Owen Teague Reflects on Griffin in Summer Role and Acting Journey – INTERVIEW

Owen Teague brings humor and heart to Griffin in Summer.

After roles in darker and more intense projects, Owen Teague (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) has embraced a lighter, comedic role in Nicholas Colia’s Griffin in Summer, now playing in theaters. The indie dramedy stars Everett Blunck in his feature film debut as Griffin Nafly, a 14-year-old aspiring playwright, alongside Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets), Kathryn Newton (Lisa Frankenstein), and Abby Ryder Fortson (Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret). Teague plays Brad, a 25-year-old handyman who unexpectedly becomes a creative catalyst in Griffin’s life.

“It’s one of the funniest movies I’ve seen in a long time,” Teague told me. “It’s a really beautiful film at the core, and I hope people feel recognized by it. A lot of the movies I’ve been in have been disturbing or scary, which I love, but this one has such a sweet soul”.

Playing Brad: Not Your Typical Mentor

While Blunck’s Griffin takes center stage, Teague’s Brad is both a chaotic force and a surprising mentor. “I hope nobody’s been a Brad for me because he’s probably the worst person you could ask for as a mentor,” Teague laughed. “But he definitely unlocks some honesty and truth that Griffin wouldn’t have found otherwise”.

For Teague, mentors in his own career came from his time on the series Bloodline. “Ben Mendelsohn, Sissy Spacek, Kyle Chandler, Andrea Riseborough — those actors really shaped how I work and view things,” he shared.

From King Kong to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Teague traced his earliest inspiration for acting back to childhood. “Beauty and the Beast fascinated me, but it was Andy Serkis as King Kong that really made me want to do this. Realizing there was a guy in there was mind-blowing,” he said.

Years later, Teague found himself starring in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, where the physicality of performance became essential. “Doing something as physical as an ape showed me how connected body and mind are. With Brad, I took the same approach. I actually pulled from watching Matthew McConaughey on set — the way he walks and carries himself. I thought, ‘That’s Brad,’ hips forward, presence felt”.

Behind the Scenes: Brando, McConaughey, and a Chair Throw

One of the film’s most hilarious sequences involves Brad taking Griffin’s play rehearsal to absurd extremes. According to Teague, that moment was as wild on set as it looks on screen.

“It was basically written like that,” he explained. “The only thing I added was the accent, which came from watching Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront. The chair throw was in the script — that was my second day on set, and it cracked everyone up. Our producer had to leave the room because she couldn’t stop laughing. It’s easily one of my favorite days on a set ever”.

A Career Balancing Range

From child actor in the theater to indie standout and blockbuster star, Teague continues to build a career defined by versatility. “I’ve been working since I was a kid, living that double life of going to school and being a professional actor. Playing Brad gave me the chance to do something totally different — and I’m grateful for that,” he said.

With Griffin in Summer, Teague shows a comedic and heartfelt side, adding another layer to his impressive range.

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