Why Good Luck, Have Enjoyable, Do not Die Ended Gore Verbinski’s 10-Yr Directing Hiatus
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Having taken a breather for the previous decade, Gore Verbinski is again with one in all his wildest films but.
Penned by Love and Monsters‘ Matthew Robinson, Good Luck, Have Enjoyable, Do not Die is led by Sam Rockwell as a person from the long run who ventures to a crowded diner with explosives strapped to him and wielding a detonator, warning of society’s eventual downfall due to an AI taking on the world. Nevertheless, his efforts to persuade a number of the diner patrons to affix his trigger are hindered by each their skepticism of his claims, and their very own troublesome obsessions with know-how.
Alongside Rockwell, Verbinski has assembled a star-studded roster for Good Luck, Have Enjoyable, Do not Die, together with Ponies‘ Haley Lu Richardson, All Her Fault‘s Michael Peña, Invincible‘s Zazie Beetz, Black Mirror‘s Asim Chaudhry, Home of the Dragon‘s Tom Taylor and Ted Lasso‘s Juno Temple. The movie marks Verbinski’s first directorial effort in 10 years, along with his final challenge being the psychological horror movie A Remedy for Wellness.
Having made its world premiere on the 2025 Improbable Fest and worldwide premiere at 2026’s Berlin Worldwide Movie Pageant, Good Luck, Have Enjoyable, Do not Die has been successful with critics, who’ve praised its crazy sci-fi idea and outrageous comedy, netting it a “Licensed Recent” approval score of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s additionally on observe for a modest home opening weekend on the field workplace because it faces off towards Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights adaptation, Sony’s animated sports activities comedy GOAT and the star-studded thriller Crime 101.
In honor of its launch, ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley interviewed Gore Verbinski, Sam Rockwell, Zazie Beetz, Michael Peña and Haley Lu Richardson to debate Good Luck, Have Enjoyable, Do not Die. When requested about why Robinson’s script caught out to him because the movie to make his directorial return with, the filmmaker started by expressing “it simply felt prefer it needed to occur now,” denoting there being a way of “urgency” to its story and themes that he wished to assist carry to life.
Verbinski went on to clarify that he first acquired the movie’s script in 2020, three years after it was first written in 2017, recalling it as having “been kicking round for some time” earlier than lastly touchdown on his desk. Praising Robinson as being “an exceptional author,” the director then spent the following two years additional refining the script, with one of many greatest adjustments being the film’s central AI antagonist, as they sought to “future-proof” it:
Gore Verbinski: Clearly, we needed to take the AI element and loads has [changed]. I believe when he first conceived it, it was one thing on the horizon, now it is a part of our lives. It was fairly a bit of labor we did to adapt the screenplay by way of AI and by way of Sam’s character as effectively. We have spent about two years on it, after which I despatched it to Sam and off we went.
Good Luck, Have Enjoyable, Do not Die’s AI Villain Is A Very Completely different Variety Of Digital Antagonist
ScreenRant: You and Sam acquired tacos in 2014 and saved communication for slightly bit.
Gore Verbinski: We have been making an attempt to do one thing collectively. It is actually fascinating as a result of I met him very late in life, however I really feel prefer it’s a type of relationships you could have, like should you went to elementary faculty with anyone, they’d be like a buddy that you possibly can be trustworthy with about something. We now have that relationship, so we simply saved in contact. Once I despatched him the screenplay, he instantly responded. I really feel like there’s no person else who might play this half. There actually is no person else on the planet.
ScreenRant: Who got here up with the title?
Gore Verbinski: That was Matthew.
ScreenRant: Was it at all times Good Luck, Have Enjoyable, Do not Die?
Gore Verbinski: Oh yeah. Initially, it got here from gaming, I suppose. I believe it is a terrific mantra of our occasions. This factor’s coming, and it is a tsunami and a few persons are in worry and a few persons are in denial and the remainder of us are going to should surf it. We’ll should drop in. And Good Luck, Have Enjoyable, Do not Die is an effective way of kind of saying, you are going to should navigate this beast.
