{"id":523777,"date":"2026-07-03T19:16:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T19:16:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/523777\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T19:16:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T19:16:16","slug":"exclusive-obsession-star-michael-johnston-reacts-to-the-horror-hits-record-breaking-success-it-doesnt-feel-real","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/523777\/","title":{"rendered":"EXCLUSIVE: Obsession star Michael Johnston reacts to the horror hit\u2019s record-breaking success: \u2018It doesn\u2019t feel real\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Actor Michael Johnston has become a household name as the lead actor in the horrifying summer blockbuster, Obsession. Written and directed by Curry Barker, Obsession<\/a> depicts Johnston as Bear,\u00a0a lonely young man who uses the One Wish Willow to make his crush, Nikki (Inde Navarrette<\/a>), love him more than anyone in the world, only to realize that his wish comes at a horrifying price.<\/p>\n

At this time, Obsession has made over $371 million in theaters worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo<\/a>, making it one of the highest-grossing horror movies of all time. Following the movie\u2019s surprising success, the main cast\u2019s careers have taken off, with Johnston set to star in season 2 of Marvel\u2019s hit series, X-Men \u201997<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In an interview with Digital Trends, Johnston discussed Obsession\u2018s record-breaking run in theaters, his performance as Bear, and his relationship with the cast following the movie\u2019s premiere.<\/p>\n

This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Digital Trends: Michael, thank you so much for joining me today\u2026.I\u2019m a huge fan of the film, and, apparently, a lot of people are too. At this point, it just about finished its theatrical run, and it grossed over $300 million at the box office. It actually just beat records set by The Exorcist<\/a> and Sinners<\/a>, which is mind-blowing. Tell us your thoughts about so many people just going out to see this film.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Johnston: It\u2019s crazy\u2026I went out yesterday to a diner to read some scripts, and nine people came up to me just raving about the film, and I keep hearing people say this thing, which is really cool. They said, \u201cI don\u2019t really love horror movies, but I loved Obsession.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s like the best compliment, and I think it just speaks to the word of mouth behind this thing. I\u2019m so honored that something that I worked on is being seen and is resonating with people. It\u2019s a dream. It\u2019s amazing.<\/p>\n

Digital Trends: In the film, you play the lead character Bear, which has been arguably your breakout role given the film\u2019s success. How did it feel to embody such a character in this film?\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Michael<\/p>\n

Focus Features \/ Focus Features<\/p>\n

Johnston: Well, making the movie, I just sort of did my thing. Yes, this is the thing that people are gonna know me for, and it\u2019s awesome.<\/p>\n

But I\u2019ve been doing this for a while, and so, I think my process is I just read the script a bunch of times, talk to the director, ask my questions, and then I go in, and I start thinking about the character and what he wants most of all, and what his life was like, and what his every day must be like. And I just did that, and I just get lost.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what I love about what I do. I\u2019m telling a story. I\u2019m living in someone else\u2019s head.\u00a0I\u2019m a people watcher. I love to just watch and observe people and try to figure out why people do the things that they do.<\/p>\n

So this was a really great script, but also Bear, my character, was kind of a blank slate. So I got to kind of go in, and I had all these ideas, and the director Curry and I were on the same wavelength and I\u2019d be like, \u201cWhat about this? And then he\u2019d be like, \u201cWhat about this?\u201d And it was just so much fun.<\/p>\n

It was so creative, and it was so collaborative. Playing the role, I had no expectation. I never thought that this movie would blow up like this.<\/p>\n

Yes, I worked really hard. I\u2019m gonna do everything that I do. I\u2019m treating it like that, but it doesn\u2019t feel real. I have no point of reference. I\u2019ve never had this happen to me before. So maybe next time I can tell you how it feels, but right now I\u2019m just like, \u201cI don\u2019t know, it\u2019s cool.\u201d It\u2019s crazy.<\/p>\n

Digital Trends: Yeah, and a lot of people had a lot of strong reactions to the film, particularly with your character and your performance. A lot of people have said online that they consider Bear the true villain of the movie, given all the questionable things he does.\u00a0What are your thoughts about how so many people have reacted in that way?<\/p>\n

\"Bear<\/p>\n

Focus Features \/ Focus Features<\/p>\n

Johnston: Yeah, I mean, Bear\u2019s the villain for sure. Also, Ian\u2019s the villain, as well. Now Bear is the villain, but Ian, come on, man. He set him up too.<\/p>\n

I love the discourse. I\u2019ve been out in the wild hearing people arguing about Bear.\u00a0It\u2019s so cool. As long as people realize that I\u2019m not Bear and that I\u2019m just acting, which not everyone realized.<\/p>\n

Digital Trends: So a lot of people have been talking about Inde Navarette\u2019s performance, and a lot of the horror has come from her character with her performance as \u201cFreaky Nikki.\u201d Were there any points throughout the production where you were genuinely terrified by what she was putting out there with her performance?\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Nikki<\/p>\n

