More with 'Now You See Me, Now You Don't' star Justice Smith

Summary

Podcast Summary: Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Episode: More with 'Now You See Me, Now You Don't' star Justice Smith
Date: December 4, 2025
Location: Destroyer, Culver City, CA

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Episode Overview

This episode features a lively, heartfelt conversation over a meal at Destroyer in Culver City between host Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justice Smith, acclaimed actor known for Generation, The Get Down, Detective Pikachu, and his latest, Now You See Me, Now You Don't. The two discuss Justice’s family background, identity, navigating the industry as a queer Black man, traumatic and humorous school moments, and working with Hollywood legends. The episode is rich in candid storytelling and personal reflections.

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Main Themes and Discussion Points

Starting Out: Turning 30, Family, and Upbringing

[04:50-11:07]

• Justice celebrated turning 30 recently and frames it positively:

  “I feel young again...29 is older than 30, I think. It's the oldest of your 20s, but 30, you're the youngest of your 30s.” – Justice [05:11]

• Discussion about siblings: Justice is the middle child of nine, with siblings from ages 16 to 45.
• Parents were both singers and met while performing abroad; music and the arts were central to his upbringing:

  “I never had pressure to like, pursue a normal career. I never had pressure to go to college…they always instilled in me this ‘never give up on your dreams’ mentality.” – Justice [10:33]

High School, Bullying, and Identity

[15:20-23:25]

• Justice attended a performing arts high school after being in public school and involved in community theatre.
• Orange County’s conservative atmosphere wasn’t strongly felt in the theater scene, but racial and social dynamics shifted at the performing arts high school:

  “I didn't start feeling the weight of what it meant to kind of grow up in a conservative area until I went to that performing high school.” – Justice [16:35]

• As one of the few Black students, Justice was subjected to microaggressions and open ignorance from classmates.
• He was able to be open about his sexuality, reflecting advancement from older generations but notes most of his bullies were mean girls.
• Harrowing, darkly comic anecdote of a high school improv exercise where a bully forced the whole class to stage his coming-out party before he had come out:

  “This girl had made everybody act as if it's my coming out party, before I even knew my sexuality…then everyone laughs. It was so fucked up.” – Justice [20:29]

Coming to Terms, Trauma, and Healing

[23:13-26:48]

• Justice reflects on unpacking high school trauma throughout his 20s:

  “I also…spent most of my 20s unpacking the trauma of high school, and only recently I’ve gotten to a place where I’m like, okay. I think I’m…yeah.” – Justice [23:13]

• Reunion story: Justice attended his 10-year high school reunion specifically “to rub my success in everybody’s face,” but none of the bullies were there [22:23].
• Discussion about playing straight romantic leads despite being queer; he mentions his bisexual experiences but clarifies his primary attraction to men.

Craft and Career: Roles, Authenticity, and Unexpected Connections

[31:01-34:29]

• Generational impact of Generation: Playing Chester was liberating and healing:

  “I felt like I had unlocked a side of myself that I didn’t even know I had…Chester’s like, freeness…so unapologetically himself.” – Justice [31:42]

• Noted the “crazy” resonance of playing a character from Anaheim, his exact hometown, and how art often parallels his real life.
• The odd serendipity of suggesting singing the Pokémon theme in his first movie, then starring in a Pokémon film:

  “I suggested we sing the Pokemon theme song…and then years later, I ended up doing the Pokemon movies.” – Justice [34:29]

The Magic of Hollywood Franchises: 'Now You See Me, Now You Don't'

[34:50-39:07]

• Justice loved filming with the legendary ensemble of the new Now You See Me:

  “It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had on a film…I wanted to do the film because I wanted to work with these actors…They went out of their way to invite us into the clique.” – Justice [35:53]

• Bonded with new castmates in Budapest, the established cast was welcoming.
• Practical magic: For this installment, the tricks were learned and could be performed for real; Justice spent time learning card tricks, only to not use them in the film [38:43].
• Humorous discussion about repetitive junket questions for franchises, relating to Jesse’s own Modern Family press experiences.

Music, Songwriting, and Musical Theatre

[40:00-44:43]

• Jesse compliments Justice’s songwriting and singing; Justice reveals he’s working on an EP, and his released song is about an ex-girlfriend [40:35].
• Delightful revelation: Justice listened to Jesse’s original cast recording of Spelling Bee for audition prep—years before realizing it was Jesse’s voice:

  “I would like, want to audition for the school musical…I would prepare that song, and then I’d never audition. So I heard your voice so many times, I didn’t realize it.” – Justice [41:56]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Family and Being a Middle Child:

  “My dad is a whore. My dad gets around.” – Justice [07:51]
  (delivered playfully, drawing genuine laughter)

• On the Trauma of High School Improv:

  “I’m slowly realizing what it is. And then I just like…‘It’s my coming out party.’ And I’m like, so like…then everyone laughs. It was so fucked up. It was so mean.” – Justice [21:21]

• On Representation and Career:

