Dean Cain talks Little Angels, playing Superman, and standing up to bullies.
Dean Cain has long been a familiar face—from his iconic turn as Superman to a wide range of family films and action-packed adventures. But in Little Angels, now streaming on Angel Studios, Cain takes on his most personal project yet, serving as director, writer, producer, and star in a heartfelt sports comedy that mixes underdog laughs with meaningful life lessons.
In this exclusive Nerdtropolis interview, Cain opens up about the making of Little Angels, his connection to the story, casting young talent, working alongside legends like Brandi Chastain and Lou Ferrigno, and what he hopes audiences will take away.
“I wrote it, I produced it, I directed it. I was there for every single cut that was made,” Cain told me. “This is my baby. So if you don’t like the movie or something about the movie, it’s my fault.”
“It’s Got Some Mighty Ducks, Some Bad News Bears”
As Little Angels makes its streaming debut on Angel Studios, Cain says the story was deeply personal. “For me, this was a labor of love,” he said. “It’s a great fun family movie. The kids—the young under-13-year-old girl soccer players—were awesome. They were so funny, such good actresses.”
Cain describes the tone as nostalgic: “It reminded me of… Mighty Ducks, some Bad News Bears. It’s fun. It’s got great messages, but it’s a fun watch and hopefully a lot of laughter.”
Inspiration From the Sidelines
When I asked what inspired the film and why he chose to take full creative control, Cain pointed to his own background in sports and family. “I’m an athlete through and through,” he said. “I played every sport under the sun except for hockey. I grew up in Malibu, CA. There’s not a lot of hockey out there.”
But it was watching his goddaughter and niece play that sparked the idea. “They were each in goal… one of them was going to lose and get scored on and it’s going to be their fault, so to speak,” Cain explained. “Turned out to be my goddaughter… and there were a lot of tears on one side, happiness on the other. Then I took them out for ice cream, and 15 minutes later, nobody cared.”
That moment stuck with him. “I would talk to them about what do they do before game nights? And they’re like, ‘You have to get together and watch Ladybugs.’ Like, that was from 30 years ago or whatever it was. And so there hadn’t been a movie like that.”
Channeling Jake Rogers
Cain didn’t just write and direct—he plays Jake Rogers, a win-at-all-costs football coach forced to coach a girls’ soccer team after a public scandal. “I was always going to play the lead in this one,” Cain said. “I just felt it was so similar to what I had experienced…I had that attitude in that sense, like how come they all run around like a big bumblebee group?”
But even as he brought comedy to the role, Cain wasn’t afraid to dive deep. “Coach kind of messes up a couple times. And… it’s the girls that hold him to account,” he explained. “The kids all taught him grace. They taught him how to become a human being.”
Directing During COVID and Building a Real Team
Filming Little Angels during the pandemic brought challenges. “I had to do all the casting from tape, which was difficult because I couldn’t put the teammates together,” Cain said. “So the first time we meet them on screen was the first day they all met.”
He used that to his advantage. “I shot it pretty chronologically… I wanted them to be uncomfortable with each other and have to act work. And they were all just kind of looking at each other, and I was like, ‘Oh, this is perfect.’” Soon, those awkward stares turned into real friendships. “They started to become friends. Part of this huge text chain, which I think still goes on today… They look like little women instead of little angels.”
Brandi Chastain’s Powerful Cameo
One of the biggest surprises in the film is the appearance of soccer icon Brandi Chastain. “I called Brandi Chastain up… and asked her if she’d love to be a part of this,” Cain said. “There’s no bigger penalty shot in the history of U.S. national soccer than Brandi Chastain in 1999.”
He let her coach the girls on set in real time. “She had a couple of assistants, and she just ran the practice, and we were just lucky enough to document it,” he said. “It turned out wonderfully. Brandy was so gracious… and I hope we can support her Bossy Girls program because it’s a wonderful charity.”
Superman and the Hulk—On the Sidelines
Another standout moment in the movie? Lou Ferrigno, the original Hulk, appears as the father of one of the soccer players. “I just called Lou up… Superman and the Hulk are good friends,” Cain laughed. “I thought it would be so much fun to have him play the goalie’s parent.”
Ferrigno wasn’t the only familiar face. “Bryan Callen playing the sensitivity seminar leader… slapped me in the face a few times to make me more sensitive,” he joked. “Kimberly Elise… one of the best actresses I’ve ever known. Helena Mattsson, she was amazing. I will hire Helena Mattsson anytime, anywhere, any place.”
A New Chapter—and a New Sports Story Coming Soon
Cain’s love for sports metaphors doesn’t stop at soccer. He’s already begun work on his next film. “I start a movie in two days… that I wrote, I’m producing, I’m directing, and it’s a golf movie, a story of redemption,” he revealed. “Kevin Sorbo, who is a great golfer, is starring in this.” And yes, it’ll feature some rough edges: “It deals with gambling and drinking and some bad behavior… but the film, because of that, is necessary in a story of redemption.”
On Trolls, Fans, and the Real Superman Legacy
Toward the end of our chat, I asked Dean how he handles public backlash—especially in today’s online culture. “I take so many slings and arrows… and to me, it’s funny,” Cain said. “The people I’m concerned with… are my family and my loved ones. That’s it.” And his advice for young fans dealing with bullies? “Don’t listen to that noise. Do not let it affect your self-esteem. Kill them with kindness.”
Comic Cons, Super-Suits, and Seeing Superman
As a Comic Con veteran, Cain says he loves meeting fans—but admits it can be tiring. “By the end of the day, I want to go lock myself in my hotel room, get room service, and watch a game,” he said.
When asked if he kept his Lois and Clark Superman suit, he said, “I didn’t take anything… but one wonderful family from Switzerland… purchased a real Season 4 Lois and Clark actual suit, cape, boots, the entire thing. And I have it here.” And what about James Gunn’s Superman? “Not yet, and I really want to,” Cain said. “I’ve just been prepping this movie… but I plan to watch it before we start shooting.”
What Little Angels Is Really About
Before wrapping up, I asked Cain what he hopes people take away from the film. “I want people to leave… with a feeling of family, a feeling of happiness, a feeling of belonging,” he said. “When you earn that team… you become part of a family. And there’s nothing better than that.” He added, “If they watch the movie, you are part of the Little Angels family.”
Watch Little Angels now on Angel Studios.
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