Lyon Daniels | BELLO Young Hollywood

Lyon Daniels can currently be seen starring as the lead character “Jared Grace” in the Roku/Paramount + original live-action series The Spiderwick Chronicles. The show is based on the popular series of bestselling books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. Recently, he starred in the popular Netflix film We Can Be Heroes as the superhero “Noodles,” alongside Priyanka Chopra and Pedro Pascal.

How did you end up as an actor in the entertainment industry?

I started modeling when I was 18 months old, which bled into acting when I was about nine. I’ve always had a passion for cinema; Jurassic Park, E.T., and The Goonies were big parts of my childhood and what inspired me to become an actor.

What was your first professional acting job, and when did it take place?

My first professional acting job was on a show on Amazon Prime called Patriot. I filmed it back in 2015 and was a recurring guest star. My character’s name was Efram, and I was about 9 when I booked it.

Did you read the original Spiderwick novels before or after you got this coveted role?

Yes, I did read the books. I grew up on the books and movies. After I got the role, I took a deep dive into the books and tried to integrate those aspects from the original story into my performance.

How does this particular adaptation of The Spiderwick Chronicles differ from the other ones throughout pop culture?

It’s Edgier and darker. It is attuned to this generation and a modern audience. We cover topics such as mental health and family drama. The beautiful thing about Spiderwick is the unique blend of how much reality there is in this fantastical world.

What was the audition process like for The Spiderwick Chronicles, and how does it differ from your past experiences with auditions?

It was a vigorous process. I read for both twins at first and didn’t hear anything for a while. Then I got a call back and did a Zoom call with my now-twin, and we read for both of the brothers. Once they decided who they wanted us to be, we flew out and did a chemistry test with the showrunner and an executive producer/director. That’s when it clicked, and I think that we collectively knew that the chemistry was there.

How did you prepare for your role in your latest project? Were there any specific techniques you adopted to play Jared?

I made a playlist with a lot of angsty, grunge, and shoegaze. I listened to a lot of Nirvana, Deftones, and Radiohead to set the scene for my character and get into his mindset. I pulled from amazing performances like Donnie Darko, Good Will Hunting, and Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars and put all of those into making the role my own.

What are some of your favorite songs currently in your daily rotation?

I’ve been listening to R&B lately. I’d probably go with “Chicago” by Michael Jackson.

You played an original superhero in We Can Be Heroes; what comic book superhero would you love to play on the big screen?

I would have to go with Spider-Man: Miles Morales!!

Where do you hope to see your career in the next few years?

I would love to direct and write my projects later down the road. Once I get to a good place in my acting career, I want to build a studio like Robert Rodriguez and start creating behind the camera. Robert was such a great mentor, and I learned so much from him. One of my biggest passions is storytelling and the beautiful, endless possibilities that come with that.