[This story contains spoilers for Obsession.]
In 2018, two aspiring actors named Cooper Tomlinson and Curry Barker met whereas in line throughout their first day at Los Angeles’ New York Movie Academy. The pair rapidly struck up a friendship over The Strolling Useless and Weezer, probably debating the everlasting query about whether or not the latter’s Blue Album or Pinkerton is the superior report.
The 2 rapidly realized that producing their very own materials on YouTube may present them the extra quick, hands-on training they have been craving. In order that they dropped out of NYFA’s appearing program and dove head first into producing internet collection, sketches and brief movies on their channel referred to as That’s a Bad Idea. Their efforts are highlighted by an award-winning brief movie often called The Chair (2023) and the no-budget found-footage characteristic, Milk & Serial (2024).
In between their prolific collaboration, Tomlinson and Barker would nonetheless audition for random appearing roles and write their very own solo tasks. Minimize to July of 2023, Tomlinson attended a gathering to have fun Barker’s role on It’s At all times Sunny in Philadelphia, and that summer season night would in the end change their lives in methods they by no means may’ve anticipated.
“There was a Simpsons episode on right before It’s Always Sunny that drew an idea [Curry’s] way. When I went over to his place again the next morning, he was like, ‘Dude, I’ve got this idea for this be-careful-what-you-wish-for thing,’” Tomlinson tells The Hollywood Reporter. “So that’s where Obsession started. The love and the passion for that idea went from zero to 100 just like that, and we were off to the races.”
Producer James Harris of Tea Store Productions then reached out a couple of characteristic adaptation of The Chair, however Barker offered him on Obsession as an alternative. That was the primary domino to fall en path to the $750,000 manufacturing in October 2024 and a splashy premiere at TIFF in September 2025, triggering a frenzied bidding struggle. Focus Options emerged victorious because of a $15 million acquisition price, and the unbiased division of Common put their full weight right into a Could 15 extensive launch for Obsession. The indie would go on to develop into one of the vital storied field workplace phenomenons of all time, grossing $334 million (and counting) throughout 39 days of launch.
The supernatural horror movie chronicles the tragic penalties of Baron “Bear” Bailey’s (Michael Johnston) cowardice. As an alternative of admitting to his pal and co-worker Nikki (Inde Navarrette) that she is his solar and moon, he buys a novelty toy referred to as “One Wish Willow” and points a plea: “I wish Nikki Freeman loved me more than anyone in the fucking world.” Instantly after making his want and breaking the branch-like object, Nikki is reborn because the Bear-obsessed “Freaky Nikki,” costing the actual Nikki her autonomy and turning her right into a spectator inside her personal physique.
A lesser recognized a part of the Obsession story is that Barker himself thought of taking part in Bear for a time frame.
“Curry definitely considered playing Bear at one point, but I left it up to him. I think the movie would’ve been great regardless, but he was able to make the best movie possible by being behind the camera and leading the ship,” Tomlinson shares. “He didn’t have to think about being in front of the camera for his first big movie.”
Previous to principal pictures, Workforce Obsession determined to shoot some take a look at footage of the fateful scene during which Bear begs for Nikki’s boundless love, and Tomlinson himself stepped into the sneakers of the gutless Bear. The endeavor was strictly for testing functions, and the Seattle-area native was at all times slated to play Bear’s so-called finest pal, Ian.
“When we started to put the movie together at the end of 2023 or top of 2024, I actually got to play Bear in a screen test. We did that whole scene with the car and Nikki’s front door, only with different actors,” Tomlinson remembers. “I actually saw some of that footage the other day, and it was just so fun to be able to do that. But as soon as I saw Michael’s performance, I knew he was the right guy for that role. He killed it.”
Tomlinson and Barker have already shot their Obsession follow-up, Anything But Ghosts, for Focus. They co-wrote and co-star within the supernatural horror-comedy, which additionally exists in the identical universe as Obsession. Aaron Paul performs a supporting position within the movie, marking a full-circle second for Tomlinson and Barker. In 2019, only a 12 months into their collaboration, they attended a screening of Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Dangerous sequel film, El Camino.
“We were walking to the bathroom and Aaron was coming down in the opposite direction. But Curry didn’t see him, and we literally bumped into Aaron,” Tomlinson says. “Little did we know, we’d be doing a movie with him six years later. So we had to tell him that story before we started filming, and it was so cool for us to be able to have that full-circle moment. Every day on that set was the best day of our lives.”
Under, throughout a spoiler dialog with THR, Tomlinson additionally discusses a number of the enduring questions surrounding Obsession, in addition to its potential sequel.
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Have you ever run out of the way to explain how insane all of that is?