  “To be a marginalized person is to study the dominant culture. I know what straightness looks like. I know how to perform straightness; most gay people do.” – Justice [26:30]

• On Art Mirroring Life:

  “Every project I do has a weird parallel to what’s going on in my real life…connections start to line up where I’m like, I see why I’m here now.” – Justice [33:30]

• On Joining the Franchise ‘Clique’:

  “They went out of their way to invite us into the clique, which was…everything.” – Justice [35:53]

• Revelation and Crossover Fandom:

  “I would sing [‘I’m Not That Smart’] all the time…So I heard your voice so many times, I didn’t realize it.” – Justice [41:56]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:50 | Justice reflects on turning 30, siblings, and artistic family | | 07:51 | Joking about family size and parentage | | 15:22 | Transition to school experiences, identity in conservative Orange County | | 20:29 | Disturbing high school improv “coming out party” anecdote | | 22:23 | Ten-year high school reunion story | | 23:13 | Reflection on processing high school trauma | | 26:30 | Discussion on code-switching and playing straight roles | | 31:26 | The healing power of Generation | | 34:29 | Pokémon theme song irony and career serendipity | | 35:53 | Bonding and mentorship in ‘Now You See Me’ film | | 38:08 | Practical magic tricks, learning for the role | | 40:35 | Justice’s songwriting, the personal story behind his song | | 41:56 | Justice’s fandom of Jesse’s musical theatre work and full-circle moment |

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Tone and Language

The episode balances humor and vulnerability, with unsparing candor about trauma, identity, and Hollywood’s quirks. Both Jesse and Justice are warm, witty, and self-deprecating throughout, comfortable enough to tease each other and themselves. The focus on healing, acceptance, and finding alignment is uplifting amid anecdotes of adversity.

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Final Notes

This episode is a dynamic blend of conversation about family, self-discovery, triumph over adversity, and creative fulfillment—anchored by two performers’ chemistry and shared artistic experiences, making it a rich listen for fans of personal, unscripted celebrity dialogue.

Transcript

[A]

The holidays are coming up, and like a lot of people, our family's already planning where we're spending Thanksgiving. It's at our house and who's bringing what pie and what kind of pie, and making sure it's the pie that everyone wants. It's. It's the whole thing. Usually with pie, I end up just buying it. Other people do it so much better than I do.

[B]

And I, I.

[A]

It just takes one thing off my plate. Although I did just buy a great cookbook called All About Pie.

[B]

So maybe I should be brave and.

[A]

Make my own pie this year. A lot of people, though, don't have Thanksgiving at home. They travel. They travel to loved ones. And if you're traveling this season, it might be the perfect time to think about hosting your home on Airbnb while you're away. The best part, you don't have to do it all by yourself. With Airbnb's co host network, you can team up with a local co host who can handle everything from guest communication, check ins, even sprucing things up before the next day. So while you're away making memories with family, your home is in good hands, making a few of its own. If you've been curious about hosting but don't know where to start, find a co [e-mail] host. All right, I'm going to be honest. I am not the person who gets their holiday shopping done in October. I always think I will be. And then suddenly, it's two days before a family gathering and I'm panicking at a mall wondering why I do this to myself every year. And it's. It's not because I don't care. If anything, it's because I. I care too much. I want every g feel thoughtful, which is great until you're also trying to cook, clean, host, and keep everyone alive through the holidays and find out that now you have no time to do any shopping. But this year, I'm turning over a new leaf. I really am. And Macy's friends and family happening right now is honestly the perfect motivation. You get 30% off their best brands and 15% off beauty, which makes gifting actually fun again. I'm grabbing a few new beauty gift sets for the beauty lovers in my life. They come already packaged and ready to go, so I can't procrastinate on rapping. Macy said, you know, hey, Jesse, we love you, we see you, we appreciate you, and I appreciate them. And while I'm there, I'm absolutely refreshing my holiday wardrobe suits from Hugo Boss and ted baker are 30 to 60% off. So I won't be in a frantic last minute search for something to wear to a party.

[C]

Growth.

[A]

Okay. Holiday Growth.

Hi, it's Jesse.

Today on the show.

[B]

You know him from films I saw the TV Glow, Detective Pikachu and the HBO Max series Generation. His latest film is now youw See Me, now youw Don't. It's Justice Smith. Have you gone to any high school reunions?

[D]

Yes, I just went to my tenure.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

Tell me about that.

[D]

I literally went just to rub my success in everybody's face. Thank you.

[B]

I'm so glad you said that. Thank you. This is Dinner's on Me and I'm.

[A]

Your host, Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

[B]

I became a fan of Justice's when I started watching the TV show Generation. I had seen him on his previous show, the Lowdown, which I also loved, and I just, I was really taken by him. I think he's such an interesting actor and also he's a really good Instagram follow. His looks on the red carpet are kind of iconic, so I'm really excited to meet him as he's doing press for his new film, now youw See Me, now youw don't, which I'm a big fan of that franchise as well. Today I'm at Destroyer in Culver City. I have been dying to feature it ever since I saw a critic say that it was strange, beautiful, and tasted like nothing else in town. How's that for a review? Destroyer is tucked into the Hayden tract of Culver City. It's got that artsy, slightly industrial edge. It's the kind of spot where the food looks like art but doesn't take itself too seriously. What makes Destroyer special is how it bridges worlds. The fine dining imagination of chef Jordan Khan, who many foodies know from Vespertine.

