SPOILER ALERT: This text incorporates particulars on the plot of “Carry-On,” now streaming on Netflix.

Tonatiuh wasn’t blissful sitting on the sidelines watching a stunt particular person carry out his struggle scenes with Taron Egerton within the hit Netflix thriller “Carry-On.”

In a single sequence, the 2 are going at one another whereas tumbling down a baggage conveyer belt. “They initially employed an individual to do my stunts as a result of they don’t know me. They have been simply following protocol,” Tonatiuh tells me over Zoom just a few days earlier than “Carry-On” premiered on Netflix. “They did one take and I noticed that Taron was doing it. I had this face when the director checked out me and was like, ‘You need to do that, don’t you?’ And I used to be like, ‘Yeah, I discovered the choreography for a cause. Throw me in there.’ It was a blast.”

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and written by T.J. Fixman, “Carry-On” follows Ethan Kopek, a TSA agent who has being blackmailed on Christmas Eve by a mysterious traveler (Jason Bateman), coercing him to permit a carry-on loaded with chemical weapons onto a airplane. Sofia Carson performs Ethan’s pregnant wife-to-be and Tonatiuh is a passenger who can be being blackmailed to participate within the plot after Bateman’s character kidnaps his husband.

In keeping with Netflix, “Carry-On” was seen 97 million occasions within the first 10 days after its launch after premiering on the streamer on Dec. 13.

Subsequent up for Tonatiuh is “Kiss of the Spider Lady,” director Invoice Condon’s function adaptation of the Tony successful Broadway musical. Tonatiuh stars as Luis Molina, a homosexual hairdresser sentenced to jail in 1981 for allegedly corrupting a minor. Diego Luna performs his Marxist cellmate Valentin Arregui Paz whereas Jennifer Lopez portrays the titular function, a fantasy girl named Aurora created by Luis.

“Kiss of the Spider Lady’s” music is by John Kander and Fred Ebb, based mostly on the novel by Manuel Puig and the e-book of the musical by Terrence McNally. It is going to premiere on the Sundance Movie Competition subsequent yr.

This Q&A with Tonatiuh was edited for size and readability.

“Carry-On” is a lot enjoyable. It’s so ridiculous.

You really liked it?

I’m sort of obsessive about it. I like that there’s this homosexual couple in it. Once you stated, “My husband,” I gasped as a result of we’re made to imagine that homosexual folks don’t do motion like that.

Oh no child, we kick ass. Queer folks have been throwing stones since 1969 and even earlier than. There was a queer militia in Greece. So hear, we’re fighters.

How was this film pitched to you?

My crew introduced the audition supplies like all the opposite occasions and I, weirdly sufficient, was on my solution to the airport to catch a flight. I recorded the audition at 6 a.m. I despatched it off and I bear in mind calling folks and saying, “Was that even good? I don’t even know.” I went with my intestine intuition and simply adopted the emotional story. After which it was booked and we jumped over on a airplane to New Orleans.

Did you get damage in any respect within the struggle sequences?

Not notably. I already had a bit little bit of an L4-L5 sensitivity. However with my dance coaching after which additionally I’ve taken Capoeira and a few different martial arts. And I’m a training yogi. So it wasn’t too dangerous.

What’s it like going head-to-head, face-to-face, fist-to-fist with Taron? Are you guys laughing in between takes?

Taron is so humorous as a result of he’s so on. So when it turns off for a second, he simply must catch his breath. However with me, I get so emotionally charged that I’ve to diffuse it with laughter. So we simply ended up simply cracking jokes left and proper. At one level we’re simply sitting there on the conveyor belt knotted up in one another’s arms. I simply have a look at him and I’m like, “Come right here usually?” And we have been additionally in New Orleans. It was simply great to only be in New Orleans and to get to expertise the town and the tradition there. I skilled my first twister. In order that was loopy.

What occurred?

It was two miles away from our lodge. We have been on set and we had a climate warning, so that they tell us beforehand, “Hey, we’re going to be watching out.” After which as soon as they made the decision they usually stated, “Hey, no, we’re sending everyone dwelling.” And I’m from California, so I’m used to earthquakes. Earthquakes, I can deal with. Fires, high quality. I can perceive a fireplace. So then we get to the lodge, all of the natives appear high quality. They’re utterly unfazed. Individuals drove in from work after which the buzzer begins going off and I’m like, “Oh, that is severe.” And I have a look at my telephone, it’s like, “Oh, it’s two miles away.”

That’s shut.