Yeah, the phrase that involves thoughts now’s grateful. Obsession has been such an electrical expertise for all of us, and there’s simply been a lot love, positivity and help. I’m actually pleased.
Michael Johnston stars as Bear, Megan Lawless as Sarah and Cooper Tomlinson as Ian in Obsession.
Courtesy of Focus Options
You and your affinity for trivia evening have even develop into a meme.
(Tomlinson instantly recreates the pose from his headshot.) Yeah, it’s cool to see that going round. I reposted one on Instagram and stated, “Happy Wednesday to the trivia peeps.” Individuals at all times ask, “When do you know you’ve made it? ” And it’s if you’ve develop into a meme.
Curry informed THR that you just don’t react to the edited scenes he reveals you. Does this restraint solely apply to your work collectively?
Nicely, if he’s exhibiting me a brand new scene through the enhancing course of, no, I don’t react. Generally, I’ll react to a joke, nevertheless it takes me a second to course of. I wish to ensure that we’re getting the fitting factor and don’t miss something. The story is de facto vital, and ensuring that the ultimate product is unbelievable is simply actually vital to the each of us. So he at all times hopes to see me give some large “oh my gosh!” response, however I’m so dialed in whereas watching one thing. He’ll be like, “I don’t know if you liked it.” And I’ll say, “No, I loved it. I just need to process.” So then I’ve him present me the scene once more so I can catch new issues.
You’re extra analytical in these cases. However what about if you hear the most recent Obsession reactions from business titans in addition to report numbers? Is that if you’ll let unfastened?
I like to think about myself as a chill man, however listening to about Nolan and Spielberg seeing the film, I used to be similar to, “Wow!” However at this level, I hear one thing each day about anyone else seeing it, and now it looks like everyone has seen it.
What’s been the best excessive to this point?
I believe it’s simply with the ability to say that I used to be part of altering Hollywood to an extent. The enterprise is shifting. When Curry and I got here individually to L.A., we didn’t know anyone. We had no connections. And collectively, we constructed one thing for ourselves. We’ve additionally constructed issues individually. He constructed Obsession, and simply to be part of that neighborhood — our forged, our crew, our producer Haley [Nicole] Johnson — is tremendous particular.
For distinction, what’s been the bottom low over the past eight years of collaborating with Curry?
Gosh, there actually haven’t been lows. All of the nos and the trial and error are simply a part of the journey. We’ve been blessed to have so many nice issues come our means and in addition generate so many nice issues ourselves. The bottom low is when you end up wishing you had extra time. There may at all times be extra time. So I’m simply making an attempt to get pleasure from each second of this nice journey we’ve been on, and I’m so excited for what’s subsequent.
As you touched on, you moved to L.A. from Woodinville, Washington. You and Curry met one another in line in your first day at New York Movie Academy, and also you each dropped out pretty rapidly to create your individual materials. How did you prioritize your appearing auditions versus your collaboration collectively versus your individual particular person tasks?
It took some time to essentially discover that steadiness. You’ve additionally bought to make time for your psychological well being and never burn your self out. However what made issues simpler was transferring in collectively. From once we’d get up to once we’d go to mattress, we have been at all times creating. Whether or not it was a script or speaking via a sketch, we got here up with a few of our greatest concepts at midnight. So these have been a number of the finest moments beginning out, and so they nonetheless are right this moment.
At one level, we have been filming Milk & Serial whereas additionally writing, taking pictures and enhancing three sketches every week. It was the peak of our YouTube channel, That’s a Bad Idea, actually taking off in 2022. We didn’t have a cameraman or any cash. So I don’t understand how we did that, however our love of cinema and making movies simply saved us going.
Your YouTube channel culminated within the launch of Curry’s first characteristic, Milk & Serial. The place on the timeline did you first hear a couple of pathetic man named Bear?
In [July] 2023, we have been on the brink of watch Curry on TV. He was about to be a visitor star on It’s At all times Sunny. And there was a Simpsons episode [“Treehouse of Horror II”] on proper earlier than It’s At all times Sunny that drew an concept his means. We weren’t residing collectively at that second, and once I went over to his place once more the subsequent morning, he was like, “Dude, I’ve got this idea for this be-careful-what-you-wish-for thing.” In order that’s the place Obsession began. The love and the eagerness for that concept went from zero to 100 similar to that, and we have been off to the races.
Casting Michael Johnston was clearly the fitting determination, however Curry, at one level, was contemplating taking part in Bear. Do you bear in mind nudging him a method or one other?
Curry positively thought of taking part in Bear at one level, however I left it as much as him. I believe the film would’ve been nice regardless, however he ended up simply desirous to direct. He was capable of make the most effective film attainable by being behind the digital camera and main the ship. He didn’t have to consider being in entrance of the digital camera for his first large film.