[A]

With a lunch and brunch model that.

[B]

Keeps it accessible, you can order something like their famous avocado confit or chicken schnitzel, which I'm pretty sure all I'm going to end up getting and still walk out without breaking 30 bucks. I thought Destroyer would be the perfect spot to bring my guest, Justice Smith. Like this place, he's someone who lives between worlds. Thoughtful but playful. Polished but never too serious.

[A]

Whether he's in a massive blockbuster or.

[B]

A quirky A24 film, he shows up with that same curiosity and openness that makes his work so magnetic.

[A]

All right, let's get to the conversation.

[B]

You just had a big birthday. I did 3030 a few months ago.

[D]

Right, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

I'm. I'm born in 75, so I have a few 50th coming and like, next week.

[D]

Oh, wow.

[B]

And my husband is. Thank you. 10 years younger than me. He just celebrated 40. And how do you feel about turning 30?

[D]

I feel young again.

[B]

Oh, that's interesting.

[D]

29. I felt really old.

Why? I don't know. It's just 29 is older than 30, I think. Is it because it's the oldest of the 20s? Okay. But 30, you're the youngest of the 30s. Okay. All my friends who are in their 30s, I'm like, still a baby. Whereas if I hang out with, like, when I was 29, I was hanging out with, like, 25 year olds. I was like, oh, I'm the wise one.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Hi. Hello.

[A]

How are you doing?

[E]

Great. Are we ready for drinks?

[B]

I think. Do you know what you want to eat?

[D]

Yeah, I feel ready for everything.

[A]

All right.

[B]

I am going to start with this yuzu ginger tonic.

[D]

Perfect.

[E]

Juicy ginger.

[A]

And I think I'm gonna do the chicken schnitzel.

[D]

Perfect.

[E]

One chicken schnitzel. Ginger tonic.

[D]

What's that? What is a yuzu ginger tonic?

[E]

Juzu ginger tonic. We make a syrup out of jusu and fresh ginger. Jusu is like a Japanese citrus. And then we serve that with sparkling water.

[D]

Okay.

I'll try that too. Awesome.

And then I wanted to get the.

Loaded avocado confit. That's like, what, an avocado toast? Yeah.

[E]

So our version of avocado toast, which is served deconstructed so it's avocado topped with burnt onion. Powder puff that. We serve it with a lot of goodies on the side.

[D]

Can I get it without arugula? Yeah, of course.

[E]

Would you want to do a kello instead or just no greens?

[D]

No greens.

[B]

All right, cool.

[E]

All right, I'll get that started for you guys.

[D]

Okay. Thank you. My sister, who's, like two years older than me. Huh. She would.

She told me a lot. Like, being 30 is like, you finally, like, don't give a fuck anymore about, like, depressing people.

[A]

That is true.

[D]

Like, a lot of being in your 20s is like, well, thinking that, like, there's something wrong with you and you have to, like, grow and, like, bridge the gap between you and other people. And like, 30 is like, a real acceptance of, like, oh, no, this is me. Yeah. And I actually just want to surround.

[B]

Myself, figure out who you are in your 20s.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

You have a lot of siblings, right?

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Where do you sit in that line? Of siblings?

[D]

I'm the exact middle. I have four older and four younger.

[B]

How old's your oldest sibling?

[D]

The oldest is. She's 45, I think.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

46.

[B]

I want to. 40s.

[D]

Yeah. And the youngest is 16.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[D]

Yeah. My dad is a whore.

My dad gets around.

[B]

He's. Wait, your dad and mom have been together for. Are they still together?

[D]

No, they're not. Okay, so all my siblings are from my dad.

[B]

Got it.

[D]

I only have one sibling who's, like, my full sibling. Got it. From both my parents.

[B]

Got it. Is anyone else in the industry?

[D]

Like, one of my older sister. She was a dancer and a choreographer a long time.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

For a long time, she was, like, a backup dancer for Janet Jackson. And then both my parents were singers, so they were in the arts.

[B]

How did your parents meet in Japan?

[D]

My.

Dad was out there, I think, singing in bars and stuff, I think. And then she met my dad in a club or a bar or something, and they dated for a little bit. And then she's like, all right, I'm over this guy. And then, like, a month or two later, she had to renew her visa in Korea in order to work in Japan. She goes to Korea, and at the renewal office or whatever, she runs into my dad again, who's renewing his visa. And it just so happened that they were both staying at the same hotel in Korea. So it was literally, like, fate that they, like, met up again in a completely different country, totally at the exact same time. And then from there, they just, like, came back to America together.