Focus Features \/ Focus Features<\/p>\n

Johnston: Yeah, I wouldn\u2019t say terrified. I would say more impressed because I knew what was going to happen in the script, but Curry and Inde would go off and rehearse those faces and the moments and everything, and I wasn\u2019t there for that.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t get to see any of that. So I knew what was written in the script, but seeing her do it for the first time, and a lot of those times we went with the first take, I was just in the moment. I was just genuinely reacting to what she does because [of]\u2026the control she has over her face and the nuanced little choices that she makes with her eyes.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s so many different things going on. It was a treat to watch her just do her thing. And yeah, like you said, she is the horror. Even though Bear is the villain, she\u2019s the horror on the screen. And usually the horror on the screen is also the villain, but that\u2019s not the case with this movie. It\u2019s such a fresh take on this kind of story. But yeah, to answer your question. I was incredibly impressed with the work that she did, and she was the best scene partner.<\/p>\n

Digital Trends: Yeah, I\u2019ve been really impressed by her performance as well\u2026And despite like all the things that your characters went through in the story\u2026you continue being friends after the production was over. I saw the video of you at the Kid Cudi concert. It was amazing. How do you stay connected with all your costars after all this?<\/p>\n

Johnston: Oh my God. Well, we\u2019re all very busy, which is awesome.\u00a0I can\u2019t remember who set that up. I think it was Cooper [Tomlinson]<\/a> talking to someone. But yeah, we have a group chat, and someone was like, \u201cOh my God, Kid Cudi loved the movie and invited us to go rage with him on stage during Pursuit of Happiness\u2026.It was amazing.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re just such great friends. Any chance that we get, we love to spend time together\u2026we just got lucky on this one. We all just love each other, and we\u2019re all so excited for each other and all the doors that are opening for us because of all the hard work that we poured into this film. We\u2019re having a moment. It\u2019s the best thing ever.<\/p>\n

Digital Trends: Yeah, it\u2019s pure magic.\u00a0And now Focus Features has said they\u2019re working on an awards campaign for the movie. How do you feel about the film getting that sort of buzz? <\/p>\n

\"Bear<\/p>\n

Focus Features \/ Focus Features<\/p>\n

Johnston: I don\u2019t know.\u00a0Look, that would be amazing. I haven\u2019t really even been on the Internet in the last couple weeks because I\u2019ve just been working on stuff. I\u2019ve heard that, but I don\u2019t know. That would be incredible.\u00a0I honestly can\u2019t even\u2026my brain\u2019s not ready to go there right now\u2026I can\u2019t deal with it. It\u2019s too much.<\/p>\n

Digital Trends: Yeah, one step at a time. So following the success of this movie, despite what happened to your character in the film, do you see yourself returning in a potential sequel?\u00a0I know there have been talks about that recently, and the film, it deals with the One Wish Willow. Anything could happen.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Johnston: I\u2019m sure one day we\u2019re going to see something with the One Wish Willow because it\u2019s brilliant. I don\u2019t know anything about a sequel. That would be awesome, but I truly don\u2019t know what\u2019s in store for the One Wish Willow, but, regardless of whether or not I return for that, I\u2019m sat.<\/p>\n

Digital Trends: So after Obsession, do you see yourself working with Curry and the rest of the cast on another project? <\/p>\n

\"Nikki<\/p>\n

Focus Features \/ Focus Features<\/p>\n

Johnston: Are you kidding? If we had the opportunity to, absolutely, I\u2019d love to work with Curry again. We already know he\u2019s working on some really cool stuff. I think he has his next handful of projects lined up, and he deserves it. It\u2019s absolutely incredible.\u00a0And he\u2019s going to kill it. Oh my God, I\u2019m so excited for Anything but Ghosts<\/a> and Texas Chain Saw Massacre.<\/p>\n

But yeah, I would jump to work with Curry again, and I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if we get to. As far as the rest of the cast, totally same. I\u2019d love to do something with Cooper, and I\u2019d love to do something with Megan [Lawless]<\/a>.\u00a0We talk about it all the time. So maybe one day we end up writing our own part together if it just doesn\u2019t happen organically, but I think it\u2019ll happen.<\/p>\n

Digital Trends: Fantastic. Is there anything you\u2019d like to say to the fans of Obsession?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Johnston: Yeah, just \u201cThanks.\u201d You guys are the best. People are telling me they went to see the movie multiple times.\u00a0I don\u2019t even know if there\u2019s a movie that I\u2019ve gone to see multiple times. So that\u2019s just like the best compliment.<\/p>\n

Watch Obsession on PVOD platforms today, and on 4K ULTRA HD, Blu-Ray, and DVD on July 14.<\/p>\n