Once we began to place the film collectively on the finish of 2023 or high of 2024, I really bought to play Bear in a display take a look at. I did take a look at footage with the crew at our pal’s home. We shot the scene the place Bear makes the want. We did that complete scene with the automotive and Nikki’s entrance door, solely with totally different actors. I really noticed a few of that footage the opposite day, and it was simply so enjoyable to have the ability to do this.
Inde Navarrette as Nikki in Obsession
Courtesy of Focus Options
Did you take a look at as a result of he was additionally contemplating you for Bear?
No, we simply wanted anyone to fill in and play Bear for the second. However as quickly as I noticed Michael’s efficiency, I knew he was the fitting man for that position. He killed it. I don’t assume I may have finished the character like he did. So all of it labored out the best way it was purported to, and it was actually at all times Ian for me. Whether or not it was one line or the lead, I used to be pleased.
Ian by no means appeared like the best pal to Bear, however the revelation that he and Nikki have been making late-night home calls on and off for 2 years recontextualizes all the film. Do you assume the opening scene within the diner was Ian making an attempt to sabotage Bear’s romantic overture towards Nikki?
Sure, I do. There’s a chunk of Ian that was actually jealous of Bear and wished Nikki for himself nonetheless. So he discovered a strategy to be supportive within the second, however he additionally knew [his advice to call her “Freaky Nikki”] may screw issues up for Bear. He’s the satan on the shoulder. He likes to stir the pot. He likes to manage what occurs.
That diner scene was a reshoot. It was initially a telephone name between Bear and Ian on the best way to trivia evening. Are you glad it developed?
Yeah, it was the fitting transfer. We simply really feel a lot extra linked to Bear, and I bought a little bit extra display outing of it. (Laughs.) It was good to be again with the crew once more, and we bought to improv a little bit. So we had lots of enjoyable, and it felt rather a lot like I used to be doing a That’s a Dangerous Concept sketch.
Within the first scene at Cassell’s Music, Bear informs Ian of how unusual Nikki is appearing. He then goes and talks to her. Do you assume he stated one thing like, “Hey, we were together two weeks ago. How are you head over heels for Bear already?”
I hadn’t thought of it a lot, however yeah. He was interested by what occurred final evening, and he wished to get her tackle it.
All through the film, Ian conducts an off-screen investigation into Nikki’s sudden infatuation with Bear and the lie she informed about her dad having leukemia. Was he doing all this as a result of he genuinely cares for her? Or was it extra sabotage as a result of his ego couldn’t deal with the concept that she may like Bear greater than him?
His ego is bruised. He’s a man who desires to be in management, and he’s not. He doesn’t perceive. In his thoughts, there’s no means that she would go for Bear, and he’s jealous. So it was all a egocentric act.
Initially of the billion-dollar-wish scene, Bear reveals as much as Ian’s place appearing hysterically, and Ian turns his again to him to place his palms on the desk. He then cries out, “Is she okay?” And the emotional means you delivered that line suggests to me that he has real emotions for her regardless of all his egocentric meddling.
He does take care of Nikki. He doesn’t need her to die, particularly after what occurred on the celebration [and how frantic Bear is acting in that scene]. However there may be that questionable aspect to all of it involving Bear and his personal ego. He simply doesn’t totally get it.
Ian’s want for a billion {dollars} positively tracks with the kind of individual he’s. Did Curry entertain different choices there? Or was it at all times a billion {dollars}?
It was at all times a billion {dollars}. We actually requested folks, “If you had to make a wish right now, gun to your head, what would you wish for? ” And I’m telling you, each time they have been like, “A billion dollars.” In order insane as that want is, it’s sensible. It’s the grounded reply, and that’s what a man like Ian would want for.
Ian does point out that Nikki’s dad lives in your house state of Washington. However as I used to be watching, I saved anticipating Nikki’s mother or dad to indicate up at Bear’s home to confront her concerning the leukemia lie and her prolonged absence from residence. I additionally imagined Ian going to her home and discovering that Freaky Nikki had already killed Nikki’s mother in order that she may spend all her time at Bear’s. Have you learnt if Curry ever performed with one among Nikki’s mother and father really showing?
I neglect, however I don’t assume he did. This story lives inside this pal group, and it’s all via Bear’s perspective. The mother and father are extra far-off, and I don’t assume there was actually a world on this contained story the place they wanted to return in.
The scripted ending had Nikki commit suicide after Bear’s overdose à la Romeo and Juliet. However Curry’s father, Jeff Barker, and several other others made the case for the ending within the film the place Actual Nikki reawakens to survey the injury in entrance of her. Did you provide Curry your two cents so far as which ending you most well-liked?