[B]

And then you moved to Orange County?

[D]

Yeah. So after my parents divorced, they were, like, living in Sylmar for some time. That's where I was born. And then my mom moved to Orange County.

[B]

What did they do in Orange county, my mom?

[D]

So at the time, karaoke was more of, like. Which they had learned in Japan was more of, like, a culture. And there was, like, they would hire someone to host a karaoke show and. But then also, like, perform in between, like, other people. Like, drunk people coming up and singing or whatever. Right. And so my mom did that at, like.

Like, five different venues or whatever. Like, when I say my parents are singers, like, I mean by, like, vocation, not, like. Like, that's how they made their living. Or they would do, like, singing competitions, and then they would, like, place first and second, and then, like, just, like, take the money or, like, they would go in as a duet, and, like, just, like, they played together as well.

[B]

Did they draw music?

[D]

My dad did. My dad wrote Some music, but yeah, nothing that really took off so interesting. But yeah, they. They supported us mostly through, like, performing at bars and lounges and so you.

[B]

Really grew up around, like, artists.

[D]

Yeah, I never, like, had pressure to, like, pursue a normal career. A quote unquote, normal career. I never had pressure to go to college because none of my parents went to college. Yeah, they were like, artists through and through. Struggling artists at that. And so I think they had like a. They always, like, instilled with me in me like this, like, never give up on your dreams kind of mentality, you know?

[A]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. When we come back, justice opens up about being bullied in high school, and we dive into his dating life. Okay, be right back.

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And we're back with more dinners on me.

[B]

So you went to a performing arts high school, right?

[D]

I did, yeah. Yeah.

[B]

But before that you were in a public school.

[D]

Yeah. And I was like taking drama classes. Yeah, I was doing community theater and same. I was just like doing whatever I could to like act and be on stage.

[B]

What was that community like in Orange County?

[A]

I just feel like everything close to.

[B]

La, there must be like some sort of vibrancy to it because it's so close to an entertainment capital. But I know that Orange county is culturally and politically so far away from la.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

It's a red county.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[D]

In the art scene, like in the community theater scene, I didn't necessarily feel the weight of it being a red county. It was just a bunch of, like, girls and gay boys, like, you know, singing songs. Yeah. And like, and I, if anything, I was just like, oh, yeah, this is. These are my kind of people. Yeah.

[B]

That looks so good.

[A]

Thank you. Oh, my God, this is so beautiful.

[B]

It's the most beautiful avocado toast I think I've ever seen.

[D]

Almost like, I wish I got the chicken schnitzel now. Gorgeous. That looks amazing.

I'll say. I didn't start feeling the weight of.

What it meant to kind of grow up in like, a conservative area until I went to that performing high school. It was an independent charter school. And so it was like, a lot of it was donation based and there was a lot of, like, white kids from Irvine that were, like, coming to this school. And I started to, like.

Receive a lot of messaging, I think, from their conservative parents.

[A]

Right.

[D]

Like now being parroted by them onto me about, like, my race and my sexuality. And high school was really tough for me because I was like one of like 17 black kids in, like, the whole school. It was difficult. Well, I did experience some discrimination on my sexuality. Most of the kids at the school were gay. Like, it's like, you know, and like, all the popular kids were gay. And so.

I grew up in a little bit of bubble of a bubble in terms of that. Right. In terms of sexuality. And I learned like, a lot of like.

Radical liberal things at that school that I didn't realize the world was so behind on until after I graduated. But I think it being so homogenous in like, like, it being majority white.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

I think that.

Didn'T allow for, like, these kids to, like, reflect on race and, like, understand like, how they were treating me and like, what was, you know, like really, like be immersed in, like, and appreciate someone's differences because they, they weren't exposed to that. You know, it was like, mostly people who look like them and then me. So, like, they could only be so liberal, you know, they could only be so understanding. Yeah.

[B]

Did you feel like you had.

[A]

Safe.

[B]

Enough environment to be yourself, like, sexually, like, you were open about your being queer and that was something that you never had to really hide and not really.

[D]

I didn't really have to hide that. Yeah.

[B]

So different from when I grew up. My God.

[D]

I imagine. Yeah.

[B]

That's so Interesting. And did you have relationships as a kid?

[D]

I mean, in high school? No. So.

So, like all the popular kids were gay.

Or girls. Like, the girl to guy ratio was like 11 to 1. Like, it was mo. The school was mostly girls and gays.

[B]

It's my dream school.

[D]

But they also were like mean gays. Like, they were all bitchy and mean. Like, before I came out, which.

[B]

I.

[D]

Also have issues with the whole coming out. I understand it now, but like.

I came out. When I figured it out. I came out junior year of high school. I remember like sophomore year, there was this older girl who was such a bully. Like, this girl would like cut girls ponytails off. Oh my God, she was a horrible, horrible person. I hate her.

[B]

Jesus.

[D]

Anyways, most of my bullies growing up were girls. Girls can be really vicious. Anyways.

