A movie adaptation of a nostalgic children’s book hit theaters this month, and the cast sat down with Fox News to discuss bringing imagination to life.
“Harold and the Purple Crayon” is a story written by Crockett Johnson that was first released in 1955. It’s about a boy who embarks on a wild imaginative adventure that takes place at night.
In the 2024 film, actor Zachary Levi goes from the imaginative world to the physical world — all with his trusty purple crayon.
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Levi told Fox News that his character represents an “infectious light” who has “nothing but optimism and positivity and joy.”
He said that this becomes an issue when his character steps into the real world as he’s “forced to deal with all of the negative aspects.”
Left to right, Brazilian director Carlos Saldanha, actors Lil Rel Howery, Zooey Deschanel, Benjamin Issa Bottani, Zachary Levi and “The Purple Crayon” attend the “Harold and the Purple Crayon” screening in Culver City, California, on July 21, 2024. (VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images)
Actress Zooey Deschanel, whose character is named Terri, told Fox News that the film brought one of her favorite childhood stories to life.
“It’s such a sweet, small story that’s … for really little kids, and then they made it cinematic, and it’s for everybody,” she said.
Actor Lil Rel Howery plays a character named Moose and said that the movie is an example of unlimited imagination.
“Harold and the Purple Crayon” was originally released in 1955 as a children’s book. (Shannon Finney/Getty Images for Sony Pictures Entertainment)
He told Fox News, “A lot of times as parents, we can keep it too real for our children. Let them use their imagination as long as they can.”
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The comedian and father of three emphasized that an active imagination is “what keeps us functioning, keeps us creative.”
He continued, “I think this movie does a good job of showing you both sides of that.”
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In the original children’s book, Harold, a young boy, goes for a walk at night with his oversize purple crayon, according to HarperCollins, the New York-based publisher of the book.
The cast of the “Harold and the Purple Crayon” movie spoke about the importance of keeping imagination alive in children. (Getty Images)
After drawing a world of excitement, he and the crayon travel across the globe before going back to bed, according to HarperCollins.
The classic has since then had other book spinoffs featuring Harold’s character.
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The film adaptation of “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” directed by Carlos Saldanha, is in theaters now.