Joe Manganiello‘s body is the stuff of legend, but he’s also got a funny bone he’s putting to good use as one of the stars of Pee-wee’s Big Holiday, the Pee-wee Herman reboot/comeback flick now streaming on Netflix.
A.V. Club caught up with Manganiello after the film’s SXSW premiere and spoke with him about working with Pee-wee, what’s the most fun to shoot, and of course, the inevitable Manganiello/Pee-wee slash fiction that’s probably working its way around the internet right now.
Although Pee-wee Herman is a creation of the ’80s, Manganiello insists it still works:
Well, I think that when I was a kid and my dad brought me to see Pee-wee[’s Big Adventure] in 1985, the combination of Paul and then the emergence of Tim Burton—that was my childhood right there. I was a weird kid. I always was into weird things, and I think Pee-wee was this very digestible, mainstream, weird character. I immediately identified with that. There’s also something, I think, about the man-boy type of thing that’s really funny.
The part was written for him…sorta:
How about we take this to the next level?
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…originally I was playing a character named “Joe Mancuso,” a famous actor named Joe Mancuso who had a whole list of movies that he had starred in that he’s throwing at Pee-wee and kind of crashing against the rocks with those. On the day [of filming], John [Lee, director] and Paul and I, we all huddled up, and I guess John and Paul had the idea prior to it, like, ”Hey, what if we did a take where you said your real name?” So we tried a take that way and that’s what wound up in the movie.
And the slash fic? Nothing new for Joe:
I mean, I was on True Blood for years. There’s some really, really weird shit written about that show. So listen, man, “weird” is my middle name. I’m ready for anything. The weirder, the better.
Pee-wee’s Big Holiday is streaming now on Netflix, and we’re sure Manganiello’s abs are on the cover of some fitness magazine right now. If not, Google is your friend.
Billy Budd
I don’t usually feel very attracted to studs with big mucles like Joe, but he is the notable exception.
Billy Budd
I like the fact that he enjoy weird things.
Billy Budd
My “S” key is malfunctioning!
Ricco Galmore
Lord…I don’t even want Joe to talk, just stand there lol.
QJ201
Slash fiction barely needed, the movie is a big bromance
Captain Obvious
The fact that he went to see Pee Wee as a kid and now is this big hulking man starring in a Pee Wee film is weird enough. The interview was icing. No fan fiction necessary I think he just wrote some.
footwork61
Apparently Joe was REALLY into Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. Paul Rubens said that one take of a scene in the new movie was ruined when Joe saw an extra who he recognized from the original film 35 years ago when the guy was 15.He got so excited to know he was in the new movie too.
trell
I’m sad, because after reading this article & seeing that pic of Joe, I know that the rest of my day will not be as good as this moment. 🙁
Sweetie Pie
Sofia is eating all that….good for her
Billy Budd
I loved to see him turn back into human from wolf, in True Blood. He would be totally naked! The best eye candy a gay man can get.