ScreenRant: Who recorded the mantra? On the title card?
Gore Verbinski: That was really on the finish of our shoot at Norm’s Diner, I simply had all of them yell. The entire ensemble. I simply kind of gave them a click on.
ScreenRant: You had one other good quote about the place AI is correct now in society as an entire, mentioning that it must be used for locating a remedy for most cancers and scientific development. Why is it taking away the issues that we take pleasure in doing? Out of your perspective, the place ought to AI be applied into the leisure business, if in any respect?
Sam Rockwell’s Man trying apprehensive as objects float round him in Good Luck, Have Enjoyable, Do not Die
Gore Verbinski: In our film, I believe that a part of the villainy is that it at the moment is kind of weaving its means into social media, kind of finding out how one can maintain us engaged. It is being tasked with that. How one can maintain us engaged. Our villain is an AI who desires you to love it, who calls for you prefer it. It isn’t the case of, “exterminate the people.” It is way more misleading. I believe that resonates with what we’re seeing, which is why is it creeping into each type of the humanities, of speaking, of storytelling, of illustration, of drawing, of poetry? Why right here? Why is it doing this? I believe we are able to level it in one other course.
ScreenRant: You got here up just lately in an interview I did. I host a collection referred to as Espresso Chats, and Walker Scobell, our Percy Jackson at the moment, talked about one in all his favourite movie franchises is Pirates. We have been raving in regards to the visible results of that movie. Davy Jones continues to be the gold commonplace of visible results even 20 years later. Out of your perspective, what has modified? Why do visible results now not look the best way that they used to?
Gore Verbinski: There are a variety of components. One in every of them I’ve talked about is the Unreal Engine creeping its means into cinema. I believe you could have the kind of superhero [genre], which I believe is nice. You probably have a world the place folks can fly, it is okay that you’ve that, however it does not imply that each visible impact must be like that. I believe the Unreal Engine is tremendous facile at shifting shortly. We use it for previs on a regular basis, however now we have to cease after which redo the whole lot once more in Maya, which is only a significantly better software for picture practical visible results, however you need to make that soar. I believe lots of people are kind of saying, “Effectively, why do now we have to make that soar? It feels ok. It appears like that is okay.” I believe while you get into issues like water… I at all times attempt to maintain the body 50 % photographic wherever potential. If we’ll add one thing to it, I need to shoot a plate. The folks at ILM, Weta and FrameStore are excellent at matching. In the event you give them, “That is what gentle is doing on this house, on this room,” you possibly can research it, you possibly can match it, however should you simply give them nothing, if it is only a character towards a inexperienced display screen, I believe the truth that you are able to do the whole lot does not imply it is best to.
Rockwell & Verbinski’s Crew-Up Was Over A Decade In The Works
ScreenRant: I need to flash again to 2014. You and Gore acquired tacos. Do you recall that preliminary assembly and did you keep in constant contact for nonetheless a few years it took you earlier than the script got here throughout your desk?
Sam Rockwell: We met a couple of graphic novel comedian e-book that we have been going to attempt to do, after which it was too costly to make. It is referred to as Ballistic. It is actually cool. We must always really nonetheless make that, however I am in all probability aged out for that half. It is a cool story. The utilities are alive. I do not forget that. However anyway, we had a taco after which years later, nothing occurred, after which this took place by a dinner with Denise Chamian.
ScreenRant: While you signed onto the movie, this was means earlier than any studio acquired behind it. Many studios handed on it. And there is a little bit of an underdog story of getting it made, probably taking pictures in LA, then Canada lastly touchdown in South Africa. What about this movie made you need to get behind it regardless of it not being a certainty it was ever going to get made?
Sam Rockwell: Effectively, it is Gore, and it is a terrific script by Matthew Robinson and a terrific half. In order that was just about it.
ScreenRant: The opening monologue is completely killer, however there’s one other one. I will not give context as a result of it is in the direction of the tip. You say, “No, Susan. I do not know how one can use essentially the most sophisticated laptop ever constructed.” That’s such a traditional Sam Rockwell vocal inflection.
