who thinks the world revolves around him. In our Q&A below, the actor talks about preparing for the role, what it was like working on set, and if he read the book prior to shooting. He also shares whether or not Bryce felt remorse over what he did to Hannah.
Through Hannah and Clay’s dual narratives, 13 Reasons Why weaves an intricate and heart wrenching story of teenage life that will deeply affect viewers. The series will be available for streaming on Netflix beginning March 31, 2017.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or text Crisis Text Line at 741-741.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKfs1nRHAdQ
Celeb Secrets: So, first things first. Did you read the book?
Justin Prentice: “I absolutely have read the book. So many of us wanted to know if we should read the book to help develop our characters and our note from the directors was to “Read at our discretion.””
Celeb Secrets: Give us some insight to what it was like working on set and being apart of a series Selena Gomez is producing?
Justin Prentice: “We had the biggest confusion with names while on set. I’m Justin playing Bryce. We also have Brandon Flynn playing Justin. It got worse. But just with this confusion alone, it got to the point where Brandon had a birthday and they sang me happy birthday.
As far as finding out I got the role and working with Selena Gomez, I was so excited; I was thrilled. I got the audition and was immediately stoked about it.”
Celeb Secrets:Â Your character Bryce was pretty much the worse guy ever. He was reason number 12 as to why Hannah ended her life. How did you prepare for this role?
Justin Prentice: “A lot of it came from our incredible writers. They created a complex character and I just took my own spin on it as much as I possibly could. There were plenty of things to pull from thanks to modern-day research. But, Bryce is still a teenager in high school. And he has a lot of things going for him. But at the same times he’s still a kid. So, there is a lot of things to keep in mind. He’s still a kid, and it’s how he views the world and how can get away with doing things is more privileged. He’s still a bro. There’s a lot more depth to him than just being a d***, excuse my language.”
Celeb Secrets:Â Do you think Bryce felt remorse over what he did to Hannah?
Justin Prentice:” I think his perspective on things has been formulated from the world around him. Being born into the family he was born into kind of changed things. Certain things are just available to him and his pleasure. It’s not like he was trying to hurt her. It’s more because of his arrogance and ‘I’m “Bryce so I can do whatever I want’ kind of attitude. He doesn’t he really think of what he does it wrong because he’s never really been told no before.”
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