Wilmer Valderrama on The Dry Land, the Unexpected Reward of That 70's Show, and His New Tom Hanks Film

I know you're part of the cast for the new Tom Hanks movie Larry Crowne, but it hasn't been revealed who you're playing.

Yeah, they kind of kept it a little secret!

What's that all about? It's not like it's a superhero movie or something.

It's not. [Laughs] It's a really special movie, man. I couldn't be more blessed to be in it. Tom Hanks wrote it and is directing in it, producing it, and starring in it with Julia Roberts...

Wilmer, I know all that, but who are you in it?

[Laughs] I play Del Gordo, whose real name is Don Gordon. Basically, I'm the leader of a scooter gang, and I take my job very seriously. My girlfriend goes to the same college that [Larry Crowne] eventually goes to, but I don't want to say too much.

What is the tone of the movie like? Is it comedic?

Yeah, it's very comedic. I'd say it's like a romantic dramedy about a man in a society where it's very hard for middle-aged men to find a place. He finds the right type of people along his journey to help him re-adapt and get his groove back. Tom created another timeless character that you're just gonna love and root for. Julia Roberts, you have never seen her like this before.

What does that mean?

I can't tell you! [Laughs] You'll just have to watch it. Man, I'm very proud of everything I've ever done -- I love every character and every movie, as silly as it might be -- but this is one of those movies where I truly felt like I was getting That 70's Show all over again. Working with Tom Hanks and him letting me basically improvise half my scenes with him, and all my scenes were with him, I got to play off of him and really have fun. He called me up [recently] with Gary Goetzman, his producing partner, and told me that the movie is just looking really funny.

I'm telling you, man, the last movie he directed was That Thing You Do, so you know the type of anthems he creates. This is one of them, and every character, you're gonna love. I mean, Bryan Cranston is amazing in this. Taraji Hinson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who plays my girlfriend, they're amazing, and she's so darling, too. I can't say enough about this movie, because it's just packed with people. They all knew each other and I felt like the new kid in town, but they made me feel like I was a senior. [Laughs] I can't wait for you to see it. I can't wait to start promoting that one, too.

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