Sam Rockwell: That individual line, I requested Gore if we might do an improvisation proper earlier than we did that. So we did this sort of leading-up improvisation, which I do not assume is within the movie, however it helped get the fever up for that line. And Juno was sport, and we simply went at it like a married couple.
ScreenRant: I would like to know extra in regards to the vibes on set. This was an ensemble that you just guys genuinely gelled effectively. It was an actual type of underdog story, with a superb locker room mentality.
Sam Rockwell: It was nice. The primary month, everyone had nothing to do besides me. I believe everyone was bored. After which lastly we acquired to their backstories, after which I believe they acquired one thing to do. After which we kind of all bonded, and we got here again on the finish, and we have been very tight, very tight. And Juno would assist me memorize strains. And I learn my White Lotus monologue with Michael Peña at one level. After which I stated, “What do you consider this?” And it was very tight, very tight.
The Film Helped Spotlight Some Tech Habits For Good Luck, Have Enjoyable, Do not Die’s Solid
ScreenRant: In the event you might assemble your group to avoid wasting the way forward for previous roles that you have executed, are you able to consider not less than three?
Sam Rockwell: That is a superb one. Effectively, of idiots or simply people who find themselves succesful?
ScreenRant: Most likely idiots. Gore stated himself he would not like succesful. He stated there is a motive the Greeks gave Achilles a heel.
Sam Rockwell: I imply, I wish to see Man Fleegman be part of it. I do know that. Man Fleegman from Galaxy Quest. Possibly a few the clones from Moon. Positively not the Snow Angels man. That might simply get bizarre. Possibly the profitable season coach. Possibly Billy Bickel might add slightly hazard to the scenario from Seven Psychopaths. There are a few characters like that.
Zazie Beetz: I suppose Domino must be in there. How might she not be in there?
Michael Peña: Yeah, not Luis. No.
ScreenRant: However for the vibes? For the camaraderie?
Michael Peña: However he would not do something.
Zazie Beetz: Vibes are vital.
Michael Peña: He would really perhaps hinder a number of the —
Zazie Beetz: However perhaps that is just like the lesson needs to be discovered.
ScreenRant: You recognize who I would like for you? Your character in Unstoppable.
Michael Peña: Oh, the coach. Yeah. He is a pacesetter. “Come on!”
Zazie Beetz: Clearly Domino. I’ve a film popping out. They Will Kill You. She’s preventing loads, so I really feel like she may very well be helpful.
ScreenRant: Might you each type of communicate to the “by the forged, for the forged” ensemble that you just guys had right here?
Zazie Beetz: I believe everybody simply actually let one another shine as people, and so all of us simply felt actually secure. After which I do additionally assume there was a component of trauma bonding with all of the evening shoots and the on-location and the chilly and the rain. It was loads. We have been an ensemble, so we have been collectively on a regular basis. We have been removed from house, and so we simply actually constructed a group collectively, and we have been the bubble. After we have been sick or one thing, we have been there for one another. After we wanted cheering, we cheered. I had my thirty third birthday there, they usually threw me a shock celebration, which was so particular. I cried. I do not know, we turned like a group.
Michael Peña: Like a gaggle. It jogged my memory slightly little bit of The Breakfast Membership, you understand how everyone was so totally different. Sam, I believe that is the primary particular person I met. Then I met Zazie, then it was Juno, and it is just like the elements for the stew simply saved on getting higher and higher.
Zazie Beetz: Oh yeah, as a result of Haley additionally got here late. We had already had a superb vibe, and we have been like, “Oh my gosh, we hope Haley’s good. What occurs if Haley comes, and he or she’s a b—h,” however she’s not a b—h. [Laughs] She’s superb. However I do know everybody was like, the day she got here, “Okay, hopefully she’s good.” [Laughs]
Michael Peña: She match proper in. She was like her personal piece of the puzzle. It is simply completely inclusive, and he or she’s within the dialog straight away.