You would see it. If we stepped exterior, you possibly can see it. I used to be like, “Oh, man.” I went right down to the lodge foyer and I used to be simply chilling, stress-free as a result of they stated, “Get away from the home windows.” And this girl subsequent to me, she’s in her eighties sporting a Santa outfit, pink hair, very cute. And she or he’s like, “Can I get a vodka soda to-go?” And I checked out her and I used to be like, “Ma’am, I don’t need to be in your small business, however there’s a twister exterior. I don’t suppose you need to go exterior.” And she or he stated, “Honey, I survived Katrina. You suppose I’m afraid of some little twister?” Walked out. I used to be like, “Oh, properly.”

Is ”Carry-On” a Christmas film?

“Carry-On” is certainly a Christmas film. It’s a Christmas basic. Completely. The inspiration for it’s “Die Onerous,” which is certainly a Christmas film.

Was this the primary time you died on digital camera?

Oh, I’ve by no means considered that. I feel it would’ve been my first on-camera demise.

Did you warn your mother? Regardless that it’s performing, you don’t need your mother to see you dying.

I didn’t inform her, however I FaceTimed her with all of the hair and make-up and I had and she or he misplaced it. I wish to prank my mother a bit bit.

Now, we have now to speak about “Kiss of the Spider Lady.” Inform me about getting the decision that you simply bought the function.

The method was lengthy and, in truth, my response after they stated, “You’re it,” I stated, “Are you joking?” And so they stated, “No.” And I stated, “OK.” After which Invoice was like, “Are you cheerful?” And I used to be like, “Yeah, I bought to go.” And I simply hung up as a result of I couldn’t course of it. However I’m a Capricorn so I am going into work mode instantly and all I can take into consideration are all of the issues which are going to return up and that I’ve to do. So for me, it was identical to, this deserves my full consideration.

Did you might have any feeling should you have been getting the half? Or was it simply kind of like, “I do not know what’s going to occur”?

After I first bought the fabric, I felt instantly linked. I stated, “I do know who that is.” I’ve been this. It resonated spiritually. After I went to New York you possibly can really feel it within the room. You possibly can’t faux power. It was very alive and it was very collaborative. However I feel that they needed to be thorough and there have been so many alternative methods of telling the story. I feel Molina initially was performed by a 40-something year-old. Not William Harm within the film, however the character is described within the e-book as being of their late 30s, early 40s. I don’t look that however I felt so linked. I used to be prepared.

Let’s speak Jennifer Lopez!

Unimaginable, an icon.

You stroll into the room, you realize you’re going to be starring in a film with Jennifer Lopez — what’s going by means of your thoughts?

Don’t drop her.

Did you?

No. I spent a month in rehearsal with some unimaginable dancers, all Broadway legends, each single one in all them. All of them have been so in regards to the artwork and in regards to the neighborhood and in regards to the work. And so they have been so beneficiant with their souls to me. I’m not a dancer by commerce; I’m an actor by commerce. However seeing the world of motion by means of their eyes and being open to being adjusted and getting these strains and doing honor to the reminiscence of [original Broadway stars] Chita Rivera and Brent Carver and all of those that got here earlier than. I’m from L.A. Hollywood I perceive. However the dedication to excellence on Broadway and in that neighborhood, I didn’t know I had a house away from dwelling and I didn’t know I had household and kindred spirits throughout the nation as a result of I’d by no means hung out there.

What was it like seeing Jennifer because the Spider Lady?

Superb. Beautiful. She’s breathtaking and transformative in so many alternative methods. I bear in mind there was a second the place we have been rehearsing for the primary time, and it was only a desk learn. She had the primary line in it in one of many songs and she or he begins going full out. I had my iPad and my glasses on pondering it could be a straight desk learn. I used to be like, “Oh, if we’re going full out, maintain on.” And I simply bear in mind Invoice watching this and seeing his thoughts go to work.

You stated you didn’t drop Jennifer. What was it like lifting her for the primary time?

It was nice, however I used to be so nervous. She smells so good. I don’t know what she places on, however man, I used to be like, “Oh, you odor so fairly.”

How did you recover from the nerves?

I feel there’s a bit swap in my mind. There’s me, the human. Human me is nervous – Oh, my God, that’s Jennifer Lopez! However then they name motion and she or he’s Aurora and I’m Molina. Why would Molina be nervous? No causes so there’s no cause for me to be nervous right here. It’s so simple as that.

Jennifer advised me that that John Kander was on the studio for a number of the recordings.

Can I be trustworthy?

In fact. Please be trustworthy.

To begin with, he’s hilarious. Funniest man. He’s so whip sensible. The musical theater nerd in me was identical to, “Oh, you’re… Yep, you’re right here.” It was great. And it’s a reinterpretation of the unique piece. We took some liberties with the work and he was there and he permitted and he appreciated it. However then I used to be on the opening evening of “Cabaret” on Broadway and he clearly was there and I very shyly went as much as him and stated, “Oh, hey John, I don’t know should you bear in mind me, Tona.” He simply appears to be like at me and stated, “You’re joking, proper? In fact I bear in mind you.”