There was this improv exercise we were doing in one of our classes where it was like a game where someone leaves the room. The rest of the class, like, creates a party, some sort of event. The person comes in, everyone is improvising and has to guess what the party is. Has to, like, from how everyone's behaving. Right? Yeah. So I left the room, I come in.

This girl had made everybody act as if it's my coming out party before I even like, knew what my sexuality was.

[B]

And so, like, she had made that decision for you?

[D]

She. And she told the whole class to like, get in on it. And like, so what?

[B]

What, like, what did it look like when you walked back in the room?

[D]

So, like, there was like two people, like, these two. Her and like, one of her.

Friends were like, pretending to be my parents. And like, one of them pretending my dad and like, being disapproving of me and like, you're not my son. And like. And then like, one of the, like, popular gay boys was like, pretending to be like, my lover. And then. And then, like, I'm slowly realizing what it is. And then I just like. Like, to end the game, you have to like, raise your hand and say what it is. And I'm just like, it's my coming out party. And like, I'm like, so, like. And then everyone laughs. It was so fucked up. It was so mean.

[B]

That is really fucked up.

[D]

It's so mean.

[B]

I think the part that really fucked up for me is like, them deciding that how your parents were gonna be feeling about that.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

And choosing the version that feels like the norm for them, that this would be something that they'd be disapproving of. That's what that's Shocking.

[D]

Well, I also don't know what was going on in their house. You know, like, maybe they were experiencing a lot of shame and guilt about being, well, obvious.

[B]

I think, obviously, to that point. Yes, they were.

[A]

But to.

[B]

To. To then, you know, superimpose that upon you. It's just. It's. It's. It's a very surprise.

[D]

That's. That's a.

[B]

That's a bit traumatizing.

[D]

It was mean. Yeah, it was really mean. Wow.

[B]

But shortly after high school, you. I mean, you were. You started working.

[D]

Mm.

[B]

That must have been.

I mean, do you, first of all, have you gone to any high school reunions?

[D]

Yes, I just went to my tenure.

[B]

Oh, my God. Tell me about that.

[D]

I literally went just to rub my success in everybody's face.

[B]

Thank you. I'm so glad you said that. Thank you.

[D]

Because. But then I went, and nobody who bullied me was there. No, it was all the kids who were nice to.

[B]

They all know.

[A]

They all know. They all know that you've done.

[B]

You've done so much in 10 years. Like, you've done more than any actor I've known. They all know, believe me.

[D]

But I also, like, think that some of the people who bullied me in high school, like, I don't even think they really knew that they were bullying me because I. I had, like, a desperate need to be liked. So a lot of times when I was, like, being bullied, I would, like, act like it was funny and, like, it was okay. I'd be like. Right. You know, like pain.

[B]

Just make them feel comfortable.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

I also. It's like, I felt like I spent most of my 20s, like, unpacking, like, the trauma, like, high school. And like, only recently I've gotten to a place where I'm like, okay. I think I'm. Yeah.

[B]

It's so interesting because, I mean, if you look at. You really have done so much in 10 years. Like, you graduated high school and, like, really started, you know, working steadily as an actor. And when I was just looking at your body of work in 30 years, I mean, it's really impressive, not only in the fact that you've done so many things, but you've done so many different things. And you've also.

There was like a.

There was, I don't know, I don't want to say blind eye given to your sexuality, but, like, you were given the opportunity to do so many roles that did not bring your sexuality into the storyline at all. I mean, it was just, like, it was something that was not.

[D]

Well, I would audition for them and I wouldn't get them.

[B]

Every time it was a gay part, I would audition. Yeah, you wouldn't get it. Yeah, but I mean, you were kind of like a romantic lead for a little while as well. I mean.

[D]

Yep.

[B]

How did you.

Was that a tricky thing for you to navigate? To sort of be having this, this break and having this moment and having these jobs given to you where you were, you know, put into romantic relationships with women and like things that maybe you didn't have necessarily a personal connection to, but you were obviously so listen, I think actors can play everything and you did it brilliantly. But it's just interesting that.

[D]

You know.

[B]

Your opportunities came.

With such a. It was, you were, it was so separate from like the, the reality you lived in high school.

[D]

Yeah, I think.

So. I think the missing piece here is that I dated a couple girls in high school. There you go.

[B]

There it is.

[D]

And then also after high school. Okay, okay. I was dating, I was dating everybody.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

For a second.

[B]

Were you fluid for a little while or was it.

[D]

Yeah, I was.

Jesse. I like to call myself technically bisexual.

[B]

Uh huh.

[D]

I.

Will never date a woman again. We'll never date a woman again. Not because I'm not attracted to them, but because I don't like the feeling of like having to be the man in the relationship. I really don't like that feeling. What I like about same sex relationships is that we both can kind of switch off on what parts of ourselves we're showing. And when I was dating women, it was like I just felt like I was always like I always had to be the proverbial big spoon. And I'm like, also like I'm not really like a half, half, half bisexual. Like I very much am more attracted to men than I am attracted to women.

