The New Originals In Hollywood
The Hollywood Reporter|December 23, 2016 - January 06, 2017

Four major breakouts flaunting the conventions of Hollywood formula go back and forth with director Jon Favreau (a onetime wunderkind himself) on risk, how to rebound from failure and the constant ballet around authenticity: ‘The bullshit meter is very attuned right now’

Jon Favreau
The New Originals In Hollywood

For raw and unfiltered insight into the creative process, who better to hear from than four of the most heralded breakout talents of 2016? So THR gathered Damien Chazelle, 31, whose La La Land has reinvented the original musical for a modern audience; Donald Glover, 33, who balances a music career (as Childish Gambino) with his acclaimed FX series, Atlanta; Lin-Manuel Miranda, 36, who brought rapping Founding Fathers to Broadway in the Tony-winning Hamilton and wrote music for Disney’s Moana; and Issa Rae, 31, whose HBO series Insecure showcases a fresh comedic voice. And to interview them all, THR recruited Jon Favreau, 50, who experienced breakout success with Swingers 20 years ago and since then has forged one of the most interesting résumés in Hollywood (from Iron Man to Elf to this year’s hit awards contender, The Jungle Book). Says Favreau, “To experience the moment that each of them is having, through their eyes, offers such a unique perspective on the creative journey.”

JON FAVREAU We’ve got Issa, Damien, Lin-Manuel and Donald, aka Childish Gambino. Is that your name for this venue?

DONALD GLOVER We can talk about it, sure. It’s not a secret.

FAVREAU No, I know it’s not a secret. And you got the name from the Wu-Tang website?

GLOVER The name generator, yeah.

LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA Really?

GLOVER You didn’t hear that story? Lots of people do it.

FAVREAU But you came out with a good one.

GLOVER Yeah, mine was the coolest one at the party.

FAVREAU Mine was Hungry Clemenza. I didn’t go with it.

GLOVER Really?

This story is from the December 23, 2016 - January 06, 2017 edition of The Hollywood Reporter.

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This story is from the December 23, 2016 - January 06, 2017 edition of The Hollywood Reporter.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.