Original-Cin Video Q&A: Hopper Penn Talks About Devil's Peak and His Famous Parents

By Bonnie Laufer

Hopper Penn, the son of Sean Penn and Robin Wright, says he is determined to make a name for himself on his own terms.

Hopper Penn in Devil’s Peak

Penn stars in the new drama, Devil’s Peak, based on David Joy's 2015 novel Where All Light Tends to Go.  The  drama takes place in rural Appalachia and features Penn as Jacob McNeely — a young man torn between working for his meth-dealing father, Charlie (Billy Bob Thornton), and caring for his meth-addicted mother, Virgie (Wright).

Penn came onboard the project after reading Robert Knott's script and meeting with Australian director, Ben Young, and then recruited his real-life mother to play his onscreen mom.

Yup - you read that right. Penn’s real life mom Robin Wright plays his on-screen mom and the mom-son duo both on and off screen was extraordinary.  Hopper admits it took a little getting used to watching what his mom had to do on screen but was impressed by her talent and vulnerability.

Although Hopper has already worked with dad Sean on two films (The Last Face, Flag Day) he says acting was not always in the cards.  He actually wanted to be a lawyer, but when dad encouraged him to take on a small role in The Last Face, Hopper couldn’t resist.

Devil’s Peak doesn't just focus on the family drama. Alongside the McNeely family's struggles, a tense gubernatorial election, combative police officers, and Jacob meeting the love of his life all further propel him to make his decision. Directed by Ben Young, the film rounds out its cast with performances by Jackie Earle Haley, Brian d'Arcy James, and Katelyn Nacon.

Devil’s Peak will be out on VOD/Digital on March 10 in Canada via Vortex Media.

Our Bonnie Laufer had the  opportunity to chat with Hopper Penn about working on the film opposite his mom and found out what his favorite Sean Penn and Robin Wright performances happen to be.

CLICK HERE to watch the video.