But having those experiences with women is helpful when you're like playing all these roles where you're like supposed to be, you know, like I, I know.

And even if I didn't have reference for that in my like, personal life, I feel like to be marginalized person is to like study the dominant culture, you know, like I know what straightness looks like. I know how to perform straightness like most gay people do.

[A]

Right.

[D]

Because like that is how we.

[B]

Because we're in protection mode society.

[D]

Yeah, we know what like it's like our level of code switching. Like we know how to like deepen our voice and like masculine masculinize our posture and like do all those things. So it's like when it comes to like, playing straight rules. Like, I understand what is required of me, you know?

[A]

Now for a quick break, but don't go away. After the break, justice talks about working with Jesse Eisenberg and Mark Ruffalo. And now youw See Me, now youw Don't. The third installment of the hit franchise. And he loses his mind when he realizes a past role of mine that I played. Okay, be right back.

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And we're back with more dinners on me.

[B]

Was there something. Because I know your roles before Generation. I mean, it was, you know, you had an incredible role in the get down that Baz Luhrmann did.

[D]

Yo, I love them.

[B]

It's such a great show. Great show.

And, you know, you've done several other things so different from the character you played in generation. Was there, was there for you anything that felt like liberating to be able to embrace that part of yourself?

[D]

Yeah, it was the most fun.

Liberating thing. Like, I remember after the show got canceled, I was very, like, I was heartbroken because I was like, I was so.

I felt like I had unlocked a side of myself that I didn't even know that I had. That, like, was now, like, forever a part of me that I was like, I want to.

Like, inhabit that even more and not just in sense of, like, my sexuality, but, like, Chester's, like, freeness. Like, he is just, like, so unapologetically himself. And I gave him more of, like, a feminine lilt and like, like the way he, like, walks through a space and the clothes he wears, like, how, like, the way he likes to peacock. I just, I. I had so much fun, like, crafting that character. And like, anytime, like, I Play a character who's like, where I give him a little vocal something, or I give. Give him a little, you know, where it feels like a real kind of character. Yeah. I like to stay in it, you know? And so, like, being on set with all these, like, kids and just, like, feeling like how I wanted to feel in high school.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

You know what I mean? Just, like, so free and feminine, and.

It just was. Yeah, it was very healing, I think. And what's crazy is it the show was set in Orange county, right?

[B]

Orange county, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[D]

In Anaheim. The exact city I grew up in.

[A]

That's wild.

[D]

I know.

[B]

It was like, did you film any stuff there?

[D]

No, we didn't filmed in Pasadena. I wanted to, but it was really healing. But I often find, like, every project that I do has a weird parallel to, like, what's going on in my real life. Like, it's like.

And not always in the obvious way, but just.

Weird connections start to line up where I'm, like, in my relationship with the flying spaghetti monster in the sky, I'm like, oh, I see why I'm here now. I see why you've put me as a part of this project, because I'm learning something about myself and I'm healing a part of myself that I needed to heal.

[B]

That's cool. It makes you feel like you're doing the right thing and you're in the.

[D]

Right place at the right time. I feel so aligned.

[B]

Patico. With the universe.

[D]

Yes. Yeah, exactly. Yeah.

[B]

Cause I know you. I think I read that you were, like, a big fan of Pokemon and then you were in the Pokemon movie.

[D]

Yeah, as a kid, I was a huge fan of Pokemon.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. That's gonna be wild.

[D]

Or like. Cause the first movie I did was this YA movie called Paper Towns. And in that movie, there was, like, a moment where we're, like, singing in the car or we're singing Somewhere to Not be Scared or whatever. And it was originally supposed to be like, Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus, but Pitch Perfect had just did that. Right. So we were like, she said she loves Pitch Perfect.

They had just did that. So we're all on set trying to figure out what we should sing, and I suggested we sing the Pokemon theme song. And then it ended up in the movie. And then years later, I ended up doing the Pokemon movies. I was just, like, weird, like, connections like that that I'm always, like, paying attention to. Yeah. It just makes me feel like I'm. I'm aligned and I'm going in the Right direction.

[B]

I know right now you're doing. You're doing a promotion for now. Now you see me.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Now you don't.

[D]

Yes.

[B]

It's interesting because you've done. This isn't the first franchise you've been a part of. You've done drastic films as well.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

I mean, I. I love now youw See Me, the first one. I thought it was such a romp. It's such a, you know, a good time. And I. I just thought there was so, first of all, so well cast. Jesse Eisenberg is so talented. So much Woody Harrelson. I love him so much. Dave Franco.

[D]

Yes.

[B]

I mean, it's an incredible, incredible cast. And, you know, then this, this third film, like Rosamund pike, who I adore, and Mark Ruffalo. I mean, it's just the casting is so insane. I mean, what was it like? You know, first of all, so many incredible legends. Like, what was it like just being in a massive film with them? I mean, this is not a low budget indie thing. This is massive.

