'Stranger Things' Star Finn Wolfhard

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Featuring Finn Wolfhard

Episode Title: 'Stranger Things' Star Finn Wolfhard
Release Date: April 26, 2025
Host: CBS (Stephen Colbert)
Guest: Finn Wolfhard

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert welcomes actor and musician Finn Wolfhard, best known for his role in the hit series Stranger Things. Released on April 26, 2025, the episode delves into Finn's multifaceted career, including his directorial debut, upcoming film projects, and his burgeoning music career.

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Finn Wolfhard's Directorial Debut: Hell of a Summer

[02:15] Stephen Colbert introduces Finn Wolfhard by highlighting his roles in Stranger Things and the latest Ghostbusters films, as well as his new role as director and star of Hell of a Summer.

Directing Challenges:
Finn discusses the unique challenges of directing himself in Hell of a Summer.
Finn Wolfhard:
"It's a good question. It was an idiotic move on my part... It was really easy to give actors notes. Like, in the moment, I had a co-director, Billy Brick, who's also in the movie with me. And the part that was harder is, like, it's hard to delineate and also give orders to people when you're playing a moron. You can't have both." [04:55]

Creative Vision:
Finn shares his inspiration for Hell of a Summer, revealing a personal connection to summer camp experiences.
Finn Wolfhard:
"I think this was the reason why I wrote this movie, is because I missed it. It's pretty sad, actually, to say, but I missed summer camp... It was one of those things that I felt like was a good opportunity to reclaim what I didn't." [05:44]

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Upcoming Projects: Legend of Ochi

[07:25] Colbert shifts the conversation to Finn's upcoming film, Legend of Ochi. The discussion highlights Finn's experience acting alongside puppets, offering a contrast to his usual performances.

Acting with Puppets:
Finn Wolfhard:
"It's incredible. Cause, yeah, a lot of the time... I'm really into being in stuff with heavy visual effects. So a lot of the time you're acting with like a tennis ball or something. And this was so great. Cause it really did like feel like you were acting with like a living, breathing creature." [07:47]

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Stranger Things: The Final Season

[08:04] As fans anticipate the final season of Stranger Things, Finn reflects on nearly a decade spent on the show.

Experiences During Filming:
Stephen Colbert:
"You grew up on screen. Changed a little bit." [08:14]

Finn Wolfhard:
"We spent the whole year last year filming the last season... We were in Atlanta for a whole year and a lot like I lived with one of my co-stars, Gaten, and we all stayed in the same neighborhood. It was a really emotional end for us all. But I'm super excited for it to come out." [08:22]

Personal Mementos:
Finn shares a personal touch, mentioning that he kept his bike from the first season of Stranger Things.
Finn Wolfhard:
"Yeah, I took my bike from the first season. I can't let it go. Apparently, it's just me riding my bike around my neighborhood and my dad." [08:58]

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Musical Endeavors: Happy Birthday Album

[09:14] The conversation shifts to Finn's musical pursuits, particularly his debut solo album titled Happy Birthday.

Inspiration and Creation:
Finn elaborates on his songwriting process and the inspiration behind his album.
Finn Wolfhard:
"I was making a ton of music for a long time on my own and kind of gave myself a task to write as many songs as possible by the end of the year. I took a lot of those songs and put it towards this album. I wrote 50 songs... 90% of them were terrible. The 5% I basically put into this album and recorded it all on tape like 4-track cassette and 8-track cassette because I just wanted it to feel very handmade." [09:25]

Stephen Colbert:
"What was the inspiration to make this album?" [09:14]

Finn Wolfhard:
"It was a mix of personal experiences and a desire to create something authentic and raw." [09:14] (Paraphrased for clarity)

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Behind the Scenes and Personal Insights

[06:09] Finn reveals personal motivations behind his projects, expressing a sense of fulfillment in creating works that resonate with his own experiences and desires.

Wish Fulfillment:
Finn Wolfhard:
"This is wish fulfillment for me." [06:10]

Connection with Co-Stars:
Reflecting on his relationships with fellow cast members, Finn emphasizes the importance of camaraderie and shared experiences during the final season filming.

Finn Wolfhard:
"We really made a point to see each other as much as possible because we knew it was sort of the last hurrah. It was a really emotional end for us all." [08:22]

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Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Stephen Colbert expressing his admiration for Finn's diverse talents and upcoming projects. Finn thanks Stephen for having him on the show, leaving listeners excited for his new ventures in film and music.

Finn Wolfhard:
"Thank you so much for having me." [09:58]

Stephen Colbert:
"Hell of a Summer is in theaters now. Thank you for listening to the Late Show POD show with Stephen Colbert." [10:02]

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• *Finn Wolfhard on Directing:
  "It's a good question. It was an idiotic move on my part... I felt like I couldn't have both directing and playing a moron." [04:55]

• **Finn Wolfhard on Stranger Things:
  "We were in Atlanta for a whole year... It was a really emotional end for us all." [08:22]

• *Finn Wolfhard on Music:
  "I wanted it to feel very handmade, so I recorded it all on tape like 4-track cassette and 8-track cassette." [09:37]

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Final Thoughts

This episode offers a comprehensive look into Finn Wolfhard's creative journey, highlighting his transition from acting to directing and music. Finn's candid discussions about his projects, personal motivations, and experiences on Stranger Things provide fans with an intimate glimpse into his evolving career. Stephen Colbert masterfully navigates the conversation, ensuring a rich and engaging dialogue that captures the essence of Finn's artistic endeavors.

