Taking on her first film role in Tilman Singer’s horror movie Cuckoo was an intimidating experience for Euphoria star and model Hunter Schafer. With this being her leading role, she faced uncertainty about how things would be revealed, much like the film itself.
“I knew it was going to feel different from working in television, and I was definitely nervous,” Schafer shared with Yahoo Entertainment. She felt the pressure of being present in most scenes but noted that once she arrived on set in Germany and started working with Tilman, much of her anxiety eased.
Schafer expressed her deep connection to Cuckoo, a project she fell in love with after reading the script in 2022. Seeing Tilman’s previous work, she said she knew she wanted to be involved in some capacity.
In the film, which hit theaters on Aug. 9, Schafer portrays Gretchen, a 17-year-old who finds herself in the Bavarian Alps with her father, his new wife, and their daughter for an extended stay. Strange occurrences begin as the family interacts with Dan Stevens’s character, Herr König, who runs the resort and is involved in a project with Gretchen’s father.
Women fall ill, Gretchen must be home before dark, and her mute younger half-sister begins having seizures. Time loops, along with Herr König’s flute, add to the mystery. Gretchen questions her sanity, wondering if she’s losing her mind or if something sinister is at play.
Balancing the eerie elements with dark humor was crucial, according to Stevens, who told Yahoo that the blend of horror and humor kept the audience guessing. Stevens believes the best horror films have a sharp sense of humor and avoid taking themselves too seriously.
That humor extended to the set as well, where Schafer described the experience as reminiscent of summer camp, saying she’d happily do it all over again. She praised Stevens for his magical portrayal of Herr König and his German accent, which consistently surprised and entertained everyone on set.
Despite this being Schafer’s debut in film, Stevens, known for his roles in Downton Abbey and Beauty and the Beast, said he found himself learning from her during the production. He admired her dedication, sense of humor, and energy, which brought a fresh perspective to the project.
Action scenes were an unexpected but enjoyable challenge for Schafer. Although she hadn’t done much action before, she discovered a love for the physical demands, which allowed her to immerse herself fully in those moments.
Since Cuckoo, Schafer has worked on other projects, including The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) and Kinds of Kindness (2024). While familiar with television, having gained recognition for her role as Jules Vaughn in Euphoria, she’s also branching into sci-fi with the limited series Blade Runner 2099.
Though Schafer is known for her advocacy for LGBTQ rights and played a trans character in Euphoria, she has sought to move beyond portraying solely trans roles. In a 2023 interview with GQ, she explained her desire to focus on simply being a girl and moving past her earlier experiences in her transition.
Playing Gretchen, who is cisgender, allowed Schafer to leave her personal history behind while working on the film. She described it as a refreshing change, where her character’s gender identity wasn’t a central theme in the story.
Looking ahead, Schafer is gearing up to return to her roots. Euphoria is set to resume filming in January after a long hiatus, and Schafer is ready for the busy year ahead. She shared her excitement, having just wrapped up another project before diving back into the world of Euphoria.
Cuckoo arrived in theaters on August 9.