If Spencer MacPherson may use one phrase to explain his School Spirits character Xavier Baxter, it will be “misunderstood.” Paramount+’s new teen supernatural collection facilities on Maddie (Peyton List), a teen lady who’s caught in a twisted highschool purgatory and tasked with the daunting problem of fixing her personal homicide. But the extra she investigates her mysterious loss of life, the extra secrets and techniques and lies she uncovers. If you’re within the temper for a thriller with coronary heart, ghosts, and a smidge of darkish humor, then School Spirits will likely be up your alley.
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MacPherson performs Maddie’s troubled boyfriend Xavier, an angsty teen who struggles to grapple together with her homicide and the mounting suspicion falling on him. MacPherson’s efficiency is unquestionably a standout — suppose Christian Slater in Heathers vibes. The 25-year-old Canadian actor has performed a number of totally different characters through the years, from his early days as Hunter Hollingsworth on Degrassi to Charles on Reign to Sparrow on Astrid & Lilly Save the World. But his favourite position thus far would possibly simply be Xavier.
“Sometimes you read and audition and the words just feel right in your mouth,” MacPherson says. He instantly resonated with the “polarizing” character, drawn to Xavier’s dry humorousness and sophisticated character. “When I first got the audition and the write up for the role, it said Xavier is the kind of guy who based his whole personality off of James Dean and Rebel Without a Cause, but he fell asleep five minutes into the movie,” he explains whereas laughing.
AltPress sat down for a chat with MacPherson to speak about playing Xavier, his Degrassi roots, and extra.
[Courtesy of Ed Araquel/Paramount +]
You’ve been concerned in so many various tasks through the years. Maybe that is like asking you to choose a favourite baby, however do you may have a favourite character that you just’ve performed?
I’m tempted to say Xavier in School Spirits. I actually, actually liked this character. It felt like such an trustworthy sort of performing. I actually, actually liked working on Reign, as a result of that was such a stretch. I received to learn to experience a horse and sword struggle and be taught a brand new dialect, and that felt like such a problem. But I imply, that contrasted with Xavier, I felt much more like I used to be looking internally. [His character] felt extra like a mirror model or an alternate model of myself in a number of methods.
What drew you to School Spirits and the position of Xavier particularly?
I first received the audition initially of 2022, and I did not actually hear something. Then I auditioned for it once more. I assume they could not discover their Xavier. They despatched [the audition] out once more, [around] May [2022], and I actually initially linked with the way in which he is written. Sometimes you learn an audition and the phrases simply really feel proper in your mouth. I really feel like his humorousness, I’m fairly simpatico with that. He’s very dry. I used to be actually excited concerning the concept of playing the flashback model of him and contrasting that with the current day model. The characters within the present do not actually know what to make of them and the viewers would not actually both. I believe that’s actually cool. [He’s] a really polarizing character.
Was it difficult to commute between these two mindsets for the character?
It’s one thing that I mentioned with Megan and Nate Trinrud, the creators, and Max Wrinkler, the director of the primary two episodes, fairly a bit. It’s thrilling to have a look at the schedule and be like, “Sweet, Wednesday’s a day where I get to be a little bit more light [and] funny!” after which Thursday I’m gonna need to be intense. I discovered that to be an thrilling facet of [the role].
Do you may have a particular course of you employ when stepping into character, particularly when you’re doing actually intense roles like this?
It varies from mission to mission. I like to borrow from totally different folks I work with. [With] this one, I favored to hearken to a number of music. I actually wished to construct a rapport and chemistry with all of the solid members. I believe that is actually essential, no matter whether or not you are playing enemies or associates, regardless of the case could also be. It’s cool to have that shorthand in actual life. And that means, I really feel comfy doing regardless of the scene or the connection calls for.
Was there a particular music or playlist you used to get into that mindset for Xavier?
There’s this one music. It performs in 500 Days of Summer. I really like that film. I watched it whereas I used to be in Vancouver after we began capturing this, and this one music actually felt like Xavier. It’s referred to as “Vagabond” by Wolfmother. It’s that scene when Joseph Gordon-Levitt is throwing the ball and he’s choosing up the items. Something about it felt like the concept of redemption, and transferring [and] choosing up the items.
I can undoubtedly see that. Especially that scene when Xavier is watching SpongeBob in his room alone.
One huge factor about Xavier is that he is very arduous to learn. Maybe [it’s] one thing that he inherited from his dad. But I favored that scene, since you’re probably not certain if he is shedding his thoughts, tremendous excessive, or why [he’s acting that way]. You do not actually know.
[Courtesy of Ed Araquel/Paramount +]
Xavier has a brilliant attention-grabbing dynamic along with his dad. Is that one thing we’re going to see play out extra all through the season?
Yeah. Me and Ian Tracey, who performs my dad, actually labored on this relationship they’ve. It’s tremendous sophisticated. I don’t suppose [Xavier’s] mother is basically within the image and I believe his dad’s very emotionally unavailable. I believe Xavier appears for folks to be weak with. As the season progresses, you’re undoubtedly gonna see extra of that relationship. It goes [to] actually, actually cool locations. The actor who performs [my dad] is completely a legend. Sometimes I’d be watching [him] and neglect my traces as a result of he’s so mesmerizing.
The reveal that Xavier was dishonest on Maddie with Claire [Rainbow Wedell] was fairly surprising. What are your ideas on that entire love triangle and the sophisticated relationships?
Yeah, it is a sophisticated factor. I do not understand how a lot I wish to say, as a result of it does develop lots. But, tying it again to what I used to be saying earlier than, he is received a number of partitions. One of the one folks he actually allow them to down for was Maddie, after which she was a bit unavailable for very, very justifiable causes. I believe that that is what led him to Claire. It’s form of this search to be totally seen and actually liked. That’s clearly no excuse for his actions, however I believe that he actually, actually desires somebody to see him.
Would you say Xavier has real emotions with each relationships?
Yeah, I’d say so. Absolutely. [It’s] very sophisticated.
You’ve performed highschool characters for some time. Is there a distinct sort of character you’d prefer to play that you just haven’t gotten an opportunity to but?
I’m a giant fan of comedy. I’m actually into It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I’d like to do one thing that is outrageous in that [genre]. Actually, Nick [Pugliese, who plays Charley,] and Sarah [Yarkin, who plays Rhonda,] wrote this brief movie that we’re making together with the discharge of the present, and the character [I play] is fairly absurd. I’m actually enthusiastic about capturing that.
[Courtesy of Paramount +]
What do you suppose goes to shock viewers essentially the most about School Spirits?
Every single week or couple of weeks after we would get new scripts, we might all lock ourselves in our rooms and bury ourselves in these scripts. Like, none of them disappoint. Every [episode] ends on this superior [note]. You’ve received to learn the following one. Without saying an excessive amount of, I believe each episode frequently ramps up. We’re in for fairly a experience!
Before School Spirits, you bought your begin on Degrassi. I’m curious — what do you suppose Hunter can be thus far in 2023?
Oh, that is such a very good query. I hope he is okay [and] he is getting the assistance he wants. I believe the place it ended, he was on a path of redemption. He was a fairly damaged dude. So, I simply hope he is okay.
And are you continue to in contact with the Degrassi solid? I noticed that reunion on Instagram some time again.
Yeah for [Degrassi creator] Linda Schuyler’s ebook [release], all of us received collectively. It was so cool reuniting with all of them, as a result of it has been some time. It’s so cool to see how everybody’s grown up. That entire present is such a phenomenon. It’s such a household and a second highschool. We’re all like highschool, childhood associates, and that by no means goes away.
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