Transcript

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[Stephen Colbert]

Hey, everybody. Welcome back. My friends, you know my next guest tonight from Stranger, Stranger Things, it and the latest Ghostbusters films. Now he's directed and stars in Hell of a Summer. Please welcome to the Late Show, Finn Wolfhard. Hey. Hey. Nice to meet you.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Nice to meet you officially.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. I think we've seen each other across.

[Finn Wolfhard]

A room, across the light. Yeah, we made the. It was like the, you know, like the gif of Robert Redford doing the. Like the nod.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly. Yeah. From Jeremiah Johnson.

[Finn Wolfhard]

From Jeremiah Johnson. Yeah. It was me and you at a play, I think.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Finn Wolfhard]

But now I'm looking. I've never been in this theater I'm, like, looking up.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's. Isn't it beautiful?

[Finn Wolfhard]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. I love that you're the director of the new film Hell of a Summer, but you're wearing a crew jacket. I am.

[Finn Wolfhard]

I'm showing people.

[Stephen Colbert]

Show the crew this Hell of a summer.

[Finn Wolfhard]

I had to. I had to get in the plug as much as I could.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, what could I say? We got them all right here.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

So, okay. Not only are your directorial debut, hell of a Summer, another film, legend of Ochi, out later this month, you've got your debut solo album and tour this summer, and Stranger Things, final season this fall. Yeah, just.

[Finn Wolfhard]

It's a lot of stuff.

[Stephen Colbert]

Dylan Wolfhard. Just all I'm asking, just. Just. Just put some effort in.

[Finn Wolfhard]

I'm thinking clown college is next.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. Are you really? Cause clown work. Meme.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Meme work.

[Stephen Colbert]

Going for the big money. Going for the big.

[Finn Wolfhard]

I'm trying to do the hardest thing possible.

[Stephen Colbert]

Have you ever done any, like, busking, like, working on the street for, like, with your ha or anything?

[Finn Wolfhard]

No, I haven't, but maybe that's where it's headed.

[Stephen Colbert]

Maybe.

[Finn Wolfhard]

So this year it's like, straight down after. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

You've been acting since you were 10. Okay. 22 is really young to have your directorial debut. Why'd you want to get on the other side of the camera?

[Finn Wolfhard]

Well, I had, like, an obsession with films from, like, a really young age and was always making, like, dumb movies with my friends. And then as I started to, like, perform at a young age, I started to, you know, just learn a lot about filmmaking and the process of filmmaking. I was obsessed with horror movies and, like, the way that stuff was made. Like, making of favorite horror movie. Oh, man, I love. I love Rosemary's Baby.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow.

[Finn Wolfhard]

I love the Thing. I love the Thing is the best.

[Stephen Colbert]

My favorite movie of all time.

[Finn Wolfhard]

It's like one of the greatest. I need Carpenter.

[Stephen Colbert]

Is Childs the Thing? Do you think the child's is the thing at the end?

[Finn Wolfhard]

Oh, yeah, definitely.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. Yeah.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Do you have an aunt? Do you know?

[Stephen Colbert]

I had him on. I had Carpenter on. And I said, I don't want to know what the answer is, but is there an answer? And he said, yes, there's an answer. And I said, from watching the film, just by watching the film closely, could you figure out the answer? And he said, yes, yes. But then I talked to Kurt Russell, of course, who plays McCready.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Yeah, of course.

[Stephen Colbert]

And I told him that story, and he goes, what? No, you can't.

[Finn Wolfhard]

He has no idea.

[Stephen Colbert]

He has no idea. That's amazing. You not only directed Hell of a Summer, but you're in it. How are you directing yourself? How was that?

[Finn Wolfhard]

It's a good question. It was an idiotic move on my part.

[Stephen Colbert]

Let's make your first job harder.

[Finn Wolfhard]

No, I mean, I'm playing like a moron in the movie, and not too far of a stretch, but the actual, like, I feel like what was difficult and what was great about it was because I was acting. It was really easy to give actors notes. Like, in the moment, I had a co director, Billy Brick, who's also in the movie with me. And the part that was harder is, like, it's hard to, you know, delineate and also give orders to people when you're playing a moron. You can't have both. You can't have both.

[Stephen Colbert]

Why didn't you cast yourself as somebody smart?

[Finn Wolfhard]

Exactly. If I cast myself as the control freak, it would have worked great, but we got out of it all right.

[Stephen Colbert]

It takes place like it's classic slasher Summer camp.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you go to summer camp? Did you have that experience?