Zazie Beetz’s Janet and Michael Peña’s Mark trying intensely whereas in a diner sales space in Good Luck, Have Enjoyable, Do not Die
ScreenRant: One of many issues in Sam’s opening monologue, he mentions that “morning cellphone” is what triggered the turmoil. Doomscrolling. This morning, actually, my alarm clock goes off on my cellphone. I am like, “Snooze, put away. I am doing this junket at the moment. I would be an enormous hypocrite if I examine.“
Zazie Beetz: We’ll purchase alarm clocks for our home as a result of we do not need to have to take a look at our telephones very first thing. We need to attempt to maintain them out.
Michael Peña: Now it is simply holding the shades up and going to mattress at 9:00, waking up by the solar.
ScreenRant: That is a stunning behavior. Do both of you could have a foul tech behavior that this movie illuminated?
Michael Peña: Doomscrolling for me. I strive to not, however should you’re on the lookout for one thing like in your iPad or no matter, particularly for a script that you just’re studying, invariably it’s going to provide you with some type of advert, after which it’s going to remind you of one thing else. I attempt to purposefully ignore all of the adverts. I do not even look. Or if I am enjoying a sport, the adverts will come up, and I might solely look away. I am like, “You are not getting me.”
Zazie Beetz: I am really an enormous YouTube girly. I am going into all my little area of interest pursuits and my —
Michael Peña: Premium YouTube or no?
Zazie Beetz: No, I am not going that far. I can not —
Michael Peña: Oh, you are going to watch commercials?
Zazie Beetz: No. Effectively, I suppose I watch commercials, however I by no means… You understand how YouTube is like, “Click on, what pursuits you.” I by no means click on what pursuits me. That is my little protest. I noticed although that I will spend hours simply watching my hobbies versus doing them. I really feel prefer it’s this gradual, like, “Oh, I am being stimulated whereas I am doing one thing I like,” after which realizing like, “Oh, I am simply sitting in mattress and never doing something.” So I’ve actually been making an attempt to exchange the watching with the exercise.
ScreenRant: Effectively, congrats on this movie. It is an absolute blast. It is a terrific cautionary story. I believe it will go within the archives of historical past within the years to come back.
Haley Lu Richardson: Thanks. Yeah, it is undoubtedly a bats–t, singular, ridiculous film, however it’s like all these issues in a deeply unsettling, practical means as a result of it is actually only a reflection of our actuality, like yesterday and at the moment and in our imminent future.
ScreenRant: Ingrid’s look particularly is so distinctive. I can already see it. I do a variety of these fan expos and comedian cons, and typically you may see cosplay on the market of non-franchise, one-off characters. I already really feel that with Ingrid, with the princess gown and the nosebleed, she’s going to turn into an iconic character fairly shortly.
Haley Lu Richardson’s Ingrid in a princess costume trying in thought in Good Luck, Have Enjoyable, Do not Die
Haley Lu Richardson: Knock on wooden. That might be so cool. I’ve by no means had a personality like that earlier than. I at all times actually, actually worth and prioritize determining the look of a personality. I can assume like a personality. I can journal as a personality. I can discuss to the writers and the whole lot and check out to determine the emotionality of an individual. However the look, the aesthetic, the stance is such an vital means in for me. Ingrid is such a particular human that the look wanted to really feel singular. I instantly considered Phoebe Bridgers. I instantly considered her whereas I used to be studying. I considered her energetically with Ingrid and that character, and so I noticed this sort of grey hair, type of punk hair, however it’s additionally type of impressed as a result of I additionally really feel like Ingrid has a curmudgeonly previous girl vitality, so the grey hair has that vitality for me.
Clearly, the eyeliner after which the cried-off, rained-off eyeliner, however type of no make-up anyplace else. She’s type of like a cartoon. She’s at all times sporting this choker it doesn’t matter what. It is her factor, which I type of appreciated that that was at all times her factor. The hair being that shade actually felt vital to me. I believe it type of took some time to get Gore precisely on board with this imaginative and prescient I had. I believe when he noticed all of it along with the gown, he was actually excited, and it felt actually proper for him too.
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Good Luck, Have Enjoyable, Do not Die is now in theaters.