[D]

It is the. It was one of the best experiences I've ever had on a film. And I, like, I don't say that lightly. Like, I. I wanted to do the film because I wanted to work with these actors. And also the. The director, I met with him and I really liked him and he felt like he, like he was going to be a really good shepherd for this kind of project. And it was like non stop fun. Not only because then the us, like, new cast, the like, new cast of magicians, me and Dominic Sessa and Ariana Greenblatt, we got along so well and like, we would, like, do escape rooms around Budapest and like, watch horror movies and like, hang out all the time. But the existing Horsemen were so welcoming to us. Like, I remember the first day I got on set, Jesse, when he met me, he was just like, oh, like, come have lunch with me in my trailer, like on the first day and just like, get to know me and ask me questions and like, they really don't have to. To do that. Right. They went out of their way to invite us into the clique, which was. It just was. Yeah, it was everything. I. I'm really blessed to know these people now and like, I'm really excited to do another one.

[B]

Is there going to be another one?

[D]

Yeah, they already announced it.

[B]

That's incredible.

[D]

They already announced it, right? Yeah.

[B]

You know, did you learn to do any. Any magic with it? I mean, is it.

[D]

We had magic lessons. We had like a whole magic training school thing. For, like, a month.

[B]

Oh, my God. I mean, the. The. The magic in the first two films is pretty astonishing. I mean, obviously, it's a film, and, like, you know, there's editing is involved, but, like, just the way that, you know, they.

In the story that they would play out some of these. These tricks, it was. It was so.

I know there's. There's such a performative element to a really great magic show. I mean, it was. It felt very big, and it felt very exciting, and, like, it was just, you know, it's. It was a romp. It was. It was just a lot of fun. So I'm really excited to see it.

[D]

Yeah, I think this one is a lot of fun, too.

Ruben, the director, made a point of making sure that all of our magic tricks were practical. Like, they were. Could all, like, really be done by magician, which I. I'm a big fan of practical effects.

So we, like, trained. Like, I, like, learned all of these different, like, card tricks and card flourishes. And that was before, like, the script was really set and, like, what magic tricks? I was gonna be doing the movie. And then we got, like. Like, the most updated draft, and it turned out I wasn't doing any card tricks in the movie.

[B]

Oh, really?

[D]

I, like, learned all these card tricks.

[B]

For, like, no reason.

[D]

But then I, like.

[B]

It's like when you, like, learn how to do a stunt, and then on the day you stunt doubles on set, like, and he's gonna do it, you're like, well, I want to do it.

[D]

Yeah, I trained.

[A]

I trained.

[D]

Did all this work. Yeah. And the thing is, also, I need to start retraining. Like, I need to, like, refresh my. All my card tricks, too, because I know that people during this press junket are gonna ask me to do magic tricks.

[B]

Wait, let's guess. Let's guess all the. Because I love. On a press junket where it's like, you get the same questions over and over. For Modern Family, it would always be like, so what makes a modern family modern? And so for as a cast, we would, like, turn it into this game.

And I think one time we sat down as a group for an interview, and we're like, if one of your questions is, what makes a modern family modern, we're walking out. And literally, you saw the person, like, go to the next car, because that's what's, like, literally the first question.

[D]

I just imagine the interviewer at home just being like, this is gonna be.

[B]

They're gonna love this question. Like, I get it nine, 100 times a day.

[D]

I've had people in interviews. Yeah. Like, the. The way they, like, ask a question that's been asked before they ask it, like, I bet. Yeah. No one else.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[D]

I'm like, you'd be surprised.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

I. I'm a very big fan of the one song of yours that I found on Spotify.

[D]

Oh, my God.

[B]

First of all, you're a great singer. Did you write that song?

[D]

Thank you. I did.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[D]

Justice.

[A]

It's so good.

[D]

Thanks.

That's crazy.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

I feel like you read my diary. Well, I feel like that's what you're telling me right now. I found. And I also found your diary question.

[A]

But first of all, when did you record that?

[B]

And second of all, are you. Is that something you would do more of? Because you're a great songwriter.

[D]

Thank you. Yeah, I'm working. I've been working on an EP for, like, I don't even know how long I recorded that. I wrote that in 2017. I recorded it.

And it was about my ex girlfriend, and I recorded it in 2019 after we broke up. Yeah, that's right.

[B]

That relationship created a very good song.

[D]

Yeah, I like that song, too.

[B]

It's really good.

[D]

Thanks. Yeah. I mean, you're a singer, right? You do musicals?

[B]

I did musicals, but I don't consider myself. You have a much better voice than I ever did or will. No, you do. Believe me. We'll listen to this recording of spelling bee, and you'll see that I'm right.

[D]

Wait, are you in spelling?

[B]

I was the original leaf. Coney Bear? Yeah.

[D]

I love Punter Pie. Spelling bee, yo. I never saw it, though. I only listened to the soundtrack.

[B]

Yeah. I'm not that smart.

[A]

I'm not that smart.

[B]

That's me.

You didn't know that?

[A]

No.