[Finn Wolfhard]

No, I really. I think this was the reason why I wrote this movie, is because I missed it. It's pretty sad, actually, to say, but I missed summer camp. My mom was like a big summer camp person. I always grew up with my mom, like, you have to go to summer camp, and she would really want me to go. And I just was never one of those kids that went. So it was one of those things that I felt like was a good opportunity to reclaim what I didn't.

[Stephen Colbert]

So this is wish fulfillment for me.

[Finn Wolfhard]

This is wish fulfillment for me.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

If I ever direct a movie, I'm gonna direct a movie where I have abs. Yeah. That's the only way it's ever gonna happen.

[Finn Wolfhard]

I feel like every comedy film of the 2000s.

[Stephen Colbert]

Now, you brought a clip. Anything we need to know in this clip? You're a moron in this, but one way.

[Finn Wolfhard]

This is Fred Hecking. The great Fred Hechinger from White Lotus plays Jason Hochberg, who's 24 years old. He's too old to go to summer camp still, but he's come back, people start to get murdered. And the young ensemble around him think that he's now the killer, when really he's just the nicest guy ever.

[Stephen Colbert]

So, okay, no spoilers. Let's go.

[Fred Hechinger]

Jason Hoschberg.

[Finn Wolfhard]

He's the killer.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, no, no.

[Claire]

Wait, wait.

[Stephen Colbert]

Claire, step back. He's the killer.

[Claire]

I'm not.

[Nicole Byer]

R2, get off of Him.

[Fred Hechinger]

You're the one who took our phones.

[Claire]

Yeah, it's kid policy.

[Nicole Byer]

And you're the one that found Debbie's body.

[Claire]

Yeah, that was a coincidence.

[Fred Hechinger]

You enter like 45 and you still go to summer camp.

[Claire]

Yeah, I'm only 24.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Save it for the jury.

[Nicole Byer]

Get off of him.

[Fred Hechinger]

Claire, enough. He clearly hates himself. So he snapped and started killing off the hottest counselors.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wait, what?

[Finn Wolfhard]

Time out. We don't know. That's subjective.

[Fred Hechinger]

Uh, no, we do. It's obvious.

[IXL Learning]

You guys are insane.

[Stephen Colbert]

I agree with Claire. He's definitely killing a random.

[Claire]

I'm not killing at all.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's fine. Thanks. Now you also, you also star in the Legend of Ochi, which I said earlier.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And your customary co stars were puppets. Look at those pretty little guys. I know, Right there.

[Finn Wolfhard]

So cute.

[Stephen Colbert]

So what was this like for you? You have to act not with this guy, but with the little guy.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Yeah, yeah, it was incredible. Cause, yeah, a lot of the time, I mean, I'm really to being in stuff with heavy visual effects. So a lot of the time you're acting with like a tennis ball or something.

[Stephen Colbert]

Right.

[Finn Wolfhard]

And this was so great. Cause it really did like feel like you were acting with like a living, breathing creature.

[Stephen Colbert]

You know, Obviously we all know you from Stranger Things. It's ending this year. Here you are at the beginning.

[Finn Wolfhard]

There it is.

[Stephen Colbert]

You grew up on screen. Changed a little bit.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Just a. Yeah, changed just a little bit.

[Stephen Colbert]

What's it like now after 10 years to reflect on the past decade of this.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Yeah, it's really. I mean, it's amazing. We spent. We spent the whole year last year filming the last season, so.

[Stephen Colbert]

Whole year of one season.

[Finn Wolfhard]

The entire year. Yeah. So we were in Atlanta for a whole year and a lot like I lived with one of my co stars, Gaten, and we all stayed in the same neighborhood, so we really made a point. The cast and I and the directors made a point to really see each other as much as possible because we knew it was sort of the last hurrah. And so it was a really emotional end for us all. But I'm like super excited for it to come out.

[Stephen Colbert]

Do you take any mementos?

[Finn Wolfhard]

Oh, yeah, yeah, I took my bike from the first season.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, really?

[Finn Wolfhard]

Yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Can you still.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Yeah, I can still ride.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, you can still ride in.

[Finn Wolfhard]

I can't. Yeah, I can't let it go. Apparently it's just me riding my bike around my neighborhood and my dad.

[Stephen Colbert]

And also you've made music for years, but your solo debut called Happy Birthday comes out soon. Yeah. What was the inspiration to make this album?

[Finn Wolfhard]

I was making a ton of music for a long time on my own and kind of gave myself a like a task to write as many songs as possible by the end of the year. And I took a lot of those songs and put it towards this.

[Stephen Colbert]

And like how many songs are you talking about?

[Finn Wolfhard]

50. You wrote 50 songs? It was like four. I didn't fully make it. I made like 40 something and 90% of them were terrible. I'd say more. And that 5% I basically put into this album and recorded it all on tape like 4 track cassette and 8 track cassette. Cause I just wanted it to feel very handmade.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, good luck and congratulations.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Thank you so much for having me.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's good to see you.

[Finn Wolfhard]

Yeah. Thank you, man.

[Stephen Colbert]

Helluva Summer is in theaters now. Thank you for listening to the Late Show POD show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.

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