Tom Hiddleston dances through the apocalypse in ‘The Life of Chuck’
A unique take on the end of the world
Tom Hiddleston, known for his role as Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, steps into a different kind of character in The Life of Chuck, a feel-good apocalyptic story that premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. Adapted from Stephen King’s 2020 novella and directed by Mike Flanagan, this film offers a life-affirming narrative about an ordinary man named Charles “Chuck” Krantz, set against a world that is slowly crumbling. Unlike typical apocalyptic tales filled with tidal waves and fiery infernos, this story focuses on human connections and personal reflections.
Hiddleston’s dance journey
Hiddleston portrays Chuck, an inhibited accountant whose life is shrouded in mystery. In a pivotal scene, Chuck encounters a street drummer and is compelled to dance, leading to an extended sequence that required Hiddleston to undergo a six-week crash course in various dance styles, including jazz, swing, polka, samba, and cha-cha.
“I had to do all of these technical dances, none of which I have any training in,” Hiddleston shared. “There are some that came more easily than others. I found I love dancing jazz and swing. Bossa nova is a technical thing that took my hips a minute to get my head around. Polka is like a 100-meter sprint. It feels like a gallop.”
The dance routine is more about effort than execution. “This dance number evolves very spontaneously. If I didn’t nail the technique, it was about expressing the joy,” he said. “But yeah, bossa nova…”
A story told in reverse
The Life of Chuck is divided into three distinct chapters that unfold in reverse chronological order. Chiwetel Ejiofor, who plays a teacher grappling with the end times, and Karen Gillan, who portrays his ex and a hospital worker, appear in the first segment as the world is ending. Hiddleston’s character doesn’t appear until the second act, with younger versions of Chuck played by Benjamin Pajak, Cody Flanagan, and Jacob Tremblay in the final chapter.
“It created such an interesting way to dole out information and make connections between different periods in someone’s life,” said Flanagan. As a filmmaker, he saw the unconventional structure as an opportunity to get creative with form. “We said, ‘These are such distinct stories, so we can shoot them differently. They can have different aspect ratios. We can have a different color palette for them.’ Our lives are like this. They are not ordered and monochromatic.”
Reflecting on life’s fleeting moments
Flanagan, who previously adapted King’s work with Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep, read The Life of Chuck during the early days of the pandemic and was instantly moved by the text.
“There’s no moment that roars off the page and says, ‘I want to be a movie.’ But as I continued to read, cinematic sequences began to play out in my imagination,” he said. ”When I put the story down, I was amazed by how much joy and hope and emotion I was feeling on a story that I didn’t think was necessary going that way in the beginning.”
Given the themes of the film, shooting The Life of Chuck was a chance for the cast to get reflective about the idea of saying goodbye.
“In the film, the characters seek out connection with each other. I think that’s probably the most natural thing in the world,” Gillan said. “I’ve read a weird amount of quotes from people on their deathbeds. They talk about how so many things that you’ve given weight to fall away, like the accolades you’ve won or the money you’ve earned or things you’ve achieved. Actually, what matters is the relationships and connections.”
Hiddleston echoed those sentiments, saying that “moments of spontaneity, connection and joy become [what] we remember in the last hours of our lives.”
“[The film] is about trying to find those moments and experience them and hold them dear,” he said. “Because the world is full of pain and suffering. That’s true. But there are also moments of joy. And I’ve never seen it so beautifully expressed as in this story.”
Watch the trailer
For those eager to dive into this unique narrative, you can watch the trailer for The Life of Chuck here.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive look at The Life of Chuck, offering insights into the film’s unique structure, the actors’ experiences, and the profound themes it explores. Whether you’re a cinema enthusiast, a TV series aficionado, or a music lover, this film promises to deliver a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant experience.