[D]

That's funny. I would sing that song all the time. Really? Yes. I would like. Because I would like. I want to audition for the school musical I wanted. And I would prepare that song, and then I would never audition.

[B]

That's so cool.

[D]

But I prepared that song over and over and over again to, like, build the courage to audition. So I heard your voice so many times, I didn't realize it.

[B]

That's hilarious. Oh, my God. Yeah, that's, like, a pretty popular song for kids to, like, audition with. It's a great character song.

[D]

It is a great character song.

[B]

I remember when William Finn was writing it for me, and he's, like, one of my idols. He's recently passed away. The guy who wrote spelling Bee, William Finn. And he we were workshopping the show together, and I was so excited I was gonna hear this song for the first time. And he could stand at the piano, and he wasn't a very good pianist and an even worse singer, but, like, he was a great songwriter.

[D]

Right, right, right.

[B]

And he sits down at the piano. He's like this big guy, crazy voice. He's like, okay, so here's your song. And he just starts pounding on the piano.

[D]

He's like.

[B]

Like, I'm not that smart. People have been telling me that for years. I'm like, oh, my God. No, no.

[D]

This is.

[B]

My idol's writing me a song, and this is shit. It's terrible. And then, you know, you take it and you own it and you develop it, and, like, it became what it was.

[D]

It's an iconic song. Yeah.

[B]

Oh, thank you.

[D]

Sweet. Yo, that's crazy. I'm, like, having so many flashbacks to me in my bedroom.

[B]

Like, that's so funny.

[D]

Literally pushing the rewind button, like, back.

[B]

Back, back, back, back, over and over and over again. That's crazy.

[D]

That's huge.

[B]

Yeah. They're reviving it on Broadway. Or not Broadway. They're reviving In New York. Off Broadway.

[D]

Oh, really?

[B]

I'm gonna go to the opening of it.

[D]

You know who the cast is?

[B]

Yeah, some of them. Yeah. It's the guy who's playing my part is this kid named Justin Cooley who is nominated for a Tony Award.

[D]

Yeah. Love Justin. Yeah.

[B]

For Kimberly Akimbo.

[D]

Yeah. I met him. Like, he's really sweet. He's really great. Yeah, yeah, he's very talented. Yeah. When you see. Have you ever seen someone play a role that you originated before?

[B]

I saw kids, I've gone to school productions of Spelling Bee, so I've seen people do that.

[D]

That's not how I would be.

[B]

Oh, it makes me so happy. It, like, moves me to tears every time. Even if they're not spelling.

Listen, you're missing the arc of the character.

[D]

Listen good.

[B]

No, no, you're getting leafall wrong. No, no, no. You're playing him. You're playing him for laughs. You're playing him for laughs. I'm really glad you said yes to this. It's really nice to meet you. I've really, truly been a fan for such a long time, and I didn't want to meet you.

[D]

I didn't even realize I was a fan of yours.

[B]

Well, now you know. Now you know.

[D]

I mean, I knew I was. Wait, hold up. That sounds weird. I knew I was a fan of yours. I didn't Realize I get what you mean.

[B]

Yes, you're an og.

[D]

Yes, it was a lot of fun. And also the food was great.

[B]

Oh, well, thank you. Listen, I got this one. Dinner's on Me. Don't worry about it.

[D]

Hey, that's the name of the thing, right? Hey.

[A]

This episode of Dinners on Me was recorded at Destroyer in Culver City, California. Next week on Dinners On Me. You know him as Peeta in the Hunger Games franchise and as Mike in Five Nights at Freddy's, and more recently, as Rachel Sinnett's boyfriend in the HBO series I. It's Josh Hutcherson. We'll get into how he started in Hollywood, calling up acting agents as a child and learning how to deal with rejection later in his career, which for him was at age 24, and what it's like to split your time between Madrid and Los Angeles. I don't know. It sounds romantic to me. And if you don't want to wait until next week to listen, you can download that episode right now by subscribing to Dinners On Me. As a subscriber, not only do you get access to new episodes one week early, you'll also be able to listen completely ad free. Just click try free at the top.

[B]

Of the Dinners on Me show page.

[A]

On Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today.

Dinners on Me is a production of Sony Music Entertainment and a kid named Beckett Productions. It's hosted by me, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. It's executive produced by me and Jonathan Hirsch. Our showrunner is Joanna Clay. Our associate producer is Alyssa Midcalf. Sam Baer engineered this episode. Hans Dale. She composed our theme music. Our head of production is Sammy Allison. Special thanks to Tameka Balance Kolasny and Justin Makita. I'm Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Join me next week.

[C]

Hey, Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. You know, one of the perks about having four kids that you know about is actually getting a direct line to the big man up north. And this year he wants you to know the best gift that you can give someone is the gift of mine. Mint Mobile's unlimited wireless for $15 a month. Now you don't even need to wrap it. Give it a try at mintmobile. Com.

[F]

Switch up front. Payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required. New customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes if network's busy. Taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.

[D]

Com.