O'Shea Jackson Jr. Talks Playing Seth Rogen's Hype Man in Long Shot

All right, guys, we are here with Ice Cube, Jackson, Junior.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Welcome to Austin.

Thank you, I appreciate it. First time, right?

Yeah, this is my first time. Uh, it's my first time in South by, but, you know, I've been through Austin at a couple Ice Cube concerts before.

Okay. Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you know the vibes, it's a music city and all that, right?

Yeah, yeah.

Uh, is there anybody like up and coming that you would love to maybe see out here? They're not Don't have to be here, but like maybe an up and coming rapper or somebody like that that you like?

Uh, up and coming rapper, you know, Lynch Mob got a few artists. We got up and coming as well. So I would I would definitely love to see them. Shout out to Tai Harris, you know, my man Mikey. We got, uh, you know, we got some heat coming. So, you know, I definitely like to. We need to get them out here. So yeah, I'm. Yep. Yeah, I'm down.

So you're out here promoting Long Shots.

Yeah. Long Shot. Long Shot. Sorry. Long Shot is my pop's movie. So I can't I can't do that.

Tell me about the movie and your role.

Uh, you know, I play I play Lance who is, uh, Seth Rogan's best friend in the movie. Uh, Seth plays my man Freddy Flarsky, and it's all about him finding an old school love affair that he used to have back in the day with his babysitter. Yeah, childhood crush. Childhood crush. I think everyone had that, right? Yeah, everybody's got one. Everybody you thought about it right now soon as you heard me say it. And that, uh, that's played by Charlize Theron, uh, Charlotte Field. And she's uh, you know, as they meet older, you know, in a more adult. She used to be the babysitter. She uh, she's the Secretary of State, you know. So she's, uh, she's pretty important and she's running for office. So, you know, it's a long shot, uh, it's a double meaning on the title. It's a long shot to get, you know, my man back together with his, you know, his babysitter, his his sweetheart. And at the same time, it's a long shot to get her to win in office. So, you know, we got double meanings out here.

And then what's your your role, best friend role with him? Tell me about that relationship.

Everything a best friend is supposed to be. You know, when I came in, they were like, you are your best friend's hype man. And everybody need that friend who can make them believe they could run through a wall and not get hurt. You know, and that's me. And I happen to be a billionaire and I really love that part.

That's a great part.

Yeah, it's chill.

What was like the funniest scene in the movie like for you? It could be offset.

Funniest moment is, uh, you know, when we get to the party when we get to, uh, uh, Boys II Men is in the film and, you know, they're they're hilarious. It was cool hanging out with them on set.

Did you know him beforehand?

No, no, no, no, no. So it was our first time interacting. That was dope. Uh, me and Seth, uh, there's a scene, you know, it it it's it's at the the climax of the movie, you know, when it we had a a few laughs inside of the SUV. So it it was a fun set, definitely one of the funnest.

This is your first kind of foray into comedy, right?

Uh, yeah. I I stepped stepped into it a little bit with Ingrid Goes West, you know, that was more of a dark comedy. But yeah, this is my first like

What was that experience like for you to make?

It's fun, you know, they let you improvise, they let you get down as an actor, you know, as long as you get the gist of the story, you you really are given, you know, free creative wings to, you know, let it fly.

And then Den of Thieves, I loved it. Yeah. Honestly, I'm I'm going to I'm going to be straight up with you. I wasn't a fan of your character at the end.

Yeah, good. That's good acting right there. I'm a likable guy. You know, so, yeah, Den of Thieves was

You got two. I've heard two coming.

Yeah, man, look. I'm down. They, you know, they got my number. I'm ready to go. And, uh, you know, we left it on a cliffhanger, so how could you not How could you not want some more? Donnie Wilson will be back.

Lastly, since we are in Texas,

Yeah.

What is your favorite Texan food? Queso? Breakfast tacos?

Who don't like Queso? You know, I'm all about the cheese. I'm lactose intolerant, but I still don't stop me.

You still you still get into it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And everybody love barbecue.

Yeah. Need some barbecue. But what like brisket, ribs? What are you doing?

Oh, brisket. Okay, the brisket. If you got beef ribs, I'll tear up them beef ribs, but you know. No pork on the fork.

All right, guys, thank you so much, O'Shea, for coming by.

Of course.

Enjoy yourself.

Thank you. I will.