Desde Hollywood recently spoke with rising star Gabriel Bateman (Lights Out, Annabelle) about his latest film, CHILD’S PLAY, a reimagening of the 1988 horror classic.

The movie , directed by Lars Klevberg (Polaroid), also stars Aubrey Plaza, Brian Tyree Henry, and Tim Matheson.

CHILD’S PLAY will be released in theaters on June 21.

You have been part of a few horror-related films and TV series. Is this genre particularly fun to do?

I don’t necessarily take things based on genre. It really depends of the story and the character. There is nothing in particular about the horror genre that I enjoy doing.

Did you want to see the 1988 version, again or for the first time, or you preferred to stay away from it?

I may have watched it when I was much younger, but I don’t remember. I watched it, mainly as a fan, to get an idea of what we were doing. But I wanted to focus on this story because it is quite different. Andy is older and it is very relevant.

Can you talk about the difficult moment that Andy is going through?

Andy just moved in with his mom, so he doesn’t have any friends. He has a hearing aid, and isn’t very sociable, so Chucky fills a void in his life. That’s why he gets emotionally attached to Chucky very fast.

Obviously, things go horribly wrong in this story, but there is something appealing about technology comforting us. Right?

I think that there is a commentary on regards on our relationship with technology. Maybe we are relying on it too much… If these things turn against us we are helpless!

CHILD'S PLAY

I assume that you spent a lot of time with the practical doll on set. Did you guys have a nickname for it?

We had a bunch of different animatronic dolls for different things. It was very helpful to have some that would talk and interact with you. Our director, Lars, would call one “Chunkster” and another one “Brokeback Buddy,” in a very thick Norwaigean accent. It was hilarious every time!

I imagine that you got to interact with Mark Hamill very recently. Right?

Yes! I just met him today. I have been a big fan of his work for a long time, especially as The Joker. I was thrilled when I found out that he was voicing Chucky.

CHILD’S PLAY will be released in theaters on June 21.

A mother gives her son a toy doll for his birthday, unaware of its more sinister nature.