The Storied Lifetime of A.J. Fikry presents an unlikely pairing in David Arquette’s Officer Lambiase and Christina Hendricks’ Ismay, who’re introduced collectively by their love for books. Lambiase’s stature as Alice Island’s police chief and Ismay’s tragic previous kind their distinctive particular person tales, which meld into the movie’s bigger narrative about A.J. Fikry’s (Kunal Nayyar) life and the bookstore he owns.
The Storied Lifetime of A.J. Fikry is directed by Hans Canosa and based mostly on Gabrielle Zevin’s New York Instances-bestselling novel of the identical title. The film additionally stars Lucy Hale, Scott Foley, and Blaire Brown. Arquette is understood for taking part in Dewey Riley within the Scream film franchise. Hendricks has beforehand appeared within the TV sequence Mad Males and Good Ladies.
Display screen Rant interviewed Arquette and Hendricks about how they approached their roles in The Storied Lifetime of A.J. Fikry and the way they constructed their on-screen relationship.
Stars Dissect The Storied Lifetime of A.J. Fikry
Display screen Rant: Did each of you learn the novel forward of your involvement within the movie? How a lot did you’re taking inspiration from it whereas taking part in your characters?
David Arquette: I did not. I simply bought the script. It was a very fast turnaround. By the point I bought to the set, I used to be simply finding out my factor. Then, I began studying some books that had been talked about within the story.
Christina Hendricks: I oftentimes if I am engaged on one thing that was impressed by a novel or got here from a novel, I do not learn them on the similar time as a result of if there’s one thing that is not within the script that was within the e-book, typically you overlook the storytelling that we slim down within the script, and I do not need to confuse the 2. I usually wait till after to learn it.
One won’t count on a cop to determine a lot in a narrative about books. David, how did you interpret his occupation as the importance to his character?
David Arquette: He is actually impressed when he meets A.J. and learns about this world of books. Earlier than he had met A.J. he was simply into crime novels and your typical what you’d suppose a cop can be into. A.J. form of opens his thoughts to this entire world of books — a lot in order that he begins the Chief’s Selection E book Membership.
We see Ismay’s loneliness strongly influence the actions she takes within the movie. Christina, what’s your perspective on her journey?
Christina Hendricks: My character has had a tough run of it. There was a number of sorrow in her life to this point. She’s misplaced her sister, and she or he has misplaced a baby partway by means of the movie, and she or he’s not feeling supported and beloved by her husband. She’s on this limbo of attempting to determine what she needs in her life and what’s going to occur to her subsequent. She seems like a lot just isn’t in her management. I feel you are proper. There’s form of a heaviness and a sorrow to her, however I feel we watch this lovely journey of her discovering the love that she wants by the tip of it.
How do each of you view the significance of the bookstore not only for AJ, Amelia, and Maya, however for Lambiase and Ismay as properly?
David Arquette: I feel the bookstore’s so vital to the group generally, the entire household. Lambiase has a line,”A city is not a city if there isn’t any books to it,” and that form of sums it up.
Christina Hendricks: You see within the movie, it turns into a spot that brings folks collectively. The Chief’s Selection E book Membership abruptly you see individuals who did not essentially really feel welcome there earlier now embrace it. You see those that have grown up on this small city collectively however possibly at all times handed one another by, it is the bookstore that brings them collectively, and mixes them up, and makes all of them see eye to eye.
What was it like working collectively and constructing the chemistry between your characters?
Christina Hendricks: I beloved working with David. He is such a beautiful actor, and he brings so many various ranges and flavors to his character. I can work on my scenes the evening earlier than and the week earlier than, and picture how a scene’s gonna go down, and then you definately present up, and somebody simply brings all these pretty surprises, and also you simply get to comply with alongside and watch what they’re gonna do, and react to it.
David Arquette: I beloved working with you. It was so fantastic. I used to be such a fan of hers generally, after which having the ability to work along with her, it is humorous as a result of I might drawn from my life and my emotions. We did not go to high school collectively, however I knew her work, and she or he’s such an unbelievable actress, and I started working along with her. There’s that pleasure and love generally.
About The Storied Life Of A.J. Fikry
Based mostly on the New York Instances best-selling novel, bookstore proprietor A.J. Fikry’s (Kunal Nayyar) life just isn’t turning out as he anticipated as he struggles each emotionally and financially. After his spouse’s tragic loss of life, he feels misplaced and left behind within the quickly evolving world of right this moment. As he tries to maintain his retailer afloat, he begins to drink his sorrows away in the end hitting all-time low when his most prized possession, a sequence of Edgar Allen Poe poems, are stolen. However when a mysterious bundle seems on the bookstore, the sudden arrival offers Fikry a brand new lease on life, and love, which are larger than he ever imagined. The movie additionally stars Lucy Hale, Christina Hendricks, Scott Foley, and David Arquette.
Take a look at our different interview with The Storied Lifetime of A.J. Fikry stars Lucy Hale & Kunal Nayyar as properly.
The Storied Lifetime of A.J. Fikry releases in theaters on October 7.