Sure, I inspired going with the ending that’s up on display. I believed it was a no brainer. There’s a lot dialog about what occurs subsequent for her, and if it went the opposite means, the story is closed. There’s nothing else to say. However now there’s so many alternative ways in which her story may go, and perhaps in the future we’ll discover out.
There’s nonetheless lots of debate about whether or not Actual Nikki favored Bear, pre-wish. I believe she did as a result of the story turns into all of the extra tragic if she did in truth have emotions for him. And all of it may’ve been averted had he simply spilled his guts. How do you see it?
There’s that second the place she asks him straight up, “Do you like me?” In that second, if he had informed her the reality, I believe there would’ve been an attraction to that. I believe she would’ve given him an opportunity. She was simply searching for the honesty she’s at all times been searching for on this man, and he didn’t give it to her. However I believe she actually did understand how he felt, and she or he simply wished to listen to it.
Yeah, I don’t assume a younger lady would ask that query except she felt one thing.
Precisely.
Bear’s cat, Sandy, by accident OD’d on painkillers early within the film, and Freaky Nikki ultimately makes a sandwich out of her. In Milk & Serial, Curry’s character, Milk, tells a narrative about killing a cat as a child. In That’s a Dangerous Concept’s State Farm sketch, Curry’s character additionally talks about killing his cat. What deep-seated subject does Curry have with cats?
(Laughs.) I don’t assume there’s something occurring. I utterly forgot about that within the State Farm sketch. That’s so humorous. Milk & Serial was lots of improv, so which may’ve simply come out of nowhere. Perhaps he’s at all times bought cats on his thoughts. I like cats. Perhaps I’ll get him one for his birthday. [Writer’s Note: I found a quote from Curry’s father, Jeff Barker, about it: “Please know that Curry loves animals. When he was growing up, we had a cat he loved very much, but that cat did not love us.”]
Something However Ghosts goes to be your second. You and Curry are co-writers and co-stars. Are you glad you made it earlier than Obsession racked up $334 million on the field workplace?
Sure, I’m. The celebrities aligned completely for that challenge, and I’m actually excited for folks to see it.
I believe the funds on that one is not less than 5 instances that of Obsession. Did it really feel like a noticeable level-up?
It positively felt like a very totally different taking part in area, however we tried to stay to our roots as a result of that’s what works finest.
You and Curry attended a screening for Aaron Paul’s El Camino in 2019, and now Aaron is supporting you and Curry in a movie you birthed collectively. Had been you capable of block that full-circle second out fairly rapidly on set?
Yeah, day one on set, we simply dropped into it with him and have been current within the scene. What’s nice about that El Camino screening is we have been strolling to the toilet, and Aaron was coming down in the other way. I used to be like, “Oh, there he is.” However Curry didn’t see him, and we actually ran into Aaron. In order that was the primary time we really crossed paths with him. Little did we all know, we’d be doing a film with him six years later. So we needed to inform him that story earlier than we began filming, and it was so cool for us to have the ability to have that full-circle second. Day-after-day on that set was the most effective day of our lives.
Apparently, you and Curry even have a TV present in improvement. Are you continue to not capable of shed any gentle on it?
Yeah, I’m certain to secrecy on that for now.
There was unfastened discuss of an Obsession anthology collection throughout early press for the film, however Curry now says he has an excellent concept for a correct sequel sometime. Has he shared it with you but?
Yeah, I do know a little bit bit. (Tomlinson smiles.)
Weirdly, I fired up my Dutton Ranch screeners a couple of hours after I noticed Obsession, and I did a double take once I noticed you in a cowboy hat. Was that your means of paying the payments till Obsession got here out?
Yeah, it was a really rewarding expertise. Yellowstone is one among my favourite worlds and tales. I auditioned, and I couldn’t consider I bought the half. One morning, I noticed an article concerning the present, and I used to be like, “Oh, that’d be cool to be on it.” An hour later, I bought an audition for it, and I used to be like, “No way!” I then despatched that tape in inside the hour. Three weeks later, I bought the half. On set, it was 105 levels in the course of a Fort Value summer season. Everybody was dying, and I used to be in full cop gear. However I had top-of-the-line days ever attending to work with Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton. So I hope there’s extra down the road with that. We’ll see.
Many years from now, if you and Curry reminisce concerning the Obsession expertise, what day will you remind him of first?
I’ll say, “Do you remember when we invited all our friends over and table read the script before it had any money behind it?” We simply liked studying it, and we had a lot enjoyable doing it. We have been simply getting enthusiastic about hopefully making the film in the future. It was in all probability a 12 months earlier than that day got here.
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Obsession is now taking part